Let’s Talk About Homemade Dishwashing Liquid (Yes, It Works)
Okay, this is going to be a real conversation—have you ever looked at the label of your dish soap and thought, “What the hell is that?” I did. One night, while refilling my detergent dispenser, I stopped and read the fine print. (I don’t know why I did this, I guess it was just a moment when I had some free time.) After some reading, I had a revelation, and suddenly, the idea of making my own homemade dish soap didn’t seem so crazy.I thought, making your own homemade detergent shouldn’t be that hard. A few natural ingredients, a little trial and error, and maybe I could find something that would actually work without drying out my hands or making my kitchen smell like a chemical factory. I thought, “I really need to give this a try.” Then I said to myself, “Come on, get up and get started.”
I thought I would try it first with simple ingredients:
The first one I tried was super simple:
- 1 cup liquid castile soap
- 1 tablespoon washing soda
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 10 drops essential oil (I used lemon. You can use any flavors and scents you like)
I mixed everything together in an old glass pump bottle. I shook it up and… to my surprise, it worked. It seemed like magic at first. It wasn’t magic, but it cut through the grease surprisingly well. Especially in things like smoothie cups and cereal bowls.Now, if you’re dealing with cooked lasagna or greasy pans, you might need to scrub a little more or sprinkle some baking soda on top—but there was still no weird residue and it rinsed clean.
Let’s Get Fancy (or Fancier)
Feeling a bit bold? You can level up the recipe:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon grated natural soap (or melt small chunks)
- 1 teaspoon glycerin
- A few drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil (for their antibacterial vibes)
This one felt luxurious, honestly. Creamy texture, and the scent? Spa-like. I kept sniffing my hands afterward like a weirdo.
What to Expect—And Not Expect
Here’s the thing: don’t expect your homemade dishwashing liquid to foam like commercial brands. That’s just not how natural stuff works. But don’t let the lack of suds fool you. It still cleans. You just have to retrain your brain a little.
Also, it’s not shelf-stable forever. You’ll want to use it up within a couple of weeks or store it in the fridge if you make a big batch. Learned that the gross way—let’s not go there.
Sharing the Result of My Experiments (But Not Sure)
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d stick with it. But I did. It’s easy, customizable, and gives me a little more control over what touches my skin and dishes. Plus, there’s a certain satisfaction in doing the dishes with something you made yourself.If you’re even remotely curious, give it a try. Worst case scenario? You’ll run out of vinegar and time. Best case scenario? You’ll have a new kitchen habit that’s cheaper, cleaner, and kind of fun.
