We prefer to do our dishes manually by hand but if you use your dishwasher, know that on the back of your box of detergent are some pretty strict warnings.  How many of us accidentally drop a few grains of dishwashing crystals onto the floor and then have our crawling babies get it on their hands?    It is highly toxic and the box recommends we don’t even breathe it in.  But we are going to wash our dishes where all our food and drinks touch and then enter our bodies???  Doesn’t sound right.

Here is an alternative that is safer to use. Mix the following into a bowl.

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid–found in the canning section
• 1/2 cup kosher salt (for scrubbing action)
• optional– essential oils,  10 drops of orange

Use 1 Tbsp per load.  Even when the detergent opening is larger and will fit more into it, on the back of your “store bought detergent” it recommends using 1 Tbsp only, save your money and use the correct amount.

The citric acid will cause your mixture to “clump.”  If you leave your mixture out on the counter for a few days that will disappear.

For rinsing aid, use straight vinegar .

Are you reducing the amount of chemicals you bring into your home?  Start on day 1 of this series and see why it is so important to remove as much as possible toxic chemicals and cleaners in your home.