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Field Notes

Dishwasher Detergent

soap detergent
kitchen dishwasher washing-soda citric-acid unprocessed
Mix 5 min
Yield ~3 cups powder (~48 loads)
Keeps 6–12 months
Storage airtight container
Notes Keep completely dry. Moisture causes clumping. Add a small clay desiccant pouch if stored in a humid area.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • ½ cup coarse salt (kosher or sea salt) — non-iodized preferred
  • ½ cup citric acid — used SEPARATELY as a rinse aid — see instructions
  • 20–30 drops lemon or orange essential oil — optional — adds grease cutting and scent

Overview

Most homemade dishwasher detergent recipes mix all the ingredients together and call it done. The problem is that washing soda (a base) and citric acid (an acid) neutralize each other when combined, and you lose the cleaning power of both. Commercial detergents get around this with synthetic buffering agents. We don’t have those, so we use a smarter approach: keep them separate.

The powder detergent (washing soda + baking soda + salt) goes in the main wash compartment. It does the heavy cleaning — degreasing, stain removal, and scrubbing. The citric acid goes in the rinse aid compartment or the pre-wash cup. It does the finishing work — dissolving mineral deposits, preventing water spots, and leaving dishes with that streak-free shine.

This two-step method works dramatically better than mixing everything together. It’s also how commercial dishwashers are designed to work — detergent in one phase, rinse aid in another.

Instructions

Making the Detergent Powder

  1. Combine the washing soda, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.

  2. Add essential oil if using, and stir to distribute evenly.

  3. Transfer to an airtight container. A mason jar with a tight lid works well. Keep a tablespoon measure inside for easy dosing.

Making the Citric Acid Rinse

Keep the citric acid in its own separate, dry container. You’ll add it to a different compartment in the dishwasher.

How to Use

This is a two-compartment system:

  1. Add 1–2 tbsp of detergent powder to the main wash compartment (the one with the door that opens during the wash cycle). Use 2 tbsp for heavily soiled loads.

  2. Add 1 tsp of citric acid to either:

    • The pre-wash compartment (the small open cup), OR
    • The rinse aid compartment if your dishwasher has one and it’s empty

  3. Run your dishwasher on the normal cycle.

Alternative method: If your dishwasher only has one detergent compartment, put the detergent powder in the compartment and sprinkle 1 tsp of citric acid loosely on the bottom of the dishwasher before starting. The citric acid will dissolve during the initial rinse, and the powder will release during the main wash — naturally separating them.

Optional: Making Detergent Tabs

If you prefer the convenience of tabs:

  1. Mix the detergent powder with just enough water to make a damp, packable mixture (about 2–3 tbsp of water per cup of powder).

  2. Press firmly into silicone ice cube trays or mini muffin tins.

  3. Let dry for 24–48 hours until rock-hard.

  4. Pop out and store in an airtight container.

  5. Use one tab per load. Still add citric acid separately.

Note: Don’t add citric acid to the tabs — it will react with the baking soda and weaken both ingredients.

Troubleshooting

Cloudy glasses or white film: This is almost always a hard water issue. Try these fixes in order:

  1. Increase citric acid to 2 tsp per load.
  2. Make sure you’re pre-rinsing dishes to remove food residue.
  3. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher before running.
  4. Run an empty cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar to clean mineral deposits from the machine itself.

Dishes not getting clean:

  1. Pre-rinse or scrape dishes — this detergent doesn’t have the synthetic enzymes that commercial pods use to dissolve caked-on food.
  2. Use hot water. Run your kitchen faucet until the water is hot before starting the dishwasher, so it begins with hot water.
  3. Increase detergent to 2 tbsp per load.

Powder clumping in storage: Moisture is getting in. Transfer to a truly airtight container and add a silica gel packet or small clay desiccant pouch. Store away from the sink.

Tips

  • Pre-rinse your dishes. This is the single biggest factor in how well homemade detergent performs. Commercial detergent has enzymes that dissolve food; ours doesn’t. A quick rinse before loading makes all the difference.
  • Don’t use castile soap in the dishwasher. Soap creates too many suds in an enclosed dishwasher and can overflow. This recipe uses washing soda as the primary cleaner instead.
  • White vinegar works as a rinse aid in a pinch, but citric acid works better and doesn’t carry the (small) risk of degrading rubber seals over time.
  • Non-iodized salt works best. Iodine can leave a slight residue. Kosher salt or plain sea salt are ideal.
  • You can make washing soda from baking soda. Spread baking soda on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for one hour. The heat converts sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate. See the series landing page for detailed instructions.

Cost Breakdown

  • Washing soda (1 cup): ~$0.40
  • Baking soda (1 cup): ~$0.25
  • Salt (½ cup): ~$0.10
  • Citric acid (½ cup): ~$1.00
  • Total per batch: ~$1.75
  • Cost per load: ~$0.04

Compare that to commercial dishwasher pods at $0.20–0.40 each.