How To Make Non-Toxic Dishwasher Tabs

Make Your Own Dishwasher Tabs

More and more people are choosing to avoid toxic chemicals that make up the everyday products we use to keep ourselves and our homes clean and healthy. Dishwasher tabs are no exception to this. Today I want to show you how to make your own dishwasher tabs using  only five ingredients that are safe, natural, and a much healthier alternative to store-bought tabs. But first, let’s address a few key questions you may have.

Is it safe for my dishwasher?

The short answer is yes. We are not using anything in these tabs that can harm your dishwasher or affect its efficiency, durability, or shorten the life span of the dishwasher itself. If anything, these tabs can help extend the life of your machine as it will no longer ensure the negative effects of the harsh chemicals in your current dishwasher tabs.

Does it actually clean the dishes?

Again, the short answer is also yes! Now to be completely transparent and fair – I always pre-rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher because the last thing I want is food getting cooked onto the dishware. It’s a thing. You know it. I know it. Doesn’t matter what type of cleaning tabs you’re using… stuck on grime happens when you don’t pre-rinse your dishes.

Is it economical to make your own vs buying tabs?

Yes! Where I live in Ontario, Canada – It costs about $23 for 70 dishwasher pods these days. That works out to about $0.33 per pod. Now to make them, I can make approximately 96 tabs and it costs me about $18. That works out to roughly $0.19 per tab. By making them I am cutting my costs almost in half. So not only is it easy on your health, but it’s also easy on your wallet.

Let’s Get Down To It

Alright, so now let’s get to the good stuff. All you need is the following items to make your own non-toxic dishwasher tabs:

• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• ½ cup Citric Acid
• ¼ cup Salt
• 4 Tbsp Vinegar
• 15 drops Essential Oils (optional)

You will also need:

• A Large Bowl
• Ice Cube Tray x2

Putting It All Together

Mix the dry ingredients together until they are well blended. Add the vinegar, slowly. It will fizz, so pour a little bit at a time and mix it well before adding more. Then, if using, add the essential oils to the mix. You should have a crumbly mix at this point. Scoop out the mix and press it into the ice cube tray. Depending on the size of your tray, you should get approximately 24 tabs out of this recipe. Wait 24 hours for them to harden before removing the tabs from the tray. Transfer tabs to a ziplock bag and use 1 tab per wash.

That’s pretty much all there is to it! A simple, easy, non-toxic cleaner for your dishes. Enjoy!