In an effort to make my home eco-friendlier, I've begun making my own cleaning supplies. Not only is it cost-effective, but I feel like I'm taking care of myself and my planet by being more conscious about what I use to care for my home--including the dishes I wash.  

As a fan of home cooking--the ritual of preparing a nourishing meal and the health benefits of doing so--I can rack up a lot of dirty dishes just by spending an hour in the kitchen.  I've found that many green dishwasher detergents include unnecessary and, in some cases, harmful ingredients.  Thus was born my quest to find a more sustainable solution to the sinkful of dishes waiting for a good cleaning.  

This recipe for my eco-friendly dishwasher detergent is a love child born from mixes by Wellness Mama, Thank Your Body, and Overthrow Martha.  After months of testing, I found the perfect recipe that gets dishes clean and, with a little help from vinegar, sparkling.  An added bonus to this recipe is that, since you aren't buying packaged detergent, you are also cutting down on packaging waste.  I buy the ingredients in bulk and mix as needed, storing it in a mason jar.  

As with all my recipes, this one shouldn't take you more than a handful of minutes to whip up. Homemade anything is wonderful...as long as it isn't too labor intensive!

ingredients:

1 cup washing soda

1 cup citric acid

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup sea salt

Combine all ingredients in a large mason jar (or another container) and shake vigorously.  Makes three cups (roughly 24 loads). Pour approximately 2 tablespoons per load.  Add vinegar in your dish washer's rinse compartment to avoid clouding on dishes.  Enjoy!