Homemade Supplies

              Homemade Dishwashing Soap

Gather your supplies:


Large stock pot (3 gallons or larger)


1 bar grated soap (octagon, fels naptha, or zote work well) 

1 cup baking soda

1/4 cup washing soda (not the same as baking soda)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1. Bring 2 gallons of water to a boil in the stock pot.
2. Add grated soap (I used pink Zote for this recipe), baking soda, washing soda, and lemon juice to the water and turn down to medium low. Allow to “cook” with the lid on for about an hour, stirring every 20 minutes or so.
3. Turn mixture off and allow to cool. Stir every hour or two while it is cooling to keep it from separating.
4. Pour into a container for storage. 

Makes around two gallons and costs for first time making around $8.00. Since you will have most of the ingredients left over, after the first time, it will cost you only a little over $1.00 to purchase a new bar of soap to make a new batch. Should last anywhere from 4 to 6 months or more.