I canโ€™t get over how expensive dishwasher tablets are. Especially the ecoย varietiesโ€ฆ The sad thing is, ‘eco’ doesn’t always equal eco-friendly. Just because a bottle or packet says ‘organic’ or ‘earth’ means very little.

If you haven’t heard of the term ย ‘green washing‘, let me fill you in quickly… Some companies like to tell us what they’re not including in their products, and print words like ‘natural’, ‘green’, ‘eco’ etc., yet some still use some very questionable ingredients. In Australia, companies are not requiredย to list ingredients on the labels of their cleaning products. True eco brands are fully transparent, with nothing to hide and they’re the brands I encourage you support if DIY isn’t your thing.

This recipe began as a powder. The tablet versionย was born after continual frustration from my husband and I, whenย using theย powder version. It had a tendency ofย clumping together into a solid block, meaning we were hacking at it with a knife to break blocks offโ€ฆ GRRR!ย I figured that purposely clumping powder together andย making โ€œtabletsโ€ myself meant weโ€™d have less hassle eachย evening getting lovely non-toxic dishwasher powder into our dishwasher! Itโ€™s so easy to do. If youโ€™re not already making your own, why not give it a go? And if you have tried and you’re not completely in love with the results, read this blog for some handy tips.

DISHWASHER TABLETS

Makes: 850 gย Prep Time: <5min.

Ingredients

โ€ข 300 g sodium carbonate (washing soda)
โ€ข 250 g citric acid
โ€ข 200 g borax
โ€ข 100 g fine salt
โ€ข 1-2 drops of essential oils (per use)

MY CHOICE OF ESSENTIAL OILS

My favourite essential oils in this recipe areย lime and lemon, but don’tย be limited by my suggestions. Use oils that fitย your budget, or those that you already have in your collection.ย Read here for more information.

Extra equipment required

Moulds or ice-cube trays (silicone is the best choice for ease of unmoulding)

Method

1.ย Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until combined.
2. Spoon mixture into moulds and press down firmly until full.
3. Leave to set for 12-24 hours in a cool and dry place. After this time, turn moulds upside down and gently tap the bottom โ€“ tablets should fall out easily.
4. Place on a tray or sheet of baking paper and leave to dry for a further 24 hours before storing in container of choice.

To Use

Add essential oils (if using) to one tablet and place in the dispenser of your dishwasher prior to operation. Replace rinse aid with a ramekin of vinegar on top shelf.

Recipe Notes

โŒชWhile I am comfortable using natural borax for cleaning applications (check out this blog post), you might prefer to avoid it. If so, just leave it out โ€“ simple! Want to know a secret? The tablets set much better without borax anyway and I don’t notice a difference in cleaning results.
โŒชYes this recipeย is a powder, withย no liquid (there are no typos).
โŒชTablets may stick together, depending on how much moisture gets into your storage container. They should, however, come apart easily enough. If this really bothers you, line tablets on some baking paper and create layers.
โŒชIf you leave this completed recipe (the powder) in a container, it will solidify – so making tablets is best. If your dishwasher only takes powder, either crush before use or throw on the floor of the dishwasher.
โŒชKmart has great ice-cube trays with silicone bottoms that allow you to pop tablets out easily.
โŒชWhen removing tablets, do so over your dishwasher so any excess particles land in your dishwasher rather than wasted on the bench or floor!
โŒชI trust that you will make the decision on whether this formula is suitable for your dishwasher. I cannot take any responsibility if your dishwasher doesnโ€™tย agreeย with this recipe.
โŒชIf you want dishwashing powder,ย simply: Make the mixture,ย spread it on a tray and leave it to dry. Break the mixture up and pop it into a blender (I use my Thermomix). Store in a sealed container.

Krissy Ballinger

Krissy Ballinger

AUTHOR & ADVOCATE FOR NATURAL LIVING

Krissy wants to see a world where people make conscious choices that honour both humans and habitat. It is her mission to gently guide people towards this beautiful way of life. With a background in education and health promotion, she devotes her time to increasing awareness on common and avoidable toxins, as well as educating individuals on simple ways they can adjust their lifestyles to better serve themselves, and the planet. Natural DIY is Krissyโ€™s speciality, and she has sold over 80,000 copies of her recipe books, including her latest book, The Lifestyle Edit, the award-winning, Naturally Inspired - Simple DIY Recipes for Body Care and Cleaning, and her kids book, Make & Play - Natural DIY Recipes for Kids.

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