How to Make Automatic Dishwater Detergent at Home

Put on vinyl gloves and a paper filter mask before preparing this mixture. While the ingredients are common household items and not normally dangerous in small quantities, the combination can be caustic and irritating in contact with the skin or mucus membranes. Also, when mixing powdered chemicals together, you can inhale powder fumes, which can irritate your lungs.

Mix together two parts borax powder, two parts washing powder and one part of kosher salt in a plastic container. Washing powder (sodium carbonate) is a distinct product from baking powder (sodium bicarbonate) and has a much more alkaline pH, making it unsafe to add to food. The kosher salt is an anti-clumping agent and helps with hard water.

Use two teaspoons of the mixture for a normal load and three for a heavy load. For glassware, add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the dishwasher to prevent a cloudy film.