Homemade dish washing liquid
Homemade dish washing liquid. After using the homemade laundry detergent for over a year and loving it, I decided to try dishwasher detergent and I love it too! Next on my agenda was to try homemade dish washing liquid. I can tell you that I am also loving it ♥
Here is the simple, recipe to follow to make your own dishwashing liquid. This recipe makes 1 1/2 gallons which will probably last my family of 5 at least 6 months 😀
Gather your supplies:
- Large stock pot (3 gallons or larger)
- 1/2 bar grated soap (octagon works best)
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup washing soda (not the same as baking soda)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
1. Bring 2 gallons of water to a boil in the stock pot.
2. Turn down to medium low and, after the boiling has stopped, add grated soap, baking soda, washing soda, and lemon juice to the water Allow to “simmer” with the lid on for about an hour, stirring every 20 minutes or so. DO NOT BOIL!
3. Turn mixure off and allow to cool. I stirred mine about every hour or two while it was cooling to keep it from separating.
4. Pour into a container for storage. I used 2/1 gallon pitchers from Walmart. This allows for easier pouring into smaller containers. ENJOY!
Do you use this in your dishwasher or just in the sink?
This is for washing dishes in the sink 🙂
omg!! this looks like so much fun and would save me a ton of money . Where do you buy the zote ssoap and what is washing soda?
How much do u use per wash load?
That would depend on how dirty your dishes are, but I use about a tablespoon 🙂
How gentle is it on your hands? I have dry sensitive skin. I also have really hard water.
How well does it cut grease?
Is it easy to rinse off?
I love this liquid. My skin tends to dry out, but not with this liquid. It is really easy on my skin and tough on grease!
I don’t know? Mine didn’t overflow! The only one I’ve ever had overflow is the laundry detergent and that’s because I had it set too high.
I have a question: I used Fels Naptha with the above recipe. I now have this goopy yellow stuff at the top of the jar and liquid underneath ~ is this normal? I did not cook it for an hour so maybe that’s why it seperated….. any ideas?
Thanks!
I tried a modifyed version using a microwave. It worked. I used citric acid instead of the soda wash. I also noticed If I put too much citric acid in it turns watery. I also wonder if you put baking soda in your lowering the ph that the soda wash/citric acid created.
Okay, I had trouble with overflow myself. I think you instead of medium low, the cooking temp should be slightly above simmer. This recipe wouldn’t tolerate anything above the “#2” setting on my stovetop.
That’s probably a great idea 🙂 You also might try a larger pot.
I probably should have, but was working with what I had. Works great BTW 🙂
I made some liquid soap (different recipe, but similar) and my soap ended up all goopy. I wasn’t able to use it in my pump soap dispenser…. Can you use this liquid soap in a soap dispenser?
I cannot find this kind of soap in my area! I am mixing up a batch with “kirks castile soap” right now….hope it works!!
I obviously did something wrong…mine just looks like dirty water and doesn’t did at all! 🙁
I’m not sure Jill. If you are following the directions, it should be working 😀 The soap will not suds and bubble like regular dishwashing liquid.
Maybe I cooked it wrong? I have a ceramic top stove and it seems very hard to control the “boil”. Medium low heat will cause the water to start a low boil again. I have to put it all the way low to not boil, which seems too low and every time I would try to raise it a little it seemed too high and the suds would rise. I must have cooked all the suds out. It seems like it should be way thicker though. What’s the purpose of cooking it for an hour? Maybe it would work better if just the soap it cooked enough to melt and then remove from heat and dry ingredients stirred in till dissolved then cooled?
Try cooking it on low. The purpose of cooking it for so long is that it allows you to cook very slowly while the soap dissolves 😀 Try again and let me know 😀
How much do you have to use? I made some yesterday but it does not sud. Is it suppost to? Thanks for the recipes.
No, it does not make bubbles 😀 You use a tablespoon for 1 regular load of dishes.
I found Octagon bar soap at Earlys in Scott 🙂
I made this using Zote soap. That’s all I could find. It has lumps in it, but they seem to disolve if I use the sprayer in the sink. However, it is also separating. There is a yellowish water in the bottom of the jug that I have it stored in, so I have to shake it before using. Are the lumps and separation normal? If not, how can I fix it?
Also, I would like to use the Fels Naptha soap for some of the cleaners, but I can’t find it anywhere. Has anyone bought it recently? Where at? Northside Walmart doesn’t carry any of the laundry bar soaps.
I got fels naptha from Amazon.com.
I used Fels Naptha soap and I am not having success on cutting grease. I fear I may be too spoiled by Dawn soap. Any suggestions? I am considering mixing in some borax as it says it is good for grease removal. I would love your thought. I am new to this.
I’ve found Fels Naptha at our local grocery store, Lowe’s, and my husband found Zote at Home Depot. I used Zote for this and I have the same problem with it separating. Anyway to rescue the already made dish liquid??
I would try blending it in the blender a little bit at a time 😀