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I Switched to DIY Dish Soap With Castile Soap and Baking Soda
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items My hands were cracking from store-bought dish soap every winter, and I kept reading ingredient labels that looked like chemistry homework. I finally started making my own with castile soap, baking soda, and lemon. This list is for anyone who wants cl...
Sections
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Castile Soap Base for DIY Dish Soap
Baking Soda for Cleaning and Dish Soap Recipes
Lemon and Citrus Ingredients for Natural Dish Soap
Mixing Bottles and Dispensers for Homemade Dish Soap
Scrub Brushes and Sponges for Chemical Free Dishwashing
White Vinegar for Rinse Aid and Cleaning
Castile Soap Base for DIY Dish Soap
Every good homemade dish soap starts here. I went through four different brands before landing on the ones that actually cut grease without leaving a film on my glasses.
Grab this one if you want your kitchen to smell like a spa while you scrub last night's pasta pot. I dilute it 1:10 and it still powers through grease like nothing else.
Dr.Bronner's Magic Soap Refill, Peppermint
Perfect for anyone with sensitive skin or little kids who help wash dishes. No fragrance, no irritation. My hands stopped peeling within a week of switching.
Dr. Bronner's, Pure-Castile Liquid Soap, Unscented, 32 fl oz
Try this smaller size first if you're not sure about the whole DIY thing. The lavender is subtle, not overpowering. Makes evening dish duty almost relaxing.
Dr. Bronner's, Magic Soap, 32 fl oz, Lavender
Use this version if you want extra antibacterial action without reaching for bleach. I add it to my soap mix when someone in the house has been sick.
Dr. Bronner's, Pure-Castile Liquid Soap, Unscented, 32 fl oz
Grate this into hot water for a thicker dish soap paste. Sounds old-school but my grandmother did it and her cast iron was always spotless. Way cheaper per batch too.
Kirk's, Castile Bar Soap, 4 oz, Made With Premium Coconut
Baking Soda for Cleaning and Dish Soap Recipes
Baking soda is the workhorse ingredient that makes DIY dish soap actually scrub. I used to buy tiny boxes until I realized how fast I go through them.
Keep this under your sink. Two tablespoons per batch of dish soap and it handles baked-on cheese like it's nothing. Also doubles as a fridge deodorizer between batches.
Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, 12 lb.
Switch to this bulk size once you're hooked. I make dish soap, scrub my sink, and clean my oven with the same bag. Lasted me three months last time.
Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, 12 lb.
For anyone who wants food-grade quality in their cleaning mix. Finer grain than the big box brands so it dissolves faster when you're mixing up a batch.
Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda, 16oz (Pack of 1)
Toss this in your fridge between soap-making sessions. When it's done deodorizing after 30 days, dump it into your next dish soap batch. Zero waste.
Customer reviews for Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Fridge
Grab this if you're already shopping for other ingredients. Same stuff, clean label. Dissolves well in warm water, no clumping in your soap dispenser.
365 by Whole Foods Market, Baking Soda, 16 Ounce
Lemon and Citrus Ingredients for Natural Dish Soap
Lemon does double duty in DIY dish soap. It cuts grease AND makes your whole kitchen smell clean without plug-in air fresheners doing the heavy lifting.
Use this when fresh lemons aren't in season or you're too tired to juice anything. Two squirts per batch. Keeps in the fridge for months without going weird.
True Lemon Crystallized Water Enhancer Powder
Pair this with your castile soap base when you want stronger grease-cutting power. Real juice, no concentrate taste. Works better than I expected for cleaning.
Nellie & Joes Key West Lemon Juice, 16 fl oz
Wait, hear me out. A tiny splash adds citric acid and smells incredible. I discovered this accidentally when I ran out of real lemon juice mid-batch. Not a joke, it works.
Simply Lemonade Bottle, 52 fl oz
Five drops per batch and your dish soap smells professional. For anyone who wants the lemon scent without the pulp clogging their soap dispenser. A little bottle lasts forever.
Now Foods, Essential Oils, Lemon, 1 fl oz (3 Pack)
Try this smaller bottle if you've never used lemon oil before. Organic, super concentrated. I accidentally used too much once and my whole apartment smelled like a lemon grove for two days.
(Pack of 12) Aura Cacia Organic Lemon Essential Oil 0.25 Oz
Mixing Bottles and Dispensers for Homemade Dish Soap
You can make the best dish soap in the world but if it's sitting in a mason jar on your counter, you'll get annoyed and quit. Good dispensers keep you committed.
Keep this right next to your faucet. Holds enough homemade soap for about two weeks. The pump actually works with thicker DIY mixtures, unlike cheap dispensers that clog.
Casabella, Sink Sider, Soap Dispenser and Sponge
For the person who wants their homemade soap to look like it belongs in a magazine kitchen. Sturdy pump, wide mouth for easy refilling. Guests always ask about it.
Better Homes & Gardens Ribbed Glass and Metal Soap
Use this if you want to see how much soap you have left. Simple, cheap, works. I label mine with a little tag so nobody mistakes it for hand soap.
Mainstays Clear Plastic Liquid Soap Pump Dispenser, 10 oz
Fill this with your DIY mixture and scrub at the same time. Saves a step. The bristles are stiff enough for pots but won't scratch your nonstick pans.
OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Dish Scrub + refill, Handle
Grab these for batch mixing day. Make two bottles at once, keep one under the sink as backup. Glass doesn't absorb smells like plastic does after a few months.
Cornucopia Brands 16oz Amber Glass Bottles w/ Pump
Scrub Brushes and Sponges for Chemical Free Dishwashing
Homemade soap works differently than commercial stuff. It doesn't foam as much so you need tools that do more mechanical scrubbing. These pull their weight.
Swap these in for your regular sponges. They grip the homemade soap better and don't fall apart after a week. Plant-based fibers, so they match the whole natural cleaning vibe.
Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, 6 Pack
Stiff bamboo bristles that actually scrub without scratching. I keep one for pots and one for regular dishes. The handle stays dry, which means no mildew smell.
Full Circle Be Good Bamboo & Recycled Plastic Dish Brush
These are for anyone who hates how fast regular sponges get smelly. Compostable when they're done. Paired with the castile soap mix, they lather up better than I expected.
Natural Loofah Sponge Dish Scrubber 2 Pack Plant Based
Use this on cast iron and stainless steel. The coconut fiber bristles are tough enough for baked-on food but won't strip your seasoning. My cast iron has never looked better.
Redecker Natural Fiber Bristle Pot Brush
Ditch paper towels for wiping down counters after dishes. These absorb like crazy, dry fast, and last months. Throw them in the wash when they get funky.
Best Swedish Dishcloths(69)
White Vinegar for Rinse Aid and Cleaning
Vinegar is the secret second step nobody talks about. A quick vinegar rinse after washing with castile soap removes any residue and makes glasses sparkle without spots.
Keep a spray bottle of this next to your sink. Quick spritz on dishes after washing removes soap film. My wine glasses went from cloudy to crystal clear in one wash.
Heinz Distilled White Vinegar 5% Acidity, 32 fl oz Bottle
Stock up on this size because you'll use it for everything. Dishes, counters, coffee maker. One gallon lasted me about six weeks of daily use.
Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz)
Perfectly fine for a rinse aid. Don't overthink it. Pour some in a bowl, dunk your glasses after washing, let them air dry. Streak-free every time.
Great Value Distilled White Vinegar, 64 fl oz
Try this if regular vinegar smell makes you gag. Slightly different formulation that's less nose-burning. Works the same for rinsing dishes, just more pleasant.
(4 pack) Aunt Fannie's All-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
Use this specifically for delicate glassware. Gentler acidity than distilled white. Sounds fancy but it costs the same and your crystal will thank you.
De Nigris Organic White Wine Vinegar 16.9 fl oz (Pack Of 6)
Add-In Oils and Boosters for DIY Dish Soap
Once you nail the basic recipe, these extras take it from functional to something you actually enjoy using. Small additions, big difference in how your soap performs.
Add a teaspoon per batch to keep your hands from drying out. I noticed the difference after three days. Dishes still get clean, but your skin doesn't pay the price.
NOW, Sweet Almond Oil, 100% Pure Moisturizing Oil
Five drops per batch for extra antimicrobial power. Especially useful if you're washing cutting boards that touched raw chicken. The smell fades as dishes dry.
Cliganic Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil, 100% Pure
Swap this in when you're tired of lemon. Opens up your sinuses while you're standing at the sink. Winter dish duty actually became bearable once I started adding this.
Plant Therapy Organic Eucalyptus Globulus Essential Oil
Use a half teaspoon per batch as an emulsifier. Keeps the baking soda from separating out of your soap mix. Also conditions your hands while you scrub.
Sky Organics Fractionated Coconut Oil 8 fl oz for Face
For anyone who wants that tingly clean feeling on their hands. Three drops per batch. Combined with the castile soap base, it smells exactly like a fancy store-bought version.
Handcraft Blends Peppermint Essential Oil, 1 Fl Oz
Storage and Organization for DIY Cleaning Supplies
Keeping ingredients organized is what separates people who make soap once from people who actually stick with it. I learned this after finding baking soda spilled all over my cabinet.
Pour your baking soda and other dry ingredients into these. Airtight seal means no moisture getting in and clumping everything up. Labels peel off clean when you switch contents.
Rubbermaid Home Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Food
Stick these on your containers so you don't accidentally bake cookies with your cleaning-grade baking soda. Waterproof, won't smudge. Took me five minutes to label everything.
Talented Kitchen: Pantry Labels
Slide this under your kitchen sink to corral all your DIY supplies. Bottles stand upright, nothing tips over. Found space I didn't know I had under there.
mDesign Plastic/Steel Corner Kitchen Organizer Shelf - Clear
Batch mix your dish soap into these and store extras in the pantry. Wide mouth makes pouring easy. Date them with a sharpie so you use the oldest batch first.
Ball, Glass Mason Jars, Wide Mouth, 16 oz, Pack of 12
Grab these for premixed solutions you use daily. Vinegar rinse in one, soap in another. The labels help anyone in the house know which is which without sniffing.
OXO Tot Bottle Drying Rack - Gray (1 Piece Count)
Dish Drying and Air Dry Accessories
Chemical-free dish soap means you want chemical-free drying too. No scented dryer sheets or treated towels undoing all your work. These keep things simple and clean.
Lay this out instead of a bulky drying rack. Absorbs drip water fast, dries flat, rolls up for storage. I wash mine weekly and it still looks new after eight months.
Norpro, Dish Drying Mat, 16x18 inches, Cream, Microfiber
Perfect if you hand-wash everything like I do. The mat catches water and the rack keeps dishes upright. Fits next to the sink without taking over your whole counter.
Customer reviews for Umbra Udry Dish Drying Rack
Use these instead of regular dish towels. No lint, no chemicals, dry glasses without streaks. I keep a rotation going so there's always a clean one ready.
Utopia Kitchen Flour Sack Towels 12-Pack
Splurge on this if you wash a lot of dishes by hand. Drains into the sink, holds plates and cups separately. Sturdy enough that I've never had a plate slide off.
simplehuman Kitchen Dish Drying Rack
For anyone with a small kitchen who needs something compact. Bamboo looks way nicer than plastic, naturally antimicrobial, and folds flat when you need counter space back.
Bamboo Dish Drying Rack
Books and Recipe Guides for Natural Cleaning
I started with one dish soap recipe and now I make all my cleaning products. These books gave me the confidence to ditch commercial cleaners entirely. Worth reading before you go all in.
Start here if you're new to natural cleaning. She breaks down every room and every recipe. I dog-eared the dish soap chapter and use her ratios as my baseline.
Pre-Owned Clean Mama's Guide to a Healthy Home
Pair this with the first book for seasonal deep cleaning recipes. Her laundry detergent recipe alone saved me about forty dollars a month. Everything uses ingredients you already bought.
ORGANICALLY CLEAN HOME, THE
For the person who wants to understand WHY each ingredient works. More science-based than the others. Changed how I think about mixing acids and bases in cleaning solutions.
The Naturally Clean Home: Siegel-Maier, Karyn
Quick reference guide that fits in a kitchen drawer. Simple recipes, no fluff. I taped the dish soap page inside my cabinet door so I don't have to look it up every time.
Branch Basics Ultimate Kit: Surface Cleaners
Covers dish soap plus 100 other recipes. Written like a friend explaining things, not a textbook. Got me making my own all-purpose spray and window cleaner within a week.
Homemade Cleaners