In each detergent cup in the dishwasher , place 2 TABLESPOONS EACH: Borax and baking soda Wash as usual. I found this recipe in the book: A Simple Choice , a practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity by Deborah Taylor-Hough I'm going to be using this recipe on Friday, I should be out of my Casade by then and I'll give this a go and let you all know if it works or not.
Crystal, I've read some dire things about the damage automatic dishwasher detergent can do to the human body, even though the residue is mostly rinsed off. Your recipe probably eliminates the risk. I'll have to look up that book. Thanks!
I have heard different things about dishwasher detergent too. Especially those with the sheeting action.
Ladies it worked GREAT!!!! I'm so happy!!! There was zero smell, the dishes are clean ( and I have an older dial type dishwasher, no fancy setting, just heavy, normal or light wash) and I think I will be saving money also. I paid $1.87 for 4 lbs of baking soda and $2.12 for 4 lbs of Borax ( I also used a few tablespoons in my laundry today and they came out smelling good and clean). I just mixed a big batch and put it in a zip lock bag with a spare laundry detergent scoop inside with a line marked on it to show where 4 tablespoons were at ( on the scoop).
It's safe for laundry too?? I'm almost out of dishwasher soap, I think I will do this instead. Thanks!
Yep its safe! I did a load of towels with it and they came out really soft and smelling clean. We have hard water and its states that it is a hard water softner. Right on the Borax box it actually states: Natural Laundry Booster! It also states that it is safe for washing machines, pipes, and septic tanks. No phosphates or chlorine!! It lists about 20 other things that you can clean with Borax on the box so I will be cleaning everything with this product!! Water , vinegar , baking soda and Borax are my weapons of choice for cleaning the whole house!!
Just a note of caution… I did a lot of research (including reading the EPA study on Boron and Compounds :|) on Borax when I began to use cloth diapers and found that I was not willing to use it because of the risks. Here is an article you may want to look at before using Borax, especially to clean dishes. http://www.naturemoms.com/dangers-of-borax.html
Sense SeekTruth posted that warning I let my fingers do some walking on the internet. First: on the box it says you can soak your fine china in Borax and water then rinse.If you can do that you can eat off of it also. Also they recommend washing Baby clothes with it in HOT WATER , to prevent residue/build up. Second: Borax needs hot water to help it rinse away. Here is some of the article that SeekTruth posted from ( their link inside the article that they referenced): Borax has many chemical properties that contribute to its cleaning power. Borax and other borates clean and bleach by converting some water molecules to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This reaction is more favorable in hotter water. The pH of borax is about 9.5, so it produces a basic solution in water, thereby increasing the effectiveness of bleach and other cleaners. In other chemical reactions, borax acts as a buffer, maintaining a stable pH needed to maintain cleansing chemical reactions. The boron, salt, and/or oxygen of boron inhibit the metabolic processes of many organisms. This characteristic allows borax to disinfect and kill unwanted pests. Borates bonds with other particles to keep ingredients dispersed evenly in a mixture, which maximizes the surface area of active particles to enhance cleaning power. Third: here are 3 more recipes you can use also: http://tipnut.com/homemade-dishwasher-detergent-recipes/ This article above states that if you have residue from the Borax/baking soda recipe to use only the fill cup and put vinegar in the rinse cup to prevent residue. As with everything you must be careful and do research. I used Casade for 30 years now and I fill much better having Borax and Baking soda clean my dishes then I ever had with Casade. Just make sure you have no residue, just like with other detergents. You wouldn't eat off a plate with Casade still on it either.
And if you aren't comfortable using Borax/Baking Soda - still do the white vinegar in the rinse agent spot! It works GREAT....and it's so much cheaper than the other ones! .69 for about a years worth!
Here is a list of products that include Borax in them , even Burt's Bees and 7th Generation products!!!: Products that contain this ingredient: Brand, Category ,Form ,Percent, : Cheer Liquid Laundry Detergent Inside the Home liquid 1-5 Tide Free Ultra Liquid Inside the Home liquid Ivory Snow Liquid Laundry Detergent Inside the Home liquid 1-5 Spray N Wash Stain Stick-04/11/2002 Inside the Home solid 1-2 Dip-It Food and Beverage Stain Remover Inside the Home powder Seventh Generation, Natural Lavender Laundry Liquid Inside the Home liquid 0.03-3 Seventh Generation, Sensitive Care Laundry Liquid Inside the Home liquid 1-10 Dreft Liquid Laundry Detergent Inside the Home liquid 1-5 Tide Ultra Liquid Inside the Home liquid Wisk Ultra Concentrated Detergent Inside the Home liquid Spray N Wash Laundry Stain Remover Stain Stick Inside the Home solid 1-2 Seventh Generation, Free and Clear Laundry Liquid Inside the Home liquid 0.03-3 Seventh Generation, Baby Laundry Liquid Inside the Home liquid 0.03-3 Boraxo Hand Soap Personal Care powder Desitin Diaper Rash Ointment, Fresh Scent Personal Care cream Boraxo Special Heavy Duty Powdered Hand Soap Personal Care powder Twenty Mule Team Powdered Hand Soap Personal Care powder Burts Bees, Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion for Sensitive Skin Personal Care liquid Desitin Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Treatment Personal Care cream Boraxo Hand Soap-12/29/2000 Personal Care powder Pink Luron Powdered Hand Soap with Skin Conditioners Personal Care powder Kent pH Control Plus for Fresh Water or Marine Pet Care powder <5 Four Paws Petdental Liquid Tartar Remover for Dogs Pet Care paste Kent pH Stable Pet Care powder <5 Here is the link: http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=chem&id=10
We were given a used dishwasher and Handsome just installed it. I am going to try this today. I can't wait!
I tried it, and it did not work for me. I'm not sure if it's because I have an energy efficient dishwasher, and it uses less water?? It didn't rinse off the dishes well. At least I can use both ingredients for other things!!
I have ran out of soap before and MONEY for the month ... I once used vinegar... I'd rinse the dishes well.. put vinegar in there and run it on the hottest cycle.
Thanks for the info! When you mixed a big batch, did you just mix equal parts of the Borax and baking soda (like 2 cups borax, 2cups baking soda)? I am so gonna try this! I am always looking for effective ways to save money! I will try the vinegar idea in the rinse agent thingy! (its late and I am soooo tired and cant think to put a sensible sentence together! lol!)
Vinegar really does well in the mop water also~it makes the floors shine! You really dont have to worry about the smell~that dissapates quickly!
