How To Make Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Pods

updated May 4, 2019
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(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths)

Have you made any lavender laundry detergent yet? Good news: to make lemon dishwasher detergent pods you only need two additional ingredients (kosher salt and powdered lemon). They are fast and inexpensive to make, you know exactly what’s in them — and they work really well! Read on to see how to make yours.

Makes approximately 35 pods. Original recipe courtesy of Happy Money Saver.

What you need:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 1 cup washing soda
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 15 packets of True Lemon or about half an ounce of an equivalent powdered lemon product (usually found in the drinks aisle at the grocery store)

Supplies

  • Measuring cup
  • Mixing bowl
  • Mixing spoon or whisk
  • Ice cube tray or mini muffin silicone cups
  • Small scoop or spoon
  • Storage container

Steps:

(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths)

1) Gather your supplies.

(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths)

2) Put dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and combine.

3) Add water and wait for fizzing to stop. Give the mixture another good stir.

(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths)

4) Spoon mixture by the tablespoon into your ice cube tray or equivalent. I used mini silicone muffin cups. Press the spooned mixture down as flat as possible. Use the back of your spoon or scoop. Consider that the final shape needs to fit in your dishwasher’s dispensing compartment.

5) Set the tablets out to dry. I took mine outside and they dried in a few hours in our Florida heat.

(Image credit: Shifrah Combiths)

6) Gently take the dried pods out of their molds and place in a storage container. I used a re-purposed jar with a spray-painted lid.

7) Use white vinegar as a rinse aid.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

My dishes come out more sparkling than my previous earth-friendly liquid product left them, and when I open the dishwasher, I’m greeted with a slight but non-chemical lemon scent. I love these pods and I think you will too!