Save with dishwasher tablets: do it yourself

If you have a dishwasher, you probably use conventional washing powder or specific dishwasher tablets. However, the content of these products is often problematic. For example, They may contain phosphates, which do not break down and pollute the water.

Also, pills are often wrapped in plastic. Now there are some brands that are based on degradable ingredients, but they aren’t cheap and sometimes they don’t clean very well. If you make your own dishwasher tablets, there are a number of benefits for you and the environment:

You know the ingredients You save on packaging and plastic waste Homemade pills are cheaper

Make dishwasher tablets yourself

To make dishwasher tablets you will need several ingredients. Many of them are true SUVs in the home. Surely you already have some at home:

Ingredients (for 16 pills):

75 g baking soda (domestic): frees from grease, dirt and odors 75 g citric acid: effective against limescale 75 g sodium carbonate: loosens heavy dirt 25 g special dishwasher salt: softens water 4 tablespoons of water: mixes the ingredients and holds them together Essential oil: optional for the smell, but also for the effect. Lemon oil and orange oil have a cleansing and antibacterial effect. It is best to use natural oils.

If you live in an area with low water hardness, salt is not necessary in homemade dishwasher tablets. However, in dishwashers there is a separate compartment for special salt, which you should always keep full.

Necessary household items:

To make your own dishwasher tablets, Also, you need:

1 ice cube tray (stainless steel molds are better for the environment than plastic or silicone ones). 1 spoon

Elaboration:

Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them. Little by little add the water. The ingredients will now start to foam. This is normal, as citric acid and baking soda react with each other, so only use as much water as you need. Avoid inhaling the steam. Stir it all up. The consistency should be quite firm, similar to wet sand. If you want to add essential oil, add it now. Fill the holes in the mold with the help of the spoon, pressing down well. The dough may still rise a bit as the ingredients continue to react with each other. Now let the mold dry in a dry place at room temperature for 24 hours. Then you can simply flip the pan over and the tablets will pop out.Place homemade dishwasher tablets in an airtight container; for example, in old screw-top jars. keep them dry

Hints and Tips for Making Homemade Dishwasher Tablets

Dishwasher tablets are usually dry in the mold within 24 hours. If you take them out of the mold while they are still slightly wet, they may break and lose their shape. To avoid this, play it safe and leave them for a day or longer if they don’t seem to be dry enough yet. You don’t need much to make your own dishwasher tablets. If you are missing some ingredients, this is usually not a problem. However, mix at least citric acid and baking soda with water.Baking soda and salt support and improve the cleaning effect of the dishwasher tablets. If you want to avoid too much foaming, you can put the citric acid at the very end.The number of pills you get depends on the capacity of your ice cube tray. Increase or decrease the amount of each ingredient as needed. When choosing the shape of the ice cubes, you must ensure that the individual tablets fit in the compartment of your dishwasher. If necessary, do not overfill the mold.Wash your dishes as often as possible on the Eco program, as it uses less water and electricity. Rinse the ice cube tray well after using it to make detergent tablets. If it is dishwasher safe, you can put it in it. If you leave out the water and essential oil, you have homemade powdered dishwashing detergent. Usually about two tablespoons per wash is enough.