Eco‑friendly dishwashing: Make your own detergent at home
The dishwasher is an appliance that's hard to imagine a modern kitchen without. It effectively eliminates the dilemma of who should wash the dishes, making clean-up after a meal much easier. To make its use more economical, I decided to make my own dishwashing powder.
Homemade dishwashing powder is the perfect solution for those who want to save on detergents and care for the environment. Instead of buying expensive tablets labelled "eco," you can make your own. A few accessible and affordable ingredients are enough to achieve perfectly clean, spot-free dishes.
How to make homemade dishwasher tablets?
Homemade powder is much more economical than ready-made products. The ingredients are natural, decompose easily, and have no negative environmental impact. Most importantly, it effectively cleans dishes, eliminating even tough contaminants.
Create your own eco-friendly powder in the comfort of your home! You only need a few easily accessible ingredients:
- 250 ml of baking soda,
- 250 ml of borax,
- 125 ml of citric acid powder,
- 250 ml of salt.
Simply combine the ingredients, mix thoroughly, and store in an airtight container in a dry place. Before each use, pour two tablespoons of powder into the dishwasher dispenser and select the appropriate program.
Baking soda and salt act as abrasives and eliminate unpleasant odours, borax effectively removes greasy stains and softens the water, while citric acid adds shine and scent.
Detergents not to use in the dishwasher
Remember to never pour dish soap into the dishwasher, as it can cause the kitchen to flood with foam and damage the appliance. Although it may look impressive in movies, it's better not to risk it in reality.
What should not be washed in the dishwasher?
Although the dishwasher is an extremely useful appliance, not every item can be washed in it.
- Silver and silver-plated items: They can lose their lustre and develop a patina.
- Nonstick cookware: High temperatures can damage it.
- Cast iron and aluminum dishes: They can rust and change colour.
- Enamel and copper dishes: They might fade and lose their shine.
- Wooden items: They can crack or warp.
- Plastic dishes: Not all can withstand high temperatures; make sure they are properly labelled.
- Hand-painted dishes: The decorations may wash off or get damaged.
- Crystal and delicate porcelain: They are prone to cracking.
Additionally, avoid washing in the dishwasher stainless steel cutlery with wooden handles, wooden dishes, copper, tin, aluminum, hand-decorated porcelain, nonstick pots, and certain plastic items that can't withstand high temperatures.
