Homemade Dishwasher Tabs

I saw the idea on Pinterest ( and found a set of directions on Glamorous, Affordable Life )and figured since I am going to start making my own laundry detergent, which uses some of these ingredients, why not make my own dishwasher detergent or tabs.

I spent approximately $15.00 on tools and ingredients.   Granted, you don't have to buy the tools like I did.  I just didn't want my kitchen tools to get mixed up with laundry and detergent mixing tools.

I got all the tools from The Dollar Tree.  They included a 2 gallon bucket, a 2 C measuring cup, measuring spoons, ice trays, and a glass bowl.

What you need:
1 box Borax
1 box Arm&Hammer All Natural Washing Powder
4 C Epsom salt
5 Tablespoons lemon juice

What to do:
In your bucket (or large pot) mix the dry ingredients thoroughly.

In glass bowl, pour 2C dry mixture.  Mix in 5 T lemon juice.  Mix well.

Mixture should be moist with small clumps.   Should pack well.

Press moist mixture into ice trays.  (I used the empty ice tray to help pack the filled ice tray-- was easier than using my fingers or a utensil.) 

One batch fills two ice trays.

Set trays out of reach of small fingers, and let dry for 48 hours.  Once they are set, move into a plastic ziplock bag or other airtight container.

Store the rest of the dry mix and all the tools in the bucket.  Cover and store somewhere out of children and pet's reach.  Total mix should make approx 250 tabs. 

((I have tried out one of the tabs in my full dishwasher this morning.  They worked just as well as store bought tabs!))

Note:  Once the tabs were dried, I flipped them onto an old cookie sheet, and then moved them into a recycled dishwasher tab container.  There was a lot of loose powder on the cookie sheet that I am storing in a small ziplock baggie.  I will use that powder for cleaning my disposal, or for scrubbing my sink.  :)