How to make your own dishwasher tablets?

Washing your dishes in the machine would be more ecological and economical than washing your dishes by hand. But it is still necessary to use detergents that respect the environment. Find out how to go further in a zero waste approach by making your own dishwashing tablets made from natural ingredients: our recipes and simple and effective tips!

And yes ! For a large quantity of dishes, washing your dishes in the machine is more ecological and more economical than washing your dishes by hand … The dish washing machine, if used properly, can save water and not insignificant energy. However, it requires the use of specific detergent products which are far from ecological, because they pollute and disrupt the balance of the water cycle. We reveal here an alternative to these toxic products thanks to our recipe for natural dishwashing tablets!

Why make homemade dishwashing tablets?

The DIY recipes (Do It Yourself or Do It Yourself) are on the rise, as they offer a healthier, more environmentally friendly and more economical alternative to industrial products.

Home-made for:

  • Use a healthy product: the ingredients used in a DIY recipe are natural and non-toxic to you and the planet.
  • Reduce the use of plastic: plastic is one of the most important sources of pollution of this century. Today, the tablets sold in stores are all wrapped in plastic film. And even if some offer an alternative that dissolves in water, they are nonetheless harmful to the environment. In an effort to reduce waste, making your own household products makes it possible to minimize the use of plastic and unnecessary packaging. Only three or four ingredients purchased will allow you to cover your needs over several months for a significant reduction in waste.
  • Save money : making your own dishwasher tablets is at least half the cost of buying off-the-shelf tablets.

See also: How to clean a dishwasher that smells bad? Our natural and economical tips!

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Our recipe for homemade dishwashing tablets

There are a large number of dishwashing tablet recipes. We selected the easiest to achieve and the one that seemed to us the most efficient. But you will see it, you may have to adapt it depending on the hardness of your water or the dirt on your dishes.

Ingredients and material:

  • Citric acid, naturally present in lemon juice for example, descales, cleans and dissolves stains

Citric acid, THE ECOLOGICAL DRUG, 500g, € 4.75

  • Soda crystals degrease everything. They are also very irritating to the skin, so handle with care.

LA DROGUERIE ÉCOLOGIQUE crystal soda, 500g, € 3.09.

  • Baking soda degreases, deodorizes, softens hard water. It is an excellent antibacterial.
  • Percarbonate of soda complements the cleaning powers of other products by reviving white (also very useful in laundry)

Percarbonate of soda, aromazone, 500 g, € 2.90

  • A little water to bind the ingredients together
  • An ice cube tray type mold, to have identical doses

The preparation steps:

  • Mix the powders well using 5 tbsp of each.
  • Distribute a dose of the mixture in each compartment of the ice cube tray (about a tablespoon)
  • Spray very lightly with water. It must not foam. And pack well with a spoon or a wooden stick
  • Let harden and dry overnight
  • Unmould and store the tablets in a dry place, such as an airtight glass jar.

You can use the same recipe without adding water to make a dishwasher powder. Make sure to mix it well and keep it dry.

Our tips for even more efficiency:

This recipe is super easy to make, however, will not have the same results for everyone. Indeed, several variables can influence the efficiency of your homemade dishwasher product.

  • Water hardness: In France the quality of water is unfortunately not equal from one region to another. It can be more or less chalky. It will then be necessary to adapt the recipe by adding for example a little more baking soda or citric acid. A tip is also to add white vinegar and coarse salt in place of the rinse aid each time you wash. They have a formidable effectiveness on limestone.
  • The dirt on your dishes: Depending on your cooking habits, your dishes are more or less difficult to clean. In the case of very dirty dishes, we recommend a hand pre-wash with Marseille soap or leave your dish in water long enough to soften any encrustation before washing it in the machine.
  • The maintenance of your dishwasher: As with laundry and washing machine laundry, a well-maintained dishwasher is a guarantee of clean dishes. If, in order to save energy, it is advisable to use the eco washing program most often, it should also be possible to do this once a week. wash at 70 degrees to effectively degrease your machine. Also remember to regularly clean the filter of your machine.

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