Okay, just like pretty muchall cleaning, washing dishing isnot something I get excited about.
But I AM excited about my homemade dish soap!
Here are some reasons why I lovemyhomemade dish soap(and why I think you’ll love it, too):
- It’s a powerful cleaner, but it’s super mild and gentle on my sensitive skin
- No artificial dyes, fragrances, or preservatives
- Simple to make — only 3 ingredients
- Makes lots and lots of bubbles (and the bubbles last for an entire sink full of dishes)
- Cuts through grease
- Rinses well
- Works great in both soft and hard water
- Gets dishes, silverware, and even glasses squeaky clean and sparkling
- Smells great!
- Cheap to make – only pennies for a sink full of dishes
3 “secret” ingredients that make this homemade dish soap work
- Sal Suds (find it here) – This is a concentrated cleaner made with plant-based surfactants that cut through grease and grime, yet is gentle and mild on skin. I used to use liquid Castile soap, but made the switch to Sal Suds a couple years ago after discovering how much better it worked. Unlike Castile soap, Sal Suds is a detergent. There’s some complicated chemical explanations for the differences between soap and detergent, but the important thing to me is that the detergent works MUCH BETTER for washing dishes (and laundry). Sal Suds makes more bubbles, does a better job of cutting through grease and stuck-on food, and rinses really well (even in hard water). That means that dishes get squeaky clean. Silverware is shiny. Glasses sparkle.
- baking soda – I know,adding baking soda to dish soapsounds odd, right? But it works. It adds a little scouring power to cut through stuck-on food, but is still super gentle on glasses and dishes.
- lemon essential oil – If you’ve ever read any of my other recipes, this ingredient won’t be much of a surprise. Lemon essential oil is a powerful cleaner (and, of course, it smells amazing!) I use lemon essential oil in myanti-mold & mildew spray, homemade soft scrub, daily shower spray, wood floor cleaner, dusting spray, wood polish, all-purpose cleaner, and streak-free mirror & window cleaner. (get all the recipes for these 8 lemon essential oil homemade cleaners HERE)
How to make homemade dish soap?
step 1: add 1 cup Sal Suds (get it here) to glass bowl
step 2: add 1 cup water
(I use distilled water or filtered water that’s been boiling and cooled)
step 3: add 1 teaspoon baking soda
step 4: add 20 drops lemon essential oil
step 5: use whisk to mix together ingredients until baking soda is dissolved
step 6: pour into bottle – a cruet like this or a mason pump like this both work great
Here’s the Essential Oil Dish Soap Recipe One More Time
add 1 cup Sal Suds (get it here) to glass bowl
add 1 cup water (I use distilled water or filtered water that’s been boiling and cooled)
add 1 teaspoon baking soda
add 20 drops lemon essential oil
use whisk to mix together ingredients until baking soda is dissolved
pour into bottle – a cruet like this or a mason pump like this both work great
How to use
- add 1-2 teaspoons of homemade dish soap to sink
- then fill sink about halfway full with hot water
- add dishes to bubbly dish water
- if dishes are especially greasy or have some stuck-on food, I let them soakin the hot soapy water for a few minutes before scrubbing them
- wash as normal
- rinse with water
- dry (either air drying or towel drying works great with this soap)
Where to get supplies?
Sal Suds– I get mine here
distilled water– sold in jugs in the water aisle at grocery stores, Target, and Walmart. Or you can use boiled and cooled filtered water.
Join our email list!
Get essential oil recipes, info, and ideas via our email newsletter.
baking soda– you probably already have this in the pantry. If not, you can get in the baking aisle at the grocery store. I get my baking soda in giant bags at Costco because I use baking soda in so many DIY projects like my bath bombs, homemade soft scrub, stinky foot/shoe powder, dishwasher tabs, shower steamers, and more!
a cruet like this or a mason pump like this both look pretty andkeep the dish soap handy by the kitchen sink
If you liked this post, here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:
homemade soft scrub
8 recipes for cleaning with lemon essential oil
stinky shoe spray
20 Favorite Roller Bottle Blend Recipes and Free Printable Labels
How to make essential oil inhalers + 24 favorite inhaler recipes
Best deals for essential oil supplies– diffusers cases, spray bottles, carrier oils, essential oil tools
Please join us…
we’re on Facebook here
we’re on Pinterest here
click here to sign up our email newsletter
Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link. Thank you for supporting me in this way.
Want to Save This Post?
Enter your email & We'll send it to your inbox.Plus, get essential oil recipes, info, and ideas via our email newsletter!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from One Essential Community.
Related Posts:
- 20 Fall-Scented Hand Soap Recipes {Pumpkin Spice,…
- DIY Pumpkin Spice Cleaner {made with essential oils}
- Scented Bath Oil {easy Christmas DIY}
- DIY Christmas Dryer Ball Spray
- How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne {Simple DIY recipes…
- DIY Reed Diffuser in 20 Fall Scents {pumpkin spice,…