Advantages

• Homemade dishwasher detergent is often cheaper than detergents that you can purchase in the supermarket. Thus, families who are trying to save money may want to investigate making their own detergent. This type of detergent is often all natural and contains no chemicals. It is better for the environment and lessens the risk that chemicals will come into contact with food products after the dishes are washed and reused.
  
  

Rinse Dishes First

• Homemade dishwasher detergent doesn't get stuck-on food off of your dishes the way commercial detergents might. If you make your own dishwasher detergent, pre-clean your plates thoroughly. Scrape off any caked-on food or grease and rinse the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. If this seems like too much work, you may want to use commercial detergent instead.
  
  

Easy to Make

• Homemade dishwasher detergent is fairly easy to make. Many recipes require that you use Borax, a multipurpose cleaning agent that is often used as a laundry booster and found in many supermarkets. Mix 1 cup of Borax with 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup salt and 1/4 cup citric acid (you can use two packets of lemon-flavored unsweetened Kool Aid for citric acid in a pinch) and put 1 tablespoon of the detergent into your dishwasher every time you run it. This detergent takes only a few minutes to make and can be stored for several months in an airtight container.
  
  

Rinse Agent

• If you use this type of dishwasher detergent, add a rinse agent to the rinse cycle to help soften your water and help the dishwasher rinse your dishes appropriately. You can use natural products for your rinse agent as well. White vinegar or lemon juice make excellent rinse agents. These rinse agents are also cheaper and better for the environment than many commercial rinse agents.