Thursday, July 16, 2009

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

My sweet, frugal friend Carrie has a great recipe for homemade powdered dishwasher detergent that I tried and love. Since this was a trial for me, I only did half of her original ingredient measurements, but next time I will double it to what she used. I do have to say, since you don't use very much of it for a full load, even the half batch will last a bit. Best of all, it cost about .40 cents (if that) to make. So divide that into your wash loads and you are literally cleaning for a fraction of the cost of store bought. That's well worth it to me!

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

1 c. Borax
1 c. baking soda
2 small packets lemonade flavored kool-aide or flavor-aide drink mix
Bottled liquid bleach (for later use)

Mix all ingredients together, expect for the liquid bleach. Store dry mixture in an airtight container. (If you have ever ordered take away and gotten an order of soup, keep that container. It makes a great storage receptacle for your detergent.)


To use: pour about 1 T. of liquid bleach into your dishwasher soap dispenser; then add in 1 spoonful* of powdered detergent.



*Definition of spoonful -- I use a regular cereal size spoon

Click HERE for printable recipe

Original Recipe Source: Farming On Faith

7 comments:

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

I usually buy the cheapo generic powdered dishwashing detergent but I would love to try this!! I always have Borax in the house, but I wonder if you could substitute something else in place of the bleach. It may just be my own unjustified paranoia, but I'd be scared about putting liquid bleach in my dishwasher and risking damaging it over time.

Keeper of the Home said...

Mary,

Maybe just try it with out the bleach, powder only. I'm going to try it that way myself.

~Mrs. M

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a good one, but I would have to agree with Mary, I'm not so crazy about using bleach in the dishwasher either. When you try it using the powder only, let us (your readers) know how it turns out.

Keeper of the Home said...

Ladies,

I am running a wash load now, without the bleach. So we shall see in a bit what the result is.

~Mrs. M

Mrs. B, a very peculiar person said...

Sounds like anoter great recipe. Although I don't have a dishwasher, I will certainly keep this in mind for my friends and neighbors.
Mrs.B

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

I have used a tablespoon of bleach in my dish washer for years. I have no problem with it. I also used the cheapo powder...so I will be trying this recipe.
I made and used your washing powder and it is fantastic, am on my second double batch. It last for ever, over 2 months and I wash 1 or 2 loads every other day.
Molly

Sue said...

Some of your commercial detergents have bleach in them, so I don;t think that little amount would hurt your washer.