Okay, this is going to be a genuine conversation have you ever grabbed your dish soap and gone, “What in the world is that?” I did. I was refilling my detergent dispenser one night and paused to read the fine print. (I don’t know why I did this, I guess I just had a little spare time.) I did some reading and had a revelation, and suddenly making my own homemade dish soap wasn’t such a good thought.
I thought to myself, “It can’t be that hard to make your own homemade detergent.” A few natural ingredients, some trial and error, and maybe I could create something that would not only work but not dry my hands out or make my kitchen smell like a chemical factory. I thought, “I just have to try this.” I then thought to myself, “Come on, get up and get moving.”
Related article: Zero-Waste Dish Soaps: Are Solid Dish Bars Better Than Liquid?
The First One I Tested: magic at
I figured I would test it out first using easy ingredients:
- 1 cup liquid castile soap
- 1 tablespoon washing soda
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 10 drops essential oil (I used lemon. Any flavors and scents you prefer can be used)
I mixed all that together in an old pump glass bottle. I shook it up and. surprise, it worked. It was like magic at first. It wasn’t magic, though. It cut through the grease pretty well, surprisingly. Especially in things like cereal bowls and smoothie cups.
Now, if you are dealing with cooked lasagna or greasy pans, you might need to scrub a little more or put some baking soda on top but there was still no odd residue and it washed out clean.
Let’s Get Fancy (or Fancier): spa-like
Feeling a bit adventurous? You can enhance the recipe:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon grated natural soap (or melt small pieces)
- 1 teaspoon glycerin
- A few drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil (for their antibacterial vibrations)
This one felt fancy, for real. Creamy texture, and the scent? Spa-like. I was sniffing my hands afterward like a weirdo.
What to Expect And Not Expect: lack of
Here’s the thing: don’t expect your homemade dishwashing liquid to be as foamy as commercial ones. That’s just not how natural things work. But don’t let the lack of bubbles fool you. It does clean. You just have to retrain your brain a bit.
And besides, it’s not shelf-stable forever. You have to use it within a few weeks or put it in the fridge if you do a big batch. Learned that one the horrible way don’t want to go there.
Sharing the Result of My Experiments: little more
Honestly, I didn’t think I’d stick with it. But I have. It’s easy, can be customized, and gives me a little more control over what touches my skin and dishes. And something about washing the dishes with something you’ve made yourself is satisfying. If you’re even a little curious, just try it. Worst case? You’ll lose some vinegar and time. Best case? You’ll have a new kitchen tradition that’s cheaper, cleaner, and kind of fun.
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