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You are here: Home » DIY » Homemade Dishwasher Tablets

Homemade Dishwasher Tablets

DIY

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Save money -- and a trip to the store -- by making homemade dishwasher tabs with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.

Save money — and a trip to the store — by making homemade dishwasher tablets with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.

Save money -- and a trip to the store -- by making homemade dishwasher tabs with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.

We all know how convenient it is to purchase packs of dishwashing tablets or pods in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store.

What isn’t convenient is the price.

Even if you use a coupon or catch them on sale, it is tough to get them at a reasonable price.

And with the number of loads that we have been running lately, the cost of detergent pods really adds up.

Homemade Dishwasher Tablets

So, instead of handing over a hefty sum for dishwasher tablets, I figured why not try to make my own?

After making homemade fabric softener, I was up for a new DIY project anyway.

Save money -- and a trip to the store -- by making homemade dishwasher tabs with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.

You will find that you can save a lot of money when you make your own dishwasher tablets.

Plus, when you make your own you know exactly what’s in them.

I have also found that there is also a certain sense of accomplishment that I get from making my own household supplies.

Once you make a batch of these homemade dishwasher tablets, and see how easy they are to make, I bet that you will never go back to buying dishwasher pods at the store again.

DIY Dishwasher Tablets Ingredients & Supplies

DIY Dishwasher Tablets Ingredients & Supplies

You will need the following ingredients & supplies to make these DIY dishwasher tablets:

  • Borax
  • Epsom salts
  • Washing soda
  • lemon juice
  • Lavender essential oil
  • Lemon essential oil
  • Silicone Mold

This recipe makes the perfect amount to fill our 24-square silicone mold.

If you do not have a silicone mold, I would definitely recommend you pick one up.

Removing the tablets from the mold is simple since the mold is flexible, and I like how they all come out very uniform.

Shop Supplies

Silicone 24-Cavity Square MoldSilicone 24-Cavity Square MoldSilicone 24-Cavity Square MoldBorax PowderBorax PowderBorax PowderEpsoak Epsom SaltEpsoak Epsom SaltEpsoak Epsom SaltArm & Hammer Super Washing SodaArm & Hammer Super Washing SodaArm & Hammer Super Washing SodaLavender Essential OilLavender Essential OilLavender Essential OilLemon Essential OilLemon Essential OilLemon Essential OilBormioli Rocco Fido Clear Glass JarBormioli Rocco Fido Clear Glass JarBormioli Rocco Fido Clear Glass Jar

How do you store homemade dishwasher tablets?

Store your DIY dishwasher tablets in an airtight glass container near your dishwasher (but out of reach of children and pets).

I swear by Bormioli Rocco Glass Jars — they are easy to open and close, airtight, and dishwasher safe.

How do you use homemade tablets in the dishwasher?

To use. simply place one tablet in the dishwasher as you normally would a detergent pod.

If you are looking for more simple DIY projects, try this easy DIY fabric softener and these homemade cleaning wipes. Or why not treat yourself by making these homemade bath bombs?

Save money -- and a trip to the store -- by making homemade dishwasher tabs with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.
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4.53 from 36 votes

Homemade Dishwasher Tablets

Save money — and a trip to the store — by making homemade dishwasher tablets with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Set Time4 hours hrs
Total Time4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course: DIY
Keyword: DIY cleaning supplies
Author: Jaclyn Shimmel

Equipment

  • Silicone mold
  • large bowl
  • spoon

Materials

  • 1 cup borax
  • ½ cup epsom salts
  • 1 cup washing soda*
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • 8 drops lavender essential oil
  • 4 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

  • Add borax, epsom salt, and washing soda to a large bowl and stir to mix well.
    Wooden spoon stirring a bowl of the tablet mixture
  • Slowly add lemon juice, adding just enough to make the mixture damp enough to mold and stick together.
    mixture begins clumping together
  • Add essential oils and stir well to combine.
    add essential oil drops to mixture
  • Spoon the mixture into a silicone mold. Use your hands to press the mixture into the mold to ensure it is packed in firmly.
    silicone mold filled with mixture
  • Let tablets set until they are fully hardened. This will take at least 3 – 4 hours.
  • When fully set, gently remove each tablet from the mold.
    hand holding a dishwasher tablet, with mold in the background

Notes

  • Washing soda will typically be found it in the laundry aisle near the stain removers.


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Save money -- and a trip to the store -- by making homemade dishwasher tabs with this easy DIY Dishwasher Tablets tutorial.

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By Jaclyn Shimmel | 09/10/2018
Filed Under: DIY

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Comments

  1. Merry says

    09/12/2018 at 8:12 pm

    I had no idea you could make these! This is such a great idea and a great money saver. Thank you!

    Reply
    • faith says

      02/16/2019 at 1:58 pm

      would love to try this

      Reply
  2. Jennifer Soltys says

    09/12/2018 at 8:13 pm

    Wow, that’s really so easy!!! I am doing this for sure!

    Reply
  3. M.D.PANCHAL says

    01/08/2019 at 8:56 am

    liquid & solid form are known but tablet [solid] form is something differ to utilize as novelty. thanks

    Reply
  4. Donna Mandell says

    06/21/2019 at 12:47 pm

    Great idea! DW is getting so expensive even for store brand names. I run my DE at night while everyone is in bed, cheaper to run at night.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Angel says

    06/21/2019 at 9:46 pm

    I would love to try this. Where do you get the silicone mold for this???? Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      06/22/2019 at 11:20 am

      Hi Angel, thanks for your comment! This mold from Amazon would be perfect (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/2XsmBed

      Reply
  6. Terri Smith says

    06/22/2019 at 11:09 am

    Blessed to find your site. . Do you homemake other safe cleaners etc too? I did see home made fabric softer which I plan to print .. plan to use these thanks for your help

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      06/24/2019 at 10:32 am

      Hi Terri! Thank you for the kind words, I am so happy to have you as a reader!

      You may also like this post: Homemade Cleaning Wipes. I am working on a post to show how to make your own dryer balls which should be up in the next few days too.

      Reply
  7. Jinnie says

    10/24/2019 at 8:39 am

    Do these leave any streaks or residue on your dishes?

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      10/28/2019 at 6:56 pm

      None that I have noticed

      Reply
  8. Debbie says

    01/10/2020 at 11:29 am

    Do the essential oils add to the cleaning property? I would like to make them without the oils unless they are necessary. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      01/10/2020 at 2:34 pm

      You can omit the essential oils and it won’t affect how well they work 🙂

      Reply
  9. Alyssa says

    05/21/2020 at 2:48 pm

    Love your recipe here! I’ve been trying to go zero waste so this has helped greatly. Wondering if you have any suggestions on how to make this streak free?? I’ve made three batches now, and we replaced our dishwasher a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I’m still having terrible problems with streaking, even with a homemade rinse aid. Thanks so much for your help!

    Reply
  10. Deanie Ferguson says

    06/22/2020 at 3:11 pm

    Hi Jaclyn,
    I’m a renter and the owner of this property insists that I use only dish washer products with NO lemon or citrus in the ingredients. Is it possible to make this solution without lemon? Do you have a suggestion for an alternative additive for the binder — maybe even water.
    Thanks so much, Deanie

    Reply
    • Jaclyn Shimmel says

      07/06/2020 at 7:46 pm

      Wow that is tough!! To be honest I am not sure how these would be without the lemon juice. Maybe try this recipe just omitting the lemon oil: https://clark.com/story/homemade-dishwasher-detergent-tabs-borax/

      Reply
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