DIY Dishwasher Pods: How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Pods

homemade dishwasher pods

DIY Dishwasher Pods: How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Pods

Every day, it feels like there’s another story about a company or corporation misleading its customers. From greenwashing to bypassing quality standards and even selling dangerous or contaminated products, it can be difficult to trust the products we see on the shelves.

For this reason, some people choose to make their own cleaning products, like homemade dishwasher pods. Sure, it’s a great way to avoid nasty ingredients, but as you’ll soon see, making DIY dishwasher pods is also a lot of work! 

Today, we’ll show you how to make homemade dishwasher pods, but we’ll also introduce you to pods with transparent, effective, clean ingredients. They’ll save you time, work better than DIY dishwasher pods, and contain the same safe ingredients you’d be using at home anyway. 

So, if you want to save time and enjoy clean dishes without using harsh or dangerous chemicals, get your safe, effective dishwasher pods here at Clean People. 

Why Dishwasher Pods Are Better Than Liquid Detergent

When it comes to cleaning dishes, you have two main choices for detergent: pods or liquid. While liquid is the more traditional option, it’s been replaced in many households by dishwasher pods. Let’s take a look at why pods are now the more popular choice for sparkling dishes. 

Convenience and Efficiency

Dishwasher pods couldn’t be quicker and easier to use. Each pod contains a pre-measured dose of detergent, which means you don’t have to waste time measuring out detergent, or deal with messy spills on your floor or dishwasher. 

Plus, many people using liquid detergent actually don’t realize they’re using way too much – an unnecessary expense that costs consumers millions of dollars each year. Why spend more money, waste more time, and deal with spills when you could simply just pop a pod into your dishwasher? 

Performance Benefits

Dishwasher pods aren’t just more convenient, they also work better. They are formulated to dissolve quickly and distribute evenly throughout the dishwasher, ensuring that every dish, glass, and utensil is thoroughly cleaned. 

Many pods include advanced ingredients like enzymes and rinse aids, which break down tough food residues and prevent water spots. This results in sparkling clean dishes with less effort and fewer rewashes compared to liquid detergents. 

Plus, the concentrated formula of pods often delivers better stain removal and overall cleaning power, making them a superior choice for maintaining your dishware’s cleanliness and shine.

The Appeal of DIY Dishwasher Detergent Pods

Learning how to make dishwasher pods at home can be a time-consuming process, so why do people bother? There are a few perceived benefits of DIY dishwasher pods, which we’ll break down here. 

Cost-Effective Cleaning

One of the main advantages of DIY dishwasher detergent pods is the cost benefits that some families feel they bring. Certain dishwasher pods can be expensive, and, depending on the ingredients you use, homemade dishwasher detergent pods can be significantly cheaper. 

Most of the ingredients in DIY dishwasher detergent pods, like baking soda, washing soda, and citric acid, are fairly inexpensive. You can produce a large batch of homemade dishwasher detergent pods for less than the cost of most commercial brands you’ll see on your supermarket shelves. 

Customization and Control Over Ingredients

Another big advantage of homemade dishwasher pods is that you can control exactly what goes into them. Many dishwasher pods on the shelves contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, and unnecessary (and even potentially harmful) additives. 

When you make homemade dishwasher pods, you can control exactly what goes into them. You can choose natural, non-toxic ingredients that are safer for your family and the environment. If you have any specific allergies or insensitivities, you can simply avoid troublesome ingredients. 

How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Pods: DIY Dishwasher Pods Recipe and Instructions

So, let’s talk about how to make dishwasher pods DIY. Strap yourself in – this isn’t a simple process, but if you want to give it a go, here’s how to make your own dishwasher pods. 

What You’ll Need for DIY Dishwasher Pods

What are dishwasher pods made of when you go the DIY route? Here’s what you’ll need for homemade dishwasher pods:

  • 1 cup of baking soda: Cleaning and deodorizing agent
  • 1 cup of washing soda: Enhances cleaning power
  • 1 cup citric acid: Fights hard water stains and spots
  • ½ cup of salt: Softens water and boosts cleaning efficiency
  • 3 tbsp liquid dish soap: Binds ingredients and removes grease and grime 
  • Optional additives: Essential oils for fragrance and antimicrobial properties
  • Water to reach desired consistency

You’ll also need a mixing bowl and a silicone mold or ice cube tray. 

Mixing Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine the washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and salt. These dry ingredients form the base of your dishwasher pods and provide the cleaning power. Add the liquid dish soap to the dry mixture. 

If you’d like, add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Lemon, lavender, or tea tree oil are good options. Gradually add a small amount of water, a teaspoon at a time, while stirring the mixture. You want the mixture to be damp enough to hold together but not too wet, like wet sand.

Molding and Drying

Press the mixture firmly into a silicone mold or ice cube tray. Ensure each cavity is packed tightly to form solid pods. Allow the pods to dry completely, which takes 24-48 hours depending on your humidity levels. The pods should be firm and easily pop out of the mold when ready.

Storing Finished Pods

After your pods are fully dry, gently remove them from the mold and store them in an airtight container. Keep the container in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture from affecting the pods. Proper storage will ensure they remain effective and ready for use when needed.

Tips on Using Your Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Pods

Now that you know how to make your own dishwasher pods, it’s time to learn how to use dishwasher pods! Place one pod in the detergent compartment of your dishwasher. For dirtier dishes, you can add a bit of extra baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher for extra cleaning power.

Regularly check and clean your dishwasher’s filter to prevent buildup from homemade detergents and keep your dishwasher running smoothly. Also, feel free to experiment with the recipe to create pods that work best for you. 

Should You Learn How to Make Your Own Dishwasher Pods DIY, Though?

So, we’ve explained how to make dishwasher pods at home, but… should you? While it may seem like a good way to avoid chemicals and save some money, that’s not the whole story. Here’s why making homemade dishwasher pods might not be the great idea it first seems. 

Time, Effort, and Inconsistencies

There’s no other way to say this – making your own dishwasher pods is a time-consuming, messy, and often frustrating process. You’ll have to first round up all the ingredients, measure and mix everything, and finally, fit the mixture into individual molds. 

Plus, it’s not something you can just do once. You’ll probably be amazed by how quickly you burn through your dishwasher pods, and then suddenly it’s time to make them all over again. If you have a busy schedule, it’s certainly not easy to find the time. 

Also, the consistency of your homemade pods can (and likely will) vary from batch to batch, which is frustrating. Some pods might work well, while others you make might leave residue on your dishes, or in your dishwasher, or simply don’t clean your dishes properly. Very frustrating. 

The Safety Side of Things 

You also have to think about safety when making your own dishwasher pods. While DIY pods allow you to control the ingredients, it’s important to handle all the components, like citric acid and essential oils, with care, as they may be irritating to the skin. 

Also, if your DIY formula doesn’t have enough cleaning power, it can mean that your dishes aren’t coming out clean. Bacteria and mold can build up on glassware, drink bottles, and food storage containers, which can pose serious health risks for you and your family. 

Save Yourself the Time and Hassle While Ensuring Better Results With Our Professionally Formulated Dishwasher Pods!

So, you could learn how to make dishwasher pods, but should you? What if you could find dishwasher pods that use safe, clean ingredients, but are professionally formulated to ensure your dishes are clean and safe? At Clean People, that’s exactly what we’ve made! 

Our dishwasher pods are made with the same ingredients you’d use at home – no harsh chemicals, phosphates, dyes, chlorine, or anything that could harm the environment or your family. Plus, they’re septic-safe! 

We’ve carefully formulated our plant and mineral-based ingredients to deliver unmatched cleaning power – we’ve proven that you don’t need harsh, dangerous chemicals for clean dishes! With Clean People, we’ve made homemade dishwasher pods for you – effort and stress-free!

Parting Thoughts on How to Make Dishwasher Pods DIY

Learning how to make dishwasher pods does give you some control over the cleaning agents that touch your dishes, but it’s a lot of work, and it’s quite challenging to come up with a formula that really leaves your dishes sparkling. 

Here at Clean People, we’ve taken all the work out of making your own dishwasher pods. Our pods contain the same ingredients you’d use at home, but we’ve spent years carefully testing different formulas, so you don’t have to! 

Don’t waste hours and hours slaving over homemade dishwasher pods. You’ll find clean, safe pods that will leave your dishes sparkling here at Clean People!