Dishwasher detergent

This one is next because people have been asking about this a lot lately.

We didnt have a dishwasher until we moved here.  So I was super excited to get a new one shortly after we moved it (because the one that was here was 30+ years old and basically just gave everything a hot rinse).    I was not excited when I would pour a glass of water into a fresh-out-of-the-dishwasher glass and it would suds up.  Just a little bit, but still.  Nothing says 'refreshing' like knowing you are drinking soap. Blech.
So I asked around.  And I do not have a link for this because a friend gave me ideas.

 I usually make up about 4 cups at a time- because that's the most (and still mixable) amount my little container holds.  Which, by the way, is labeled with a permanent marker straight onto it. I do not have time or care at all about fancy printed labels for something that is going to live under my kitchen sink.  (No offense to my label-maker happy friends out there.)  Anyways.  "Dishwasher Detergent" it says on the lid and I think the side.  It's a little faded, but you can still read it- in real life, not this picture.

So. 2 cups of Borax. 2 cups of Baking soda. a layer of salt. Shake shake shake.

I saw something about using Washing Soda instead of baking soda.  I tried it and I dont think it did as well.  Sometimes I make it halfsies with the baking soda.  Like 2 cups of Borax, 1 cup Washing soda, 1 cup baking soda.  But let's face it, the less ingredients, the better!  Especially when I'm out and I just pour them directly into the dishwasher thing.
My little old Tupperware midget is a perfect size for measuring. 

Rinse Aid:  I was putting straight vinegar into the Rinse Aid compartment.  But then I read a bunch of things about it messing with rubber parts inside the dishwasher when it sits there for a while (because each load uses so little that it does just sit in there).  So I've just been putting a cup with some in it toward the back of the top rack.  It doesnt really help dry as much.  But it does help get rid of more germs.  Which is the part I like!


And now... No chemical residue on our dishes!  No suds in my drinking water!  And I am happy. 
Let me know if you try it!

Cleaning 101

First.  I won! Second place, but still the same prize.  I am stoked about my new slippers and will definitely be posting a picture when I get them. 

Second.  Let's do this. 

First requested was for a post on my homemade cleans.  Aaaaanddd guess what.  Recently has been a time of making more of a bunch of them.  How convenient!

What's this?  Just baking soda and vinegar?  Yes. So simple!  something needs to be scrubbed?  Baking soda!  Wiped down? Vinegar!  The spray bottle is for convenience. 

The baking soda:  I put in a (cleaned out) Parmesan  cheese container so it's easier to sprinkle/pour.  I do not use this kind for cooking.  The giant bag is for cleaning... everything :)


Things about vinegar that I love:
1. It kills germs.
2. It doesnt stink once it's dry. (I hate the chemically smell of everything when I was done cleaning when I used them.
3.  It doesnt irritate anyone's lungs.
4. Kid safe!

Sometimes I dilute, sometimes I dont.  Just depends on my mood I suppose.  It cleans everything, too!  Windows, mirrors, other glass. (I think it works better than "streak free" Windex! Especially straight.) The sink, counters, tables, anything that needs to be rid of germs.

A little twist on this:

Need a link?  Pick one from here
So Jesse doesnt love the smell of vinegar.  So I thought I would work on that.  And Pinterest gave me some ideas.   Citrus has cleaning powers, too, ya know.  And if things need to *smell* clean, citrus is the way to go, especially instead of bleach or ammonia or whatever else.

So the sites I saw said to let it sit for a week or ten days. Around there.  OR you could forget to do that part and actually finish it after 3 weeks.  Oops.  But it still works.  And it smells good.  And I need to get more oranges to I can just keep this going all the time I think. The spray bottle had a couple ounces of vinegar left in the bottom and I left it there.  I strained the little pieces out of the mix and voila! Better smelling cleaner.  It's not a pretty color, but that's okay.  And I used a little before I added a bit of water.  There is no measuring in this one.  It's abotu 3/4 gone right now, so I'll just have to fill 'er back up with the straight stuff until I can get this going again.  But this one is definitely a keeper. 
Oh!  It's not quite as fantastic on glass.  Maybe the oils from the peels?  But I did use it and then just straight water and my mirrors are clear. 

So there you have it!  The real basics of chemical-free cleaning. 
And why do I do this?  Because it's cheaper than buying chemicals to clean everything.  And I really prefer kid-friendly.  (so it's safe for them to be around what was cleaned and they can do it, too!)  And for health purposes.  My boys have asthma issues.  And Alex's were terrible when he was little.  And I didnt even know this when I started, but I noticed *on my own* that his symptoms greatly improved when I stopped using chemicals.  I'd been chemical-free for a few years before I found anything to back me up (ok- I didnt look, I just happened to see an article somewhere and then had to share it for all the people who thought I was nuts).  This is not the article, but I figured if I claimed something, especially medically related, I should have something.  His asthma is not 100% better.  Especially now with living in a super drafty old house.  And neither is Tristan's.  But I dont want to know how bad his would be if I used "real" cleaning products. 


Stay tuned for dishwasher detergent!