Making homemade cleaning detergents is a way to ensure that you are cleaning in an environmentally friendly way. This recipe for homemade dish washing detergent will not only satisfy your inner urge to go green, it will save you money. The directions are so simple that your entire family can live green while cleaning the dishes.

Here's what you need to make Dishwasher Detergent and a Rinse Aid:

• 2 cups of Borax
• 2 cups of Baking Soda
• 4 small packets of sugar free lemonade Kool-Aid (you can also use 4 tablespoons of citric acid--if you can find it)
• White Vinegar

Mix everything together by either dumping into a big bowl and stirring it really well or dumping it into a container with a lid and shaking it up. You can keep it in your lidded container or re-use your old detergent box.

Use 2 tablespoons per load. (1 tablespoon in the open cup and 1 in the closed locking cup) Pour some White Vinegar into your rinse aid receptacle and your glasses will come out sparkling! (If your dishes end up covered with a white residue, you probably have hard water and need to experiment with the amount of Borax to use.)

This batch of dishwashing soap cost me about 65 cents to make and it will last for about 100 loads of dishes. Takes less than 5min to make! Do your part in saving our environment. Share this recipe with your friends and family.