Eco Friendly Dishwasher Soap?

[ArtsyMomma]

Does anyone have any recommendations? We are moving to a house with a dishwasher!! Yay!! I've been handwashing dishes for 6 people for way too long.

[dbsam]

I've tried many, but the only thing that works with my water and my dishwasher is Ecover tablets.  I use vinegar as the rinse agent.

[mommariffic]

I will second the Ecover tablets!

[bignerpie]

I just started using homemade dishwasher detergent about a month ago. I mixed equal parts baking soda and borax in a container, use about 2 T. per load, and keep the rinse thingy filled with white vinegar. It works great!

[ArtsyMomma]

I use ecover for my mutipurpose cleaner! Ill pick up some of the dishwasher tablets! Awesome!

I love the idea of doing my own dishwasher soap! I already do my own laundry detergent, I didn't really think about doing my own for the dishwasher.

[NikonMama]

I third the Ecover tabs, they are great!!  I also use vinegar as the rinse agent.  :)

[sunnysandiegan]

Like others, I use Ecover tablets. I fill the dispenser with vinegar (it runs out fast, though) and once a month I pour about a cup into the dishwasher, especially if it's a load with a lot of glassware.

[bignerpie]

Originally Posted by ArtsyMomma 

I love the idea of doing my own dishwasher soap! I already do my own laundry detergent, I didn't really think about doing my own for the dishwasher.

If you make your own laundry detergent, you already have the ingredients! I've read some places that recommend using citric acid with the detergent, especially for hard water. My water is about as hard as you can get, and I haven't had any issues with just the baking soda/borax/vinegar combo. No film or streaks left on the dishes, and everything is clean.

[BCFD]

Costco sells EcoTabs in bulk.  I have enough to last me about 2 years!!!!

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by BCFD 

Costco sells EcoTabs in bulk.  I have enough to last me about 2 years!!!!

Wow - I never go down that isle at our Costco...I wonder if our Costco has Ecover tablets too.  I also have about two years worth because I stock up whenever UNFI has them on sale.  But I'm guessing the Costco price is better than the UNFI sale price which is $4.66 for a box of 25 tablets.
 

[ArtsyMomma]

I have really hard water where I live now, but I'm not sure about the water where we are moving to. We are going from town water to well water (yay!). The water here is awful. I do my laundry detergent with borax, washing soda and fels naptha. I just started adding calgon, a few capfuls to my mix. I've never tried citric acid.
 

For my laundry soap, I make a weird gel. Do you do a liquid version, or a dry version for dishwasher soap?

Oh, and we don't have any fancy dishes or anything like that! I'm not worried about the stuff going in the dishwasher.

Originally Posted by bignerpie 

If you make your own laundry detergent, you already have the ingredients! I've read some places that recommend using citric acid with the detergent, especially for hard water. My water is about as hard as you can get, and I haven't had any issues with just the baking soda/borax/vinegar combo. No film or streaks left on the dishes, and everything is clean.

[ArtsyMomma]

We don't have a Costco, but we do have a Sams Club - I could try checking there. If not, I am sure they sell them at Wegmans.

Originally Posted by BCFD 

Costco sells EcoTabs in bulk.  I have enough to last me about 2 years!!!!

[MsFortune]

We use 7th Generation or Trader Joe's house brand

[bignerpie]

Originally Posted by ArtsyMomma 

For my laundry soap, I make a weird gel. Do you do a liquid version, or a dry version for dishwasher soap?

 

I do a dry version. I took an old coffee container, put a cup of borax and a cup of baking soda, and stirred it up. I was at the dollar store one day and saw these coffee scoops, which are 1/8 cup, so I bought one for my dishwasher and one for my laundry detergent (I make dry laundry detergent, too). One scoop in the dishwasher is all it takes. The only bad thing is remembering to keep the rinse filled with vinegar. I can't tell when it's running low, so I never know when it's empty. I just try to fill up once a week or so.

PS- Hooray for well water!

[ArtsyMomma]

Thanks! That sounds simple enough! I'm going to start out with the tabs, since I know the move will be a big transition for us but I'm looking forward to making my own dishwasher soap! I might just be excited to have a dishwasher!

LoL I am so excited about going back to well water, I grew up with well water! I hate our city water so much - it ruins our clothes, it ruins the fixtures and appliances, I think it makes my skin and hair dry...I could go on and on...

Originally Posted by bignerpie 

I do a dry version. I took an old coffee container, put a cup of borax and a cup of baking soda, and stirred it up. I was at the dollar store one day and saw these coffee scoops, which are 1/8 cup, so I bought one for my dishwasher and one for my laundry detergent (I make dry laundry detergent, too). One scoop in the dishwasher is all it takes. The only bad thing is remembering to keep the rinse filled with vinegar. I can't tell when it's running low, so I never know when it's empty. I just try to fill up once a week or so.

PS- Hooray for well water!

[jadekat]

Originally Posted by dbsam 

Wow - I never go down that isle at our Costco...I wonder if our Costco has Ecover tablets too.  I also have about two years worth because I stock up whenever UNFI has them on sale.  But I'm guessing the Costco price is better than the UNFI sale price which is $4.66 for a box of 25 tablets.
 

I just ordered some Ecover tablets off Amazon. I paid $25.78 for 6 boxes. I used to get mine thru UNFI also.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by jadekat 

I just ordered some Ecover tablets off Amazon. I paid $25.78 for 6 boxes. I used to get mine through UNFI also.

Thanks, that is a little less expensive.  I checked Amazon in the past and they were higher than UNFI.  I need to look again - after I go through the 25 boxes I have here!.   OT, but...I'm noticing many things I used to purchase through UNFI, like Eden beans, are less expensive on Amazon.  Over the years UNFI prices have definitely increased and are often not a savings.

[crunchy_mommy]

Guess this is kind of an old thread, but those of you that use borax -- did anyone find it left a weird taste/smell on your dishes? We only use borax for laundry now because I couldn't stand the way water tasted in the borax-washed glasses... Now we just use baking soda & vinegar (or lemon juice) in the dishwasher but sometimes I feel like it needs just a little more something (something like borax minus the weird taste!!)

[bignerpie]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

Guess this is kind of an old thread, but those of you that use borax -- did anyone find it left a weird taste/smell on your dishes? We only use borax for laundry now because I couldn't stand the way water tasted in the borax-washed glasses... Now we just use baking soda & vinegar (or lemon juice) in the dishwasher but sometimes I feel like it needs just a little more something (something like borax minus the weird taste!!)

One day, I'd like to try this recipe- http://flitterbugsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/homemade-dishwasher-detergent.html . I wonder if the citric acid would help the smell issue you're having?

I have noticed a strange smell/taste to my dishes occasionally, especially the glasses, but it's happened with my homemade detergent and store-bought detergent. I've never thought about what might be causing it, though since it only happens once in a while.