Natural Dishwasher DetergentUpdated 4 months ago
What is Dishwasher Detergent?
Like with Laundry Detergent, Dishwasher Detergent is a synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparation that is chemically different from soap but is able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in 
suspension, and act as wetting agents. It is used in either powder, tablet, pod or liquid form in automatic dish washing machines to clean and sanitize a household's dishes. Created in the early 20th century, this product has been a staple in all types of households for many generations.
What's in Natural Dishwasher Detergent?
Like all natural products, dishwasher detergents only has a few common ingredients.
Borax - disinfectant; a natural component that has an effectiveness often compared to OxiClean. It works by converting water molecules to hydrogen peroxide.
Salt -Many type of salt can be used (Sea Salt, Epsom, etc.) Gritty substance good for scouring grime and stuck on food from dishes.
Citric Acid - acidic ingredient to eliminate hard water spots and remove the film on dishes.
Washing Soda - Good for eliminating odor and cutting through grease.
White Vinegar - Rinsing Agent. Don't worry, the vinegar smell dissipates in the washing cycle (there is a possibility that the white vinegar may degrade the rubber components of the dishwasher over time, so check your appliance's user guide and don't use it too frequently).
Note: the success of your formula depends on water quality, or more specifically the hardness of the water. Each city (or well) has water that will react differently. Most people have hard water (even with city water or water softeners), which can be problematic for for some recipes. Hard water will cause cloudiness or a powdery residue to remain on clean dishes. You may have to adjust your formulation based on this.
All of these ingredients can be found on our sister websites, Wholesale Supplies Plus, MakeYourOwn.Buzz, Elements Bath and Body, Rustic Escentuals, and Just Scent.
As always, test any new formulation or ingredient before use to ensure it works as intended and make sure you are in compliance with all FDA regulations.
Recipes to try:
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe-DIY Natural
Homemade Dishwasher Tablets-Wholesale Supplies Plus
Green Living Recipes-MakeYourOwn.Buzz