Homemade Dishwasher Powder

I have been using the Finish Powerball tablets for my dishwasher and they are realy good but very expensive. I buy them in bulk in Big W for $50 for 112 (Box contains 8 boxes of 14 which is about 0.45 a dishwasher load) as aopposed to about $7 a pack of 14 in the groceries (woolworths) It is a saving to buy the big box at Big W but it is still quite expensive.

I decided that since I was so happy with my Laundry Liquid I would search out a homemade dishwashing powder recipe. There are lots and lots of recipes and much debate about the quality and the ingredients.

The one I use is:

1/2 c of borax (from the laundry aisle in woolworths)
1/2 C of washing soda*  (Lectic soda powder in the laundry aisle at woolies)
1/4 C of table salt
1/4C of citric acid (you get this in woolies in the cake aisle near the baking powder and cream of tartar , you can also buy it  more cheaply & in bigger quantities and from Home Brewer shops)

Put everything in a screwtop jar and shake. Label and store in your safe chemical cupboard so no lil people can get to it just as you would the dishwasher tablets.

Use 1 tablespoon per dishwasher load. 

NOTE: Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate and in australia it is called Lectic Soda and is in the Laundry Aisle and comes as crystals or a fine white powder. I use the powder one. DO NOT USE BAKING SODA which is sodium bicarbonate or your dishes will come out with a white film over them!)

Keep the ratios the same and you can make up bigger quantities for convenience. But as these are ingredients I keep handy all the time and it literally takes 2 shakes to make up I make up a batch about every 2-3 weeks as I need it. We use our dishwasher EVERYDAY :( and dont pre-rinse as we are on tank water. If I have a very tough stain like the lasagna baking dish or boiled potatoes that have gone rock hard I will just fill the dish with hot water and soak overnight just like I did with the store bought one.

I made up a small sample and tried it over many loads over a week and it worked just brilliantly- and in my opinion -it did a better job of cleaning the glassware than the finish did.