Making Dishwasher Detergent

Here is the Amish Mama part of me. A few months ago we ran out of dishwasher detergent and instead of loading the kids up to run to the store for one thing I looked up how to make my own. I've tried a couple of different recipes and I have come up with my own version. It takes me about 3 min to make a mason jar full that will last me a few weeks and costs around $1.00. We run a load of dishes a day, sometimes 2. I don't have a top of the line dishwasher but it is also not falling apart so I think this should work for most of you out there. I made a couple of jars for friends around the holidays and they all say, except for one (she blames her old dying dishwasher) that it works great for them.
Here are the ingredients that I use to make the detergent.
-1 Cup Baking Soda
-1 Cup Super Washing Soda
-1 Cup Borax
-1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
-4 Kool Aid Packets
-2 Lemons & 2 Limes zest(optional)

I put all of this into a quart mason jar and shake until everything is completely mixed. I think that it looks really 'housewifey' to have this beautiful jar as the container.

The Kool Aid packets and zest make it smell so fresh! When you put it into your dishwasher you will add about 5-6 drops of your dishwashing soap onto of the mixture. I use 7th Generation and since it is not as sudsy as say Dawn is I use 3-4 extra drops.

This is what it looks like before I close the flap.

I add about a cup of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and make sure that my reservoir (usually used for Finish) is filled with vinegar too. We use vinegar for everything so I buy 3-4 big bottles from Costco a month.

There you have it! I love this stuff. No my dishes aren't always sparkling but they aren't cleaned with any crazy chemicals and I spend about $15-$18 a YEAR on dishwasher detergent! Soon I am going to make my own clothes detergent and I will post about that adventure as well. Please let me know if you have your own home cleaning products/recipes that you like or even some that you don't like so that I don't waste my time.