How to make an eco-friendly dishwashing cake at home in 3 steps
Making your own dish soap bar helps you understand the formulation of a concentrated solid cleaner and reuse a small container. However, this recipe is for people who already have protective equipment and are comfortable handling powdered surfactants.
Do you enjoy DIY projects? Follow the recipe and precautions below. Prefer a simple solution? The Oréra dish soap bar is already formulated and poured into a reusable ceramic bowl.
Both options share the same goal: to effectively clean dishes with a compact product that requires little water to use.
DIY Option
Do you already have raw materials, a precise scale, and equipment reserved for formulation? This recipe allows you to make approximately 106 g of dish soap bar.
Ready-to-Use Option
Don’t want to buy multiple ingredients or handle volatile powders? Discover the Oréra dish soap bar.
Before making your dish soap bar
This recipe contains sodium coco sulfate (SCS), sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI), citric acid, and soda crystals. SCS and SCI are processed surfactants, often derived from plant-based raw materials. Therefore, it is more accurate to speak of a concentrated solid formula than a "chemical-free" product.
Important precautions
- Read the labels and safety data sheets for each raw material.
- Work in a well-ventilated area, away from children, pets, and food.
- Wear gloves, safety goggles, and a powder-appropriate mask, as recommended by suppliers.
- Avoid raising or inhaling dust from SCS, SCI, citric acid, and soda crystals.
- Use a saucepan and utensils reserved for formulation; do not reuse them for cooking.
- Do not alter proportions or substitute ingredients without the necessary knowledge.
Also consult Health Canada's recommendations on the safe use of household chemicals.
Ingredients and equipment for homemade dish soap bars
Ingredients
- 50 g SCS — sodium coco sulfate
- 30 g SCI — sodium cocoyl isethionate
- 10 g water
- 4 g powdered citric acid
- 12 g soda crystals
Actual yield: approximately 106 g before drying.
Formulation equipment
- Scale accurate to the gram
- Small saucepan or double boiler reserved for formulation
- Metal or silicone spoon reserved for this purpose
- Small ceramic bowl or heat-resistant jar
Protective equipment
- Protective gloves
- Safety goggles
- Powder-appropriate mask
- Covering clothing
- Well-ventilated area
How to make a dish soap bar in three steps
Form a paste with surfactants
After putting on your protective equipment, carefully weigh the SCS and SCI, avoiding scattering the powders. Add them to the saucepan reserved for formulation with water. Heat over very low heat or in a double boiler and mix slowly, crushing the grains until a soft paste is obtained.
Add degreasing ingredients
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Gradually add the citric acid and soda crystals, without creating dust or splashes. Mix slowly until the preparation is as homogeneous as possible.
Compact and let harden
Transfer the paste into a small ceramic bowl or resistant container. With your gloves on, press it firmly with a spoon. Leave the container open for at least three hours; an overnight rest usually allows the bar to become firmer before first use.
Important: This recipe is designed for manual washing. Do not place the bar in a dishwasher or use it on skin. Label the container to avoid any confusion.
How to use and store a dish soap bar
Lightly dampen a sponge or a bamboo dish brush, then rub it a few times over the surface of the bar. Clean the dishes and rinse thoroughly with potable water.
Abundant foam is not necessary for cleaning. Start with a small amount of product and take more only if needed.
- Allow the bar to dry completely in the open air between uses.
- Do not close the container when it is still wet.
- Avoid leaving standing water in the bowl.
- Keep the product out of reach of children and pets.
- Test a small area first before using on a delicate surface.
Prefer to avoid handling powders?
Making your own product is interesting when you already have the raw materials and equipment. However, for a single recipe, buying several specialized ingredients can become less simple and less economical.
Oréra Dish and Household Bar
Our dish soap bar is already formulated and presented in a reusable ceramic bowl. Its concentrated formula requires little water to use and contains no essential oils.
- Ready to use
- Reusable ceramic bowl
- Concentrated formula
- No essential oils
- For dishes, pots, and glass-ceramic cooktops
Frequently asked questions about homemade dish soap bars
Why can't the recipe be described as "chemical-free"?
All matter is composed of chemicals. This recipe notably contains processed surfactants, citric acid, and sodium carbonate. The term "concentrated solid formula" is more precise.
Where can I find SCS and SCI?
These raw materials are sold by specialized suppliers of cosmetic or household ingredients. Check their labels, safety data sheets, and handling recommendations before purchasing.
Can I substitute SCS, SCI, or soda crystals?
It is not advisable to improvise a substitution. Each raw material has different properties, concentrations, and precautions. Any modification requires reformulating and testing the recipe.
Can this bar be used in the dishwasher?
No. It is designed for manual dishwashing. Use a detergent specifically formulated for automatic machines in your dishwasher.
How long does a dish soap bar last?
Its duration depends on the frequency of use, the amount taken, and drying between uses. To make it last longer, avoid standing water and let it dry in its open container.
Kristel Audet
Founder and creator of natural skincare products 💖
This recipe is shared for informational purposes. Follow the instructions and safety data sheets from your suppliers. Oréra cannot be held responsible for substitution, improper handling, or a reaction related to homemade manufacturing.
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