I tweaked the recipe a bit for the homemade dishwasher detergent I’ve been making. It seemed like my glassware and coffee mugs weren’t coming out as clean as they had been, so I doubled the amount of Lemi Shine for each batch of the powder detergent.
Homemade Dishwasher (Powder) Detergent:
I’ve noticed better results after making a batch using two tablespoons of Lemi Shine instead of one. However. I also finally calculated a cost analysis, and when all is said and done, I’m not sure I’m even saving any money!
According to my calculations, using the recipe above and dispensing two tablespoons at a time breaks down to five cents per load.
The Numbers*
- 1 – 76 oz. Box Borax: $2.79
- 1 – 64 oz. Baking Soda: $1.99
- 1 – 12 oz. Lemi Shine: $3.19
*Prices are from my local commissary.
Anyone out there using a homemade recipe for their dishwasher similar to this one? How’s it working for you? Anyone have another tried-and-true dishwasher detergent recipe they’d like to share? The rest of you who don’t make your own dishwasher detergent — how much does your box of powder (or gel) costing you per load?
The last time I went to the commissary, I jotted down the cost of one 75 oz. box of powder Cascade: $4.39. If my calculations are correct, that comes to about six cents per load using the same two tablespoons each time.
Obviously, prices vary per product and from store to store, region to region. But a difference of one cent per load? I’m just not feeling it.
Of course, my numbers could all be wrong. In which case, you numbers’ gurus? Feel free to let me know. I’ve never claimed that math was my thang. right now I’m just looking for someone to give me a reason why I should keep making my own dishwasher detergent instead of switching back to a store brand.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Well – I have done both – and the ‘film’ is from residue = we have soft water here and by using a bit more of the Lemi Shine, it worked beautifully. I don’t use vinegar in the rinse agent container.
The cost (according to my numbers) are better for the homemade – but for me it is more a matter of being ‘green’. Jolyn said “frustration” and “wasted water in rewashing” wasn’t worth the $0.01 a load difference. With all due respect, why did you feel compelled to rewash the load? If it was just the spots as an issue, try more lemi shine. The reason the dishes are spotless with Cascade is because of the phospates. To me, a little bit of ‘film’ that isn’t anything wrong but aesthetics. isn’t worth the damage to the water shed by using phosphates. Just my $0.02 but why are you so frustrated Joyln with a little water film? Just food for thought that there are choices we all make … and the extra water you use to ‘rewash’ the dishes won’t have the phosphates. It isn’t always about the money. No offense intended Jolyn – just a different perspective.
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Jolyn,
Hi, Dustin from Lemi Shine here, I just wanted to let you know about a new humanitarian project we launched called Project Ethiopia. We are challenging our blog friends to help us get the word out. If you would like to write a post about it here are the direct links to the information.
Press Release > http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/lemishine/prweb8896551.htm
Website > http://projects.lemishine.com
Direct Video Link > http://youtu.be/3wL9j4MVV9M
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I’m late on this discussion, but I’m using a little different recipe and adding salt (to soften our hard water) and a 1/2tsp of liquid dish detergent per load. I also put 1/2tsp of the liquid detergent in the pre-wash place as well and so far it’s done as well as Cascade did! We’ll see how it goes over the long run!
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jolyn Reply:
August 29th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Thanks! I may have to give homemade another go!
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I live in the country of Canada and we can’t find a whole lot of the same cleaning luxuries that can be found in bigger cities. Anyhow, washing soda is “sodium carbonate” and I have found that I can get that in the “swimming pool” section at Walmart. They use it in pools to raise the alkaline level in the water. Also, I use the Lemishine (in the detergent) with the vinegar on the rinse cycle since we have really hard water. Good luck with it all! It is fun to play with chemistry in the kitchen! ha ha!
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Jolyn,
I am sorry to hear you are unhappy with your home made dish washer detergent. I got the recipe from the internet but my dish washer went out of order shortly after so as I have to hand wash all of my dishes right now, I could not tell you how I’d have liked the result of the homemade dish washer detergent. One thing though, I did use a bit more than one tablespoon in each cap of the washer. I don’t mind hand washing dishes now since I have minimized a whole bunch of glasses and dishes. I did stop making my own dish liquid soap because the organic liquid soap I used for the recipe was just a bit too expensive for me right now. My laundry detergent, however, is still going strong. We all love it! Are you still making your laundry detergent?
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jolyn Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I am so disappointed about the dishwasher detergent! But I am loving the laundry detergent; I’ll probably do a post on that next week.
I saw your post on your minimizing your kitchen dishes. Very impressive.
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I’ve always wanted to try that, but never got around to it (the recipe I had called just for Borax and “washing soda”. I have no idea what washing soda is, and I’ve never seen either of those things at any stores I frequent, so I just stick to what I can find on sale!) I’d be curious to know what the price for those things are at regular grocery stores, because I wonder if you might end up saving more money per load if you aren’t paying commissary prices? And when all is said and done, do you like the end result of your current recipe more than a store bought brand?
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I’m sure tweaking and playing will lead to a more cost effective recipe in the end… Instead of Borax what about straight Boric Acid from a chemical suppliers? I don’t have a dishwasher so I guess I need to look into a handwash version of this recipe.
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I’ve tried, and been unhappy. Reworked the recipe, tried, and been unhappy. Tried a new recipe, and been unhappy. Eventually gave up and used leftover trials for cleaning toilets and floors. Bought a big container at Costco when it was on sale. Similar costs, way better results. Guilt over not beeing as ‘green’ as I could/should be totally overridden by the frustration (and water waste) of rewashing dishes by hand after the dishwasher.
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I’m not going to be of any encouragement when it comes to the dishwasher soap. I’ve tried several recipes, tried vinegar as a rinse, etc and my dishes always had a film. I like to look for the sales and coupons when it comes to dishwasher soap. But I do still love my homemade laundry soap. Sometimes paying a cent more (cause I think your calculations are close) a load is worth it!
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I have done like Kaci and stocked up on cheap dishwashing soap, BUT I’m wondering how do you like your laundry detergent after using it several months? I’ve seen so many different recipes and mixed reviews on the results that I haven’t tried making it although I’ve had the ingredients for months. My concerns are fading, leaving a film, smell. What do you think of it now?
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try distilled white vinegar instead of the lemi-shine (I don’t really know what that is, but I assume it is to get rid of water spots). The vinegar is cheaper and does the trick. Don’t mix it with the powders, but add it in the rinse slot. My mom and I make ours with A&H Super Washing Soda and Borax (same ingredients we use for laundry detergent- (plus Fels Naptha soap for the laundry).
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I don’t make my own dishwasher soap. But I am currently using Electrosol’s Finish dishwasher detergent that I purchased at Walgreens, on sale for $2.50 a box. Each box does 22 loads. I had $2 off coupons, so I only paid 50 cents a box. So I am spending only 2.27 cents a load. I personally would rather search for a sale and a coupon and stock up on dishwasher soap, rather than make my own.
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jolyn Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:27 am
Excellent point.
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