Homemade dishwasher tabs can be a great way to save you money and also enable you to control of what goes into your dishwasher since many conventional dishwashing gels, detergents, and tablets are laden with noxious chemicals that we seek to avoid! Enter homemade dishwasher tabs: an eco-friendly, wallet-friendly alternative that will leave your dishes clean and household all the more focused on non-toxic living.
Why Homemade Dishwashing Tablets?
Store-bought dishwasher tabs often come in plastic packaging that ends up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution. By making your own tabs, you can minimize your ecological footprint and take a step towards a greener lifestyle.
Also, homemade dishwasher tabs allow you to control the ingredients, which is major perk with the like-minded ingredient buffs who come to
Heal Yes!® for clean products. Many commercial brands contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to both your health and the environment. By enlisting natural and organic ingredients, you can help ascertain a safer cleaning regimen.
When to Whip Up Your Own Tabs?
Whether you're tackling a sink full of dishes after a family gathering or simply need to clean up your daily mealtime mess, homemade tabs can handle the job with ease.
As with everything, though, there are exceptions. For heavily soiled pots and pans or dishwasher-safe items that require heavy-duty cleaning, such as oven racks or greasy grill grates, specialized, professionally formulated and sometimes even commercial-grade formulas might be needed. Homemade tabs excel at regular dishwashing but might not have the same power for tackling stubborn, baked-on grime. However, do still be ingredient-discerning and vet formulas carefully. We don't want to introduce carcinogens and toxic chemicals into a non-toxic-striving household.
How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Tabs
Here's a simple recipe to get you started, though variations can be used, and do play around with your own recipe as you see fit:
Ingredients:
1 cup of washing soda
1 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of citric acid
1/2 cup of kosher salt
10-15 drops of essential oil (optional)
Water (as-needed; elaboration is below)
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine the washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and kosher salt. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil such as lavender, lemon, orange, etc.
Slowly add water to the mixture, a little at a time, until it reaches a wet sand-like consistency. Be cautious not to add too much water.
Using a small ice cube tray or silicone mold, firmly pack the mixture into each compartment. Smooth the top with a spatula.
Let the tabs dry and harden for approximately 24-48 hours; once dry, gently remove them from the mold.
Store the homemade dishwasher tabs in an airtight container until ready to use.
When using the tabs, simply place one in the dishwasher detergent compartment of your machine and run your usual dishwasher cycle. Sit back, relax, and let your homemade creation work its magic!
The Take-Away: Eco-Yes and Ingredient-Yes!
DIY dishwasher tabs may not have the same chemical power as commercial products, but they offer an eco-friendly wash for your dishes wherein you're in control of the clean ingredients comprising the tablets. Since you're ingredient-savvy, do give Heal Yes!® clean cosmetics, skincare, supplements, and other healthy living products your time and attention to help round out your comprehensive healthy lifestyle!
