If you've always wondered whether you can make your own dishwasher powder, you'll now have a very clear answer: Yes! It's even really easy with my DIY instructions!
Zero waste is becoming more and more of an issue and I am also trying to more environmentally friendly.
Sustainability is not always associated with great effort. On the contrary. It is often the small changeswith which we can do good for our environment. 🥰
For example, we can use hair soaps instead of producing so much plastic waste with liquid shampoo, we can make a hair care product from two or three ingredients, and we can Make your own scrub and we can also Dishwasher powder make yourself.
Even young children know that washing up in the dishwasher is more ecological than washing up by hand. It uses much less water.
But when I was standing in front of the detergent shelf in the supermarket the other day, I took a close look at the additives used in these tabs and powders. Then there are the vast quantities of packaging materials. Tabs in particular are all individually shrink-wrapped.
There are already some great, more sustainable alternatives. But I was simply put off by the price. 😮
That must also be affordable and sustainable!
Solution: Make your own dishwasher powder. This means you can confidently dispense with chemicals and save on waste.
I experimented and tried it out myself. And lo and behold: after the third attempt, I have already mixed myself a really good powder that is suitable for clean Tableware cares. Today I would like to show you how you can also make dishwasher powder and what you need to look out for.
With this tutorial, your DIY bathroom cleaner succeeds!
Table of contents
- Why you should make your own dishwasher powder
- What ingredients do I need if I want to make a DIY dishwasher powder?
- Should I add salt to the powder?
- Instructions: DIY dishwashing powder
- How do I store the dishwasher powder correctly?
- How do I use homemade dishwasher powder correctly?
- FAQ - Everything about dishwasher powder
- Dishwasher powder make yourself
Why you should make your own dishwasher powder
If you go through the ingredients of conventional washing-up liquids, you will quickly notice that there are a lot of corrosive chemicals in the store-bought versions.
These not only end up on the dishes during washing, but also get unfiltered to Waste water. To get around this, you can Make your own dishwasher powder.
All the ingredients you use for the DIY washing-up liquid are Environmentally friendly and Biological degradable. They do not harm the environment and make your dishes just as clean as the supermarket version.
Of course, there are now many manufacturers who offer chemical-free products. But this goes quite into the money.
If you make your own dishwasher powder, you will need only three ingredients, that are cheap. Especially not if you buy the ingredients in large quantities.
You probably already have them at home and don't even have to buy them. 🫧🙂
With the DIY version, I naturally try to do without packaging. I put my dishwasher powder in a sealable jar that I Use again and again can.
Do you already know this cleaning hack? That's why everyone now cleans their windows with rinse aid!
What ingredients do I need if I want to make a DIY dishwasher powder?
For the homemade dishwasher powder, you only need three ingredients. If you like, you can add a few drops of essential oil for a nice scent - I like to use lemon scent.
This leaves the dishes smelling fresh and clean after washing. 🍋😊
The basic ingredients you need to make your own dishwasher powder are:
- Baking soda*
- Soda*
- and lemon powder
But before you start with the preparation, let's take a look at the effect of the ingredients:
- Soda* and Baking soda* together form the ultimate grease and dirt remover
- Citric acid* Softened the water and prevents limescale deposits
Baking soda
Baking soda* is used for many DIY projects. Maybe you already know it from colorful bath bombs or as Home remedy for shoe odor. You can also use it to descale the kettle or clean the oven. It also helps Remove labels from jars.
I recommend buying a larger quantity right away. You will need it again and again in the household. With Baking soda* you can use the Deacidify body and many women swear by a Soothing foot bath with baking soda and apple cider vinegar.
As an ingredient in the dishwasher powder is Baking soda* responsible for this, Odors at neutralize and Dirt at solve.
Soda
Dishes are dirty and usually covered with Grease smeared. To prevent too much of it ending up in the dishwasher, you should rinse your plates beforehand. Soda* in the dishwashing liquid dissolves stubborn grease and makes your Clean dishes.
Many confuse Soda* and baking soda together. But they are two completely different agents - even if they both look like a white, fine powder.
Soda* is a very environmentally friendly and inexpensive household remedy for stubborn dirt, burnt-on food residues and can even be used for washing clothes.
Citric acid
Especially with calcareous You should not use water on Citric acid* do without. It has a decalcifying effect and ensures that no Lime stains stay on the harness.
Nevertheless, you should additional to the dishwasher powder Rinse aid and Dishwashing salt use. Your machine will not calcify and will last a long time. ☝️
Also Citric acid* You can never have enough at home. I take them for about the acid content in DIY syrupuse them to descale my kettle or put them in my homemade bath chocolates.
Essential oils
Depending on your mood, you can add a few drops of oils to the powder. However, the fragrance may evaporate if you make a lot of powder and don't use it up quickly. That's why I often add the powder just before washing.
Smell particularly good and fresh:
- Lemongrass
- Lemon
- Mint
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Rose
But you can use any fragrance you like. Allowed is what you like.
So you can make detergent yourself!
Should I add salt to the powder?
In some instructions, you will read that you should mix dishwasher salt with the powder. I don't do this because I fill the salt into the opening in the dishwasher tub you saw earlier.
However, you can also add a little special salt (regenerating salt) to the powder if you have very hard - i.e. calcareous - water.
This salt is pure sodium chloride (table salt) without any additives or anti-caking agents. Normal kitchen salt is not suitable for this!
However, you will usually fill the salt into the opening provided in the classic way.
Instructions: DIY dishwashing powder
I have prepared detailed step-by-step instructions for you here. It is aimed at anyone who has never made their own dishwasher powder or other cleaning products before. I will explain exactly how you need to proceed.
If you regularly start DIY projects, you will find a short version at the end of the article.
Ingredients:
- 250 g pure soda
- 250 g baking soda
- 250 g citric acid powder
- Optional: 20 drops of essential oil
Also: scales, spoon, bowl, jar with stopper.
Preparation:
Prepare the ingredients and place a bowl on the kitchen scales.
Now weigh out each ingredient individually. Pay attention to the exact dosage so that the dishes are really clean later. I use a tablespoon to add the powder to the bowl.
However, make sure that it is not too dusty. You should not inhale the powder as it can irritate the respiratory tract.
Stir the ingredients together carefully and slowly so that there is no dust.
If you like, you can now add the essential oil.
Mix the ingredients again and then carefully pour them into a jar with a lid. The powder must be protected from moisture, otherwise it will clump together.
Done! 🙂🫧
How do I store the dishwasher powder correctly?
You must place your dish powder in an airtight container. A glass jar or a really tight-fitting Tupperware container are ideal. It is important that the powder is stored in a dry place. Even the moisture in the kitchen is enough to turn the powder into a hard lump.
It can happen that you have to use a knife or even a hammer and chisel.
I like to use preserving jars. Either with a swing top or, as in the photo, with a rubber ring and a glass lid - which I then secure with two clips.
How do I use homemade dishwasher powder correctly?
You use the homemade dishwasher powder in the same way as the store-bought version. You add about one to two heaped teaspoons of the powder into the intended Subject of the machine.
The exact amount of powder depends on the Quantity of the dishes, from the Degree of soiling and from the Water hardness.
After one or two trials, you'll know how much of the dishwasher powder is best to use.
Too much powder can cause milky deposits on glasses and dishes. Therefore: less is more 🙂
Do not use the automatic program, but set the machine so that it heats up to a maximum of 50°.
To keep your glasses clear and no cloudy veil you have to get a Rinse aid use. How much you need depends on how much limescale your tap water contains.
By the way: Also You can easily make your own rinse aid.
Your dishwasher also needs regular regenerating salt to flush limescale out of the machine.
If you are interested in the topic, you can also take a look at a great guide here:
FAQ - Everything about dishwasher powder
Can I also remove stubborn stains with the dishwasher powder?
You've probably seen the commercials where a family puts very burnt pans and casserole dishes in the dishwasher and within seconds everything is sparkling clean. This is a fairy tale for both conventional, store-bought products and homemade ones.
The powder reaches its limits with dried-on food residues, encrustations and deposits from black tea. However, you can master 90 % of all rinsing processes with it. I leave very burnt dishes to soak in water for about half an hour before putting them in the machine. Then it works without any problems.
Why is dishwasher powder better than tabs?
Have you ever heard that powder is better than tabs? No? Then now you know!
The powder can be customized dose. If the dishes are not very dirty, I use one teaspoon. If a little more dirt needs to be removed, I put two teaspoons in the compartment.
With powder, you only need to use as much as is really necessary. It's not so easy with tabs. The powder is guaranteed to dissolve and remains not as a tab in the compartment glue - At least that's how it always is for me.
The powder is also said to be better for the longevity of the machine. And an additional plus point: the loose powder is a lot cheaper. cheaper than the tabs and easier to make yourself.
Do I need to put rinse aid in the machine?
You've filled the compartment with DIY dishwasher powder, the machine is properly loaded - now there's one more question: Do you need to add rinse aid or is the powder enough?
Yes, you need to add rinse aid. It prevents limescale deposits and white streaks from forming on the glasses. If this has already happened, have a look here: "How to remove glass corrosion!" Exactly how much you need depends on the hardness of the water.
You can buy rinse aid or also simply make it yourself.
And as promised, here is the short version of the instructions for you:
Dishwasher powder make yourself
Du benötigst
- 250 g pure soda
- 250 g Baking soda
- 250 g Citric acid powder
Equipment
- sealable glass
- Scale
Anleitung
- Weigh the ingredients accurately.
- Put the soda, baking soda and citric acid in a sealable jar.
- Shake the jar well to mix the ingredients.
- Ready is your homemade dishwasher powder.
Our conclusion
Dishwasher powder make yourself is super easy and goes really fast. So you can do without the products from the supermarket with a clear conscience. Homemade dishwasher powder is not only made quickly, but also protects the environment.
Good luck!
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