Dishwasher Powder or Tablets

Analisa Malone


This is a popular recipe, and for good reason. It's quick to make, uses simple ingredients, and works just as well as many commercial dishwasher tablets.

You can use this in powder form which is the quickest, easiest and most effective solution. However, you can convert into tablets, which is fun and handy for some purposes like scrubbing grout or oven glass.

The ingredients aren't just for the dishwasher either. They're handy for soaking tea towels, removing stains from mugs, cleaning pots and pans, and a range of other household tasks.

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The Recipe

500g (~20 loads) Makes / Yield
< 1 minute Time

Ingredients

  • Washing Soda
    1 cup (250g)
  • Sodium percarbonate
    1 cup (250g)
  • Optional: Coconut Soap Flakes
    1-2 teaspoons 
  • Optional: Essential Oils
    5-10 drops
  • Water (for tablets only)
    1-2 teaspoons

Method

Making powder? Complete Step 1 only — then it’s ready to use.

  1. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, taking care not to inhale the dust. Add essential oils, if using. For powder, transfer the mixture to a jar and it’s ready to use.
  2. For tablets, slowly add water, a little at a time, until the mixture resembles damp sand. It should hold together when pressed without feeling wet.
  3. Press the mixture firmly into silicone moulds or ice cube trays. Leave to dry for 1–2 hours, or until completely hardened, before removing and storing in an airtight container.

Good to know

For best results
  • Use a hot wash cycle — eco or short washes generally give less reliable results.
  • Pair with a rinse aid, vinegar or a citric acid solution in the rinse compartment.
  • Use only on dishwasher-safe items, and never on aluminium.
  • Hot water is essential to activate the percarbonate.
How does this compare to commercial tablets?

Both will clean your dishes. The difference is everything around that core function. DIY dishwasher tablets are typically:

  • Cheaper 
  • Simpler 
  • More versatile 
  • Lower waste

The cleaning outcome is similar but the system behind it is not.

Why are my tablets too soft or crumbly?

This usually comes down to water content. The mixture should feel like damp sand. Too much water can cause tablets to puff, crack or soften; too little can cause them to crumble.

If tablets do crumble, don't worry, the crumbs are still perfectly usable, and nothing needs to be wasted.

What can I use as rinse aid?

Use vinegar or a citric acid solution in the rinse aid compartment. This helps neutralise residue and improve glass clarity without interfering with the wash cycle.

Is this safe for septic or greywater?

This recipe is septic-safe. It doesn't contain phosphates, chlorine or synthetic fragrances. Greywater use is more nuanced: while the ingredients are biodegradable, they are alkaline, which may not be ideal for garden reuse. If greywater diversion is important to you, this is worth considering.

My dishes came out cloudy, what should I do?

Cloudiness is usually a sign of mineral residue rather than poor cleaning. Try:

  • Using a rinse aid consistently
  • Reducing the amount of powder slightly
  • Avoiding overloading the machine
  • Cleaning your dishwasher if you've recently switched from commercial pods

Hot cycles generally give more reliable results than eco or short washes.

Why this works

Washing soda (sodium carbonate)
Main alkalinity agent. Softens water and breaks down grease, so the percarbonate has less to fight through to reach the actual stains.

Sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach)
Releases hydrogen peroxide in hot water to break down organic residue, stains and odours on dishes and inside the machine itself.

Coconut soap flakes (optional)
A mild surfactant that helps lift grease. Optional here since most of the cleaning work is already done by the soda and percarbonate.

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