When I wash my dishes at home I make sure to soak dirty dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.Water is the best cleaner to remove burnt food or sticky food residue left on dishes instead of using a harsh cleaner. Before putting any dishes into the dishwasher I give them a quick rinse with hot water so I will not have to use as much dishwasher powder.
Instead of using a store bought dishwashing machine detergent, I make my own using borax and baking soda. I mix 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of baking soda in a repurposed plastic jar. I make sure to label the jar and add a lid. From this jar I use 1 to 2 teaspoons of this mixture depending on the dirtiness of the dishes.Â
One reason that I make my own dishwasher powder is because it is less expensive. It costs me about $3.79 to buy 75 ounces of generic store brand dishwasher powder. It costs me $2.78 to make the same amount at home. It is not a huge savings but, every little bit saved adds up.Â
Another reason that I make my own dishwasher powder is because I can make it with readily available products I have at home. When I run out of dishwasher powder I can make a new batch instead of running to buy it at the store.Â
I have been using this homemade dishwasher powder for 3 months and it cleans as well as the store bought powder that I have previously used. I encourage you to make your own homemade dishwasher powder and give it a try!
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