Ready to trade your over-priced and chemical-laden dishwasher detergent for something better? Then, try this simple recipe for homemade detergent. I have made many batches of this myself. It’s easy to make, saves so much money, cleans very well, and leaves no residue on the dishes.

Not only is this recipe frugal, it is good for the environment by being a green product and avoiding the chemical-laden store brands. Why flush harsh chemicals into our water treatment system where it ends back in our tap water.

Why This Works:

Borax and baking soda are both natural disinfectants and mild abrasives – just what you need to blast away stuck on food and germs. In fact, you may be interested to learn that Borax is a common ingredient in many commercial detergents. You can get both of the ingredients at most local grocery stores in the laundry aisle.

What You Need:

* 1 Tablespoon Borax
* 1 Tablespoon baking soda

What You Do:

Mix the Borax and baking soda together. Then, add to your dishwasher’s detergent compartment, and run as usual.

Benefits of Making Your Own Dishwasher Detergent:

* inexpensive
* no harsh chemicals
* does not emit chlorine gas like other commercial detergents
* effective sanitizer
* effective stain remover
* effective water softener
* environmentally-friendly (phosphate-free)

Tips and Warnings:

1) Borax also sells under the name 20 Mule Team, and can be found on the laundry aisle.

2) Save time by making up big batches of dishwasher detergent, consisting of equal parts Borax and baking soda.

3) Keep prepared detergent out of the reach of children and pets.