Dishwasher Soap Made Easy!

Photo Credit: Flickr/adventurejournalist

For about six months I have been using my own homemade concoction for dishwasher soap.  It is super easy and super cheap – two things that are very appealing to me.  This recipe is so easy, you could probably make up a batch right now with ingredients that you have on hand:

1 Part Baking Soda

1 Part Borax

That’s it.  I keep a mason jar filled with this mixture and only use a tablespoon at a time.  Let’s talk about cheap!  It is literally pennies a wash.  But there are a few other reasons why I like using this minimalist version of dishwasher soap:

Water pollution - The release of too many detergents into the waterway makes for over-nutrification of the water, which causes algae blooms, which eventually rob the water of oxygen and then the fish die.  Thankfully, many companies are making products without phosphates, which is the main culprit.  But it is still soap in the water.  The baking soda and Borax solution eliminates the release of detergents, surfactants and phosphates, so it is a healthier option for the wastewater system.

Contributing to the landfill - I try to avoid packaging whenever possible but cleaning product packaging is pretty wasteful.  You can’t reuse that stuff.  And you can’t recycle the box that the powder comes in.  The boxes are usually mixed materials containers and plus, contaminated with the soap.  You can only really recycle the plastic bottles.  This is true even for the eco-friendly brands.  But if you buy baking soda and Borax in bulk or larger quantities, you will cut down on the amount of packaging you bring into your house.

Spending money - I hate to spend money on things because, well, I am cheap.  Depending on how many dishes you typically dirty, a family may spend up to $30.00 per year in dishwasher soap.  I can think of many other things to spend $30.00 on!

How well does it work?  I love it!  In fact, I like it better than some of the soaps I have used in the past.  Truth be told, the hot water is doing most of the work in there, this is just a little booster to help things along.  Give it a try – I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household.  Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.