Natural products are all the rage these days since they profess to save the environment. But they are costly to buy. Why not make your own natural products? Save money while saving the environment.
Liquid dish detergent is one of those things that can cause dry, itchy hands. Remember the Palmolive commercials from the '70s? Madge the Manicurist revealing to the customer that she was actually soaking in dish soap, then assuring her that it is all right to soak in this dish soap because it is so mild?
Cute marketing idea, but not something that works so well in reality. In reality, people wear heavy rubber gloves when washing dishes. Did you ever wonder why?
Eco Friendly Too
Not only is it is easy to make hand-use dish soap but making soap for the dishwasher is also possible. Homemade soaps are more gentle and have a great track record of being mild, especially for those with sensitive skin. Besides being gentle on the hands, they leave less of an environmental footprint. Like all other household chemicals, detergents eventually find their way to the water system where they harm fish and wildlife, not to mention the danger to water meant for human consumption. Lastly, making homemade saves money, and who doesn't like saving money?
Homemade Dish Detergent
These recipes are easy to make, will be gentle on the hands and friendly to the environment.
Dish Soap #1
- 2 cups liquid castile soap
- ½ cup warm water
- A few drops of essential oils (optional)
Mix in a spray or squeeze bottle. Shake well before using.
Dish Soap #2
- 2 cups soap shavings (use a box grater)
- 2-3 cups hot water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- A few drops essential oil (optional)
Mix first two ingredients a large bowl, cover and let sit overnight. Stir and add additional hot water if needed to reach desired consistency. Add the vinegar and essential oil. Pour or spoon into a spray or squeeze bottle. Shake well before using.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes
Liquid Dish Detergent
- 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup of vinegar
- ¼ cup salt (optional for hard water)
Combine in a bowl and stir. Pour into a squeeze bottle and shake before use. Add 1 tablespoon per load of dishes, and up to 2 tablespoons for dirtier dishes.
Powdered Dishwasher Detergent
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup borax
- 2-3 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix and keep in an airtight container. Use 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons per load.
And for fun:
Homemade Rinse Agent
- 1 cup vinegar
- 5-6 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix and keep in an airtight container. Fill up the rinse dispenser every time it becomes empty.
If saving money and saving the environment are important to you, make your own homemade dish detergent. There are other cleaning products that are easy to make. Homemade shower cleaner to clean mold and mildew, and window washing solution will save you money. Also easy to make is eco
friendly laundry detergent and fabric softener.
