Dirty dishes!

Good morning!  Thanks for stopping by. Sorry I missed last week's post.  I was busy working on that bedroom/sunroom swap and it took waaaay longer that I thought it would. Matter of fact, there are still things that need to be done to get that mess finished up, but it all just takes time.  But let's get going on this week's post which, you will be fascinated to know, involves dirty dishes.  None of us like that little chore, but it is just one of those homemaking chores that we can't eliminate; and no, letting the dog clean the dishes is NOT acceptable! :-)  Automatic dishwashers have made the chore easier, but if you are like me even that can become drudgery because once the dishes have been automatically washed they still have to be put away.  Gee, it's always something, huh?  I don't see an easy solution for that one.  I can't help you with putting your clean dishes away, but I can help you save some money.  Make your own dish washing detergent ---------  It's easy.  Really!!!
You will need that box of Borax that you bought for making your own laundry detergent (What do you mean you haven't tried that yet?  Your losing money, girl.  Get with it!!! :-)  You will also need baking soda.  I am sure you have some in your cupboard, or perhaps a small box in your refrigerator?  If all you have is that box in your refrigerator, go ahead and use some of it. Doesn't matter in the least that is has been silently sitting there on the shelf in your fridge sucking up any unpleasant odors that may have been lurking. Better yet, buy a new box for the fridge and keep the old one for use as part of your new dish washing detergent mix.  Double duty!!! I love it!  Sorry, I got carried away. The recipe is:

1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon baking soda

That's it. Didn't I tell you it was easy?   Easy peasy to mix up a big batch of equal parts Borax and baking soda.  Fill your dishwasher's detergent compartment, close the door, and flip the switch.  You are one cycle away from clean dishes and it cost you mere pennies. Probably a percentage of a penny.  Or less!  I have not calculated the savings because it is just so obvious that this is a huge money saver.  And the best part?  THIS WORKS LIKE A CHARM.  Why does it work? Borax and baking soda are natural disinfectants and mild abrasives.  They work together to blast away stuck on food and germs. In fact, Borax is a common ingredient in many commercial detergents. So you get clean dishes without harsh chemicals, it is environmentally friendly because it is phosphate free, and you save lots of money in the bargain.  That can't be beat. So what are you waiting for?  Go do some dishes! 
And please be sure to keep your homemade dish washing detergent out of the reach of children and pets.