How to make your own dishwasher tablets at home

When Di Barker was going through chemotherapy to treat breast cancer, the experience prompted her to evaluate the type of chemicals she used around her home.

She had always wanted to live in a "clean environment" and wanted to make her home as chemical-free as possible.

"There are a lot of toxins that were going into my body and I just wanted to try and improve the quality of the products I was using," Di  told ABC Radio Sydney.

After examining the "nasty chemicals" used in the household cleaning products she had been buying for years, she decided to start making her own.

One of her DIY items is dishwasher soap tablets using basic ingredients. 

A huge cost-saving

Di buys her ingredients in bulk and makes about a month's worth of tablets at a time.

She says each tablet costs about 13 cents each, compared to as much as $1.19 per tablet when bought at supermarkets.

Most of the ingredients are available at supermarkets but buying them in bulk from online stores brings the price down.

"It just takes a little bit of planning in terms of making sure that you've got the base ingredients in the cupboard," Di says.

"As long as you keep those stocked up, you can often make a whole lot of things without too much trouble.

"It takes about five minutes or so to mix them up. Then you just put them aside for about 24 hours and they harden up, and then you're done." 

Dishwasher detergent recipe

Here is Di's simple five-ingredient recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup washing soda
• ½ cup sodium percarbonate
• ¼ cup citric acid
• Juice of half a lemon
• Droplets of tea tree oil

Method:

1. 1.Mix washing soda, sodium percarbonate, citric acid in a bowl. Add lemon juice and allow the mix to bubble. Add drops of tea tree oil.
2. 2.Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.
3. 3.Pack a silicone-based ice cube tray with the mixture. Let sit for 24 hours.
4. 4.Turn the ice cube tray upside-down and push out each tablet.
5. 5.Store tablets in an air-tight container in the cupboard.

Tips:

• Wear rubber gloves while making the tablets to avoid skin irritations
• Sodium percarbonate is sold online by home brewing outlets
• Use a silicone-based ice cube tray. This makes it easier to push the mixed tabs out. Ensure the "cubes" will be the right size for your dishwasher.
• When the tablets are being left to harden up, keep them out of reach of pets and children.