Those dishes just won't do themselves....

With the recession still impacting the tightness of our wallets, it is important to save where we can. Fortunately, you can kill two birds with one stone by mixing your own dishwasher detergent-- not only is it all-natural (and safe), but it also is so much cheaper than the store-bought fare

First of all, add equal parts Borax andbaking soda into a Gladware, or similar product, container. I recommend using 2 cups of each, but add as much or as little as you like, as long as they are equal amounts to one another.

If you wish, add 2 cups (or whatever your decided ratio) of your regular powdered dishwasher detergent to your mixture. This is not necessary, but you can preserve your typical store-bought detergent longer by doing this.

Make sure to mix everything together very well. I like to snap the lid shut on the container and shake it for a few seconds. However, do whatever works best for you.

Add two or three tablespoons of the soap to your dishwasher. If desired, you can add some distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle, as well, to eliminate hard-water stains.

Seal your mixture tightly and place in a convenient location. Viola!