Homemade dishwasher tablets

debtfreeforlife

I have recently seen a number of recipes for homemade dishwasher tablets, and thought I would try one. I hate the amount of plastic waste in the individually wrapped tabs. Not sure if it will be cheaper or not but I suspect so!

Has anyone else tried this with any success? The recipe i have found asks for bicarb of soda, salt, white vinegar, citric acid and castile soap. And if anyone knows if I can get away with liquid soap flakes (1/3 of the price) instead of castile soap, it would be much appreciated...

baza52

you could just wash up the old fashioned way and save water as well.

Robin9

We don't bother with a tablet at all..

debtfreeforlife

baza52 wrote: »

you could just wash up the old fashioned way and save water as well.

I did a lot of research before buying my dishwasher - if you fill it up completely and use the eco friendly mode on an energy efficient model, it's much more water-efficient to use a dishwasher than wash by hand.

Robin9 - really? Do you find it cleans as well? I'll try it on my machine and see how it goes, I hadn't considered that but happy to eliminate tabs entirely!

Former_MSE_Andrea

I'm subscribing to your thread debtfreeforlife. I'm interested in what other forumites do too!

dingdongsaving

Home made spray in large glass (old soda stream) bottle with screw on spray lid.

Mix of: 50/50 water & vinegar...leave a few cm at the top of the bottle and add a squirt of castille soap & 1-2 tbsp table salt.

*Load the dishwasher.
*Shake & spray from above on bottom shelf then top shelf.
*Shake again & spray 6-8 pumps into the 'tablet' section and close this.
*Run as usual.
(The liquid from the initial sprays is part of the water thet circulates in the first rinse and the liquid from the tablet section is released to circulate when the main wash water enters your machine)

Never had a spot left on anything and a lovely shine. :T

Seakay

debtfreeforlife wrote: »

I have recently seen a number of recipes for homemade dishwasher tablets, and thought I would try one. I hate the amount of plastic waste in the individually wrapped tabs. Not sure if it will be cheaper or not but I suspect so!

Has anyone else tried this with any success? The recipe i have found asks for bicarb of soda, salt, white vinegar, citric acid and castile soap. And if anyone knows if I can get away with liquid soap flakes (1/3 of the price) instead of castile soap, it would be much appreciated...

Are you sure soap flakes are cheaper by weight? they may be now but when I was using castile soap for washing gloop it seemed more expensive but worked out cheaper

debtfreeforlife

Thanks all for your suggestions! I'll definitely give all of your suggestions a try and then feed back.

Seakay, I suspect if I went and looked specifically for castile soap i would find it at a better price - I was trying to get it with an ethical superstore order (to avoid paying postage elsewhere) and they only had the more expensive scented type.

VfM4meplse

Am interested to know where the cheapest supply of white vinegar can be found? I have a lot of limescale to deal with

Farway

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Am interested to know where the cheapest supply of white vinegar can be found? I have a lot of limescale to deal with

There is nothing magical about white vinegar. Bog standard malt will do the same, but staining may occur on some delicate pale items

If just pouring down plug holes or the like use bog standard stuff

dingdongsaving

I use malt in the dishwasher and as softener for my clothes. Never had a problem.

I throw a handkerchief or old flannel in my washer with some essential oil dropped on it and this always makes the clothes smell lovely.