Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Tabs: Spoiler alert -- it didn't go so well!
I found this recipe online somewhere, sadly, I can't recall where, but I gave it a go and while it does work it didn't work very well.
Ingredients I used:
- 2 cups washing soda
- 2 cups borax
- ½ cup coarse salt (can use Epsom salt)
- ½ cup vinegar
I mixed all of the ingredients together well, it created a very think and crumbly paste and then pressed it into my mold. I used a spoon to make sure it was good and packed in there.
I let dry about 48 hours before removing them and placing them in a sealed tupperware container.
When using them I would add one tab to the dishwasher with about a 1/2 cup vinegar and 1-3 drops of dish soap.
Findings
I found that while most dishes were clean enough to use, they still looked dirty. The dishes would have a slightly white film to them and running them through again wouldn't help. I also had trouble occasionally with it creating too many suds and leaking on to the floor... :( All of this combined with them crumbling into powder within two weeks has me completely turned off of this recipe.
Well, I guess they can't all be winners right? I am hoping to try another batch with another recipe soon, anyone else make their own dishwasher tabs? I'd love to hear your recipe!