Homemade Dishwashing Liquid (Dish Soap)

Using liquid castile soap is the easiest way to make your own dish soap, as the base is already made for you. All you have to do is add a few ingredients, mix it up, and voila! You can purchase liquid castile soap at most health food stores or online.

1/2 cup liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's)
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 teaspoons glycerin
10 drops of essential oil (See Essential Oils For Cleaning Your Home)

You just add all the ingredients into a squeeze bottle and shake them all up. Then, use it to wash dishes like you would any other dish soap. Use whatever essential oil scent you like. Lemon is good because it smells fresh and has the extra bonus of helping to cut grease. Shake the soap well before using.

Lemon Homemade Dish Soap from Soap Flakes

Soap flakes make a great base for your homemade dish soap. They are gentle and can be used for lots of cleaning purposes, and mix very well to form a liquid cleaner. You can purchase soap flakes wherever you buy laundry detergent. Lemon juice or vinegar will add a grease-cutting element to the soap.

Here are the steps for making this dish soap.

  1. Combine your soap flakes and water in a large non-reactive pan.
  2. Over low heat, warm the mixture, stirring frequently, until the soap is completely dissolved.
  3. Add the glycerin and stir; remove from heat.
  4. Allow the soap to cool slightly and add the lemon juice and essential oils (optional). Mix thoroughly to combine.
  5. Pour your liquid dish soap into squeeze bottles or other containers.

Use as you would any other dishwashing liquid, using a couple of teaspoons for a sink of dishes.

Please note that you can change which essential oil you use with this recipe, if you want a different scent. Citrus oil works well, however, just because this helps with degreasing.

Solid Soap Shavings

You can also use your leftover bits of bar soap to make a liquid soap that's suitable for dishwashing! This is a great way to stretch your budget and save a bit of money. Chop the soap bits up into very small pieces, or grate it into thin strips first. What you need is very simple:

Follow these steps when making the dish soap.

  1. In a small bucket, place your soap shavings.
  2. Cover with hot water and let it sit for several hours or overnight to soften.
  3. In the morning, stir and mash the soap shavings until smooth. Add more hot water to dilute to preferred consistency.
  4. You can add lemon juice or vinegar if you'd like, to help with cutting grease on dishes.
  5. Pour into squeeze bottles or other containers. Shake well before use.

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