I’ve been playing around with a dishwasher detergent recipe for a while now, and finally worked out one that leaves my glasses clear and does not use borax. I am happy to use borax in my laundry detergent, but I feel that using it on my dishes is probably not the best choice.
For some time now I’ve been stuck using uneco-freindly options, mostly. I’ve been using Cascade packs with Lemi-Shine. It was the only thing that cleaned my dished and left my glasses clear from film and yuck. I have been using this DIY recipe with success. It used Lemi-Shine, which is completely safe and eco-friendly. The only thing I wish is that I could buy it in tubs. I simply will not do a load of dishes without it.
Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
1 1/2 Cups Lemi-Shine (They come in 12 oz containers, so this is a full one – alternatively, citric acid can be used)
1 1/2 Cups Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Sea Salt (any will do I’m sure)
Store in an air-tight container and use 2 Tablespoons per load.
If you like, vinegar can be added as the rinse agent in the event that you have any cloudiness.
I haven’t had problems with hard clumping, but some have. If you do, a brown sugar bear should help.
If you’re new to Lemi-Shine, you can head to their site for a sample (no longer active – I’ll update if it comes back up). I swear, this stuff is amazing if you have residue issues, hard water issues, etc!
This has been working wonderfully for me. I hope you try it out and I would love to hear how it works for you!
