DIY - Homemade washing-up liquid

Commercial washing-up liquids contain numerous chemicals that can be extremely harmful. Wash water loaded with detergents and solvents pollutes groundwater and aquatic environments. What's more, skin contact with these chemicals can trigger skin reactions.

But it is entirely possible to wash your dishes effectively using healthy, 100% natural ingredients. To protect the environment, use safe products, and cut down on waste, the ideal solution is to make your own washing-up liquid at home.

Our washing-up liquid recipe is quick and easy to make in just a few minutes — and it is genuinely very cost-effective.

Ingredients to make your own washing-up liquid

• 40 g liquid black soap
• 500 ml hot water
• 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tablespoon soda crystals
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar (optional)

Why is the white vinegar optional?

White vinegar is an acidic solution. When it comes into contact with bicarbonate of soda, which is an alkaline solution, the vinegar's cleaning effect is cancelled out. There is therefore no point adding it to your mixture. That said, it can be useful if your water is very hard, as it helps to soften it.

Equipment for making your own washing-up liquid

• A mixing bowl
• A funnel
• A kettle
• A whisk
• A soap dispenser (ideally glass)

Why not reuse an old washing-up liquid bottle?

It might seem like a clever upcycling idea, but it really isn't! As we covered in our post on common recycling misconceptions, plastic is numbered from 1 to 7 according to its type. Like water bottles, washing-up liquid bottles are very often classified as number 1 — which means they are single-use plastic!

The more you empty and refill these bottles, the more antimony trioxide is released and diffuses into the water in significant quantities, polluting it. As a reminder, a PET bottle should always be discarded once its contents have been used.

How to make your homemade washing-up liquid

First, you will need to boil some water. While the water is coming to the boil, pour the black soap into your mixing bowl.

Then pour the water into the bowl and stir. If your water is very hard, add the vinegar at this point.

Add the soda crystals.

Then add the bicarbonate of soda and stir.

Pour the mixture into your soap dispenser.

Leave it to cool for several hours, then add the lemon essential oil drops and stir.

Your washing-up liquid is ready to use!

This washing-up liquid foams considerably less than a shop-bought one — that is perfectly normal. Rest assured, though, it cleans just as well!

If you enjoyed our washing-up liquid recipe, please do share it on social media. You can also have a look at our homemade dishwasher tablet recipe.