As I continue towards ridding my home of as many harsh chemicals as possible, dish soap is next on the list. I began using a toxic-free all purpose cleaner a few years ago and still find it extremely effective! I then like to freshen up any linens with my natural linen spray and remove any stubborn stains with my DIY carpet cleaner. Before I know it the house is smelling fresh and feeling so clean!
Dish soap is a product I utilize multiple times each day since we do not have a dishwasher. I’d really enjoy having peace of mind knowing that the dish soap I submerge my hands and dishes into isn’t harmful to me or my family! I also need a soap that cuts through grease and this recipe does just that!
Say hello to squeaky clean dishes and the knowledge that your dish soap is safe for all.
Find out all you need to know about making this toxic-free, liquid dish soap by reading below. If you’d like a clean, cost effective dish soap made with basic ingredients and cuts through grease…this is your new favorite dish soap recipe! All the needed ingredients and step-by-step instructions are just below. Find more info about the effectiveness of each ingredient by scrolling below the instructions. I also have some recipes for other natural home products listed at the very end of this post. Enjoy!
Why I Use Natural Cleaners in My Home
- Peace of mind. I want to know exactly what the ingredients are that I use in my home. This cleaner consists of basic items that are safe for every member of the family. Say good-bye to those long lists of ingredients that no one knows how to pronounce (much less know what they are).
- Toxicity. Conventional products contain some extremely harsh chemicals. The kinds that you don’t want your children messing with. If our children shouldn’t touch them…why is it “OK” to spray them all over the surfaces of the home?
- Cost. This cleaner costs so much less to make than purchasing a cleaner from the grocery store.
How to Make All Natural Dish Soap
Keep in Mind
- This product is not intended to be used as dish washer detergent. Only utilize iti as hand washing dish soap!
- Sometimes the product will begin to harden as it sits. Just add a bit of warm water and give the solution a good shake and it should loosen up again.
- The washing soda acts as a thickening agent to the soap, so the more you add the thicker it will become!
What You’ll Need
- Mixing bowl or mason jar
- Glass or metal soap dispenser
- 1 1/4 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of washing soda
- 1/4 cup of liquid Castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented)
- 1 TBS of vegetable glycerin
- 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional) (I suggest a mix of tea tree and lemon)
- Jojoba oil (optional)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a mason jar.
- Secure the lid and shake the jar well in order to combine all of the ingredients together.
- Add to a glass or metal soap dispenser and get to washing!
The Function of Each Ingredient
Glass or Metal Jar
Essential oils can eat away at many types of plastics, so glass and metal containers are the best option for products containing essential oils.
If you decide not to use essential oils in your dish soap, then plastic will work just fine for storage!
Water
Water acts as a diluent in natural cleaners.
Washing Soda
Washing soda cuts through grease and also works as a thickening agent to the soap.
Liquid Castile Soap
Castile soap is a natural soap that comes in bar or liquid form. I suggest using the liquid Castile soap for this recipe. This ingredient, of course, is our cleaning agent!
Vegetable Glycerin
This product is very gell-like and will make the dish soap lather.
Essential Oils
There are a few functions of essential oils in cleaners: fragrance, antibacterial, and cleansing properties.
As I mentioned earlier, I prefer to use tea tree and lemon essential oils for my dish soap because citrus oils cut through grease amazingly well and tea tree is antibacterial!
Other options are lime, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, and more.
Just add 20-25 total drops of essential oils to your cleaner.
Jojoba Oil (optional)
Jojoba oil is an optional ingredient if you desire a skin softening agent in your dish soap.
How to Use This Product
Fill the sink with warm water, add about 1 TBS of dish soap, swish around to combine with the water, and begin cleaning those dishes!
You can also place a small amount of dish soap on a rag or sponge and wash each dish. Rinse with warm water and allow to dry.
How Long Does it Last?
Up to one month. I suggest making smaller batches so that none of it goes to waste!
More Natural Home Products
- Stain Remover for Carpets
- DIY Non-Toxic Dusting Spray
- All Natural Linen Spray
- DIY All Purpose House Cleaner
Mine turned out rock solid
Hello, Jamie! Mine would do the same if I didn’t use it daily or if it got too cold (under my sink is very cold in the winter!). What worked for me is to run hot water around the outside of the bottle that the soap was in for a few minutes and shake well. You can also try adding hot water to the solution and shaking again. I hope this helps!
Question do you find this to be really drying on the hands? I added 2oz olive oil because it’s what I had on hand and my hands still feel really dry. Any suggestions?
Do you have any suggestions on making this recipe thicker or more sudsy? I love it but my husband isn’t convinced without the bubbles!