AWESOME Dish Soap

As you know, I am trying to clear out as much of the chemical-laden items that we use in our home.  I have changed over to homemade deodorant (really, I only use it when I leave the farm), homemade shampoo (this one is still a work in progress, even though it is satisfactory right now), laundry detergent for years now, toothpaste (it too is good but I would like to do a bit more tweaking on the flavor -more mint, less stevia), and now dish soap. 

Cooking from scratch and having no modern day dishwasher, I use quite a bit of dish soap.  I used to get the big ol' pink gallon at Sam's Club for less than $5.  It lasted a month or two.  I didn't really keep track.  Then I read the bottle.  What!?  Wash thoroughly after handling? So I am supposed to wash my hands after washing my dishes with this stuff.  Yes, it has a MSDS to read (as all dish soaps do).  Contains material which may cause damage to organs:  stomach and eyes.  Don't we put food on the dishes we wash and eat it? If you dilute 2 oz into 8 gallons of water you greatly reduce the health risk.  I can't say for sure how much I squirted in. Probably way more in my little sink.  So, homemade dish soap it is.

I think I lucked out in finding an awesome recipe the first time.  I absolutely love it.  I have made it twice and still love it.  Don't get me wrong, I still hate doing dishes, but this makes it a little more tolerable. 

Here's what you need for about 14 oz:
1/4 c. shredded castile bar soap (I use Dr. Bronner's, both bar and liquid)
1 1/2 c. boiling water
I put the shredded soap in a quart jar and carefully add the boiling water.  I stir for just a minute until it is dissolved.  Then I add:
1/4 c. liquid castile
2 1/4 tsp washing soda
1/2 tsp glycerine
I stir that trying to dissolve as much as the washing soda as I can.  I let it cool a bit.  I stir and shake again and add my essential oil.  The recipe of course calls for 15-40 drops.  I use about 10.  I have used lemongrass only so far because I love the scent for the dishwater.  Grapefruit or orange blossom will probably be next.  I guess I am a citrus girl.
I pour it into my plastic bottle I use and let it set overnight.  I probably need to invest in a glass dispenser.  Baby steps.  It will thicken a bit.  The directions say if it firms up too much, add more water and swish and swirl.  I haven't had to do this yet. It stays fairly thin for me. 
There is also an option to add vitamin E oil for your hands' sake.  And I might try this next time as the weather is getting cooler and less humid.  If you try this before I do, let me know. 

The first time you use it, just like homemade laundry soap, no suds.  It only fogs the water a bit.  You start washing you glasses and it almost feels oily.  The glasses become very slippery!  After rinsing, your dishes have a squeaky shine, almost like Rain-X on your car windshield.  Water beads up and rolls off with no trace it was ever there.  AND, it also really loosens hardened or stuck foods like magic.  Don't throw away your greenies or anything, but it amazed me what just a little time soaking did.  AND, if your son brings in his milk glass after you have washed all the pots and pans and the water looks brown and greasy and gross, go ahead and try to wash it just to see.  It is an amazing surfactant...is that the right chemical term?  The milk glass will look as shiny and beautiful as the first glass I washed.  The glycerine maybe?  I don't care what it is, but the combination, to me, is awesome and I will never buy Ajax again!

Give it a shot, unless you have one of those new fandangled automatic dishwasher things, and let me know what you think?  And what essential oil combination is your favorite?