Thrifty Thursday: Do the Dishes on a Dime

Make your own automatic dishwasher detergent!

The price of Cascade has pained me for a long time. I went looking for a cost effective and environmentally/septic tank friendly alternative. I've found a recipe that works for me. This recipe costs next to nothing. The Kool-Aid is added for the citric acid, not just to smell lemony fresh.

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Borax (sold in the general cleaning product aisle)
• Lemon Kool-Aid or generic knock-off

Mix the first two ingredients, 2 cups of each. Stir in the packet of Kool-Aid powder. Store in an air-tight container. Put 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each of the little cups in the dishwasher that are for detergent.

EXTRA CREDIT:
Instead of using "Jet Dry," fill that receptacle in your dishwasher with white vinegar. It will work just as well! Container of Jet Dry= $3 vs. Vinegar= $0.03