OT Natural cleaners! What the he## am I doing wrong!

[hriabywx4]

So far all my spray have worked good but the stuff I mixed up for the dishwasher SUCKS! Lol half of it is still in the soap holder in the washer! It's rock hard. :( so I used equal parts borax and washing soda. What do you use? What did I do wrong ? Please point me in the right direction! Thanks

[mrstheriault]

add lemishine to it. (1c washing soda, 1c borax, and 1/2c-1c of lemi shine) also make sure to keep the detergent in an airtight container, and wash immediately after loading the dishwasher compartment. only use a tablespoon for a load

[schultzal]

I use washing soda and citric acid with vinegar in the rinse aid compartment.

[hriabywx4]

What is lemishine and where do I get it? Also I just mixed it, loaded the washer and ran it, so it hadn't has time to draw moisture or anything :(

[mrstheriault]

lemi shine is a brand that does the same as citric acid. i found it at walmart by the dish detergent. it's marketed to help with hard water, but i think it's needed for keeping the dishes sparkling anyway. http://www.lemishine.com

the only time i had a problem with caking in the washer like you mentioned was when i overfilled the dispenser. which is why i mentioned only use a tablespoon. 

[orangeshirt]

I use baking soda, orange essential oil, 10 packets of kool-aid, and salt. I put citrus vinegar in the rinse aid compartment.

[hriabywx4]

Cool I will check on that. I think I did have too much cause I cleaned it out, put in half as much and ran it again and it used it right. Thank you!

Quoting mrstheriault:

lemi shine is a brand that does the same as citric acid. i found it at walmart by the dish detergent. it's marketed to help with hard water, but i think it's needed for keeping the dishes sparkling anyway. http://www.lemishine.com

the only time i had a problem with caking in the washer like you mentioned was when i overfilled the dispenser. which is why i mentioned only use a tablespoon. 

[mommaJewels2011]

Why kool-aid? I've never made any cleaner myself so I don't mean for the question to sound rude. Just curious.

Quoting orangeshirt:

I use baking soda, orange essential oil, 10 packets of kool-aid, and salt. I put citrus vinegar in the rinse aid compartment.

[catholicmamamia]

It sounds like too much was used. I would try less and see how it works! 

[orangeshirt]

Citric acid can be hard to find, but Kool-Aid and similar juice packet things are high in citric acid, so it's an easy and cheap substitute.

Quoting mommaJewels2011:

[mrstheriault]

from what i've read it has to be the kool-aid lemon flavor *only* :)

Quoting orangeshirt:

Citric acid can be hard to find, but Kool-Aid and similar juice packet things are high in citric acid, so it's an easy and cheap substitute.

Quoting mommaJewels2011: