Comments on: Homemade All-Natural Dishwasher Detergent

By: suzanne

suzanne — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:09:18 +0000

I just read the link you posted and here’s what it said at the bottom:

As a sidenote: This issue does not apply to combining Sal Suds with vinegar. Sal Suds, as a synthetic detergent, has a completely different chemical makeup and does not react with the vinegar in the same way. Vinegar would even add more degreasing power to the mixture.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:15:17 +0000

Oh, and I was using the Sal Suds, not the Castille soap.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:14:31 +0000

What affect does the tea tree oil have? I made some without it because I wanted to see how well it would clean before I went through the effort of finding tea tree oil, which I was thinking was more of a disinfectant? But my plates are not coming clean… they’re scummy looking where the food used to be on the plate. And I put vinegar in second cycle. I may just use a sponge and wipe them off before they go in… but I was trying to take the suggestion of using less water.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:12:50 +0000

Ruhi, thanks for posting that link, but sal suds isn’t the same as Castile soap. At the bottom of the article, it says that since sal suds is synthetic, vinegar wouldn’t affect it the same way.
I just bought a new dishwasher and am looking for a homemade detergent that I’m sure won’t damage it. I made this recipe with my last dishwasher and it works great for me, bit it did suds a lot. My dishwasher died after 11 years, but I don’t know that it was because of the detergent; frigidaire says their life expectancy is 10-12 years anyway. Thanks for the recipe Lindsay!!

By: Tammy Jo

Tammy Jo — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:28:32 +0000

Lindsay, I was just wondering if you are still using this dishwashing liquid? This past month I made a similar liquid and used it all up. And, I lOVED it!!! Everything came out super clean and the glasses were better than doing them by hand! Even the dishwasher looks better! The salsuds did not foam or make a mess at all. Unfortunately, I lost my recipe. I think it was almost identical to yours but I am quite sure it had grapefruit seed extract in it. Hmm… I was doing a bunch of filing that day. I am sure I will find it it in the wrong file sooner or later. I’ll let you know when I do. : )

By: Ruhi

Ruhi — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:40:37 +0000

I wasted a lot of soap making this recipe and I’m stuck with a big bottle now I understand now that I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Instead, this recipe is incorrect. We shouldn’t be mixing soap + Vinegar together.

Please read this blog post:

http://lisa.drbronner.com/?p=292&cpage=1#comment-1568

By: Stephanie P.

Stephanie P. — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:04:45 +0000

Hello! Just reading this site and checking things out.

I’ve read from several dishwasher repairmen (from posts just like this one about making your own dishwasher detergent) that soap of any kind actually damages your dishwasher. Our washing machines for laundry can take it but soap leaves a gummy residue on dishwashers which is why almost every single homemade detergent stops working after a while.

I promise I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer…it’s just what I’ve read.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:26:09 +0000

Lindsey,

I really love this recipe and it seems to be getting my dishes squeaky clean but I have one concern. The detergent is totally liquid and it leaks out of my dispenser before it is supposed to. Does that happen to you? Is there anything I can add to the mixture to make it more of a paste so it doesn’t leak out, like Borax or something?

By: Jesica Ronning

Jesica Ronning — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:03:38 +0000

I have to try this! I’m so tired of having the store bought dishwashing detergant stuck to the dishes when I take them out and having to rinse everything off! Worries me with my two little ones! Thanks!!!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:44:50 +0000

I’m sorry but this appears to be the dilemma…but then again I encounter this dilemma with all the natural dishwasher products I have tried. Adding vinegar to the rinse aid helps.