Cottage Food Laws in Texas

visit texascottagefoodlaw.com

Thought some of you might want to know where we stand, in Texas, on the Cottage Food Law issue.

Cottage Food Production Operations (up to date)

New Rules - §229.661. Cottage Food Production Operations

During the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session 2011, the Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill 81 that amends the Health and Safety Code (HSC), Chapter 437, by adding provisions for cottage food production operations. This law is effective September 1, 2011.

A cottage food production operation is exempt from the requirements of a food service establishment and does not have to comply with the Texas Food Establishment Rules. Health departments do not have regulatory authority to conduct inspections of a cottage food production operation. Health departments are required to maintain records of all complaints against a cottage food production operation.

A cottage food production operation is defined as an individual, operating out of the individual’s home, who produces a baked good, a canned jam or jelly, or a dried herb or herb mix for sale at the person’s home; has an annual gross income of $50,000 or less from the sale of the described foods; and sells the foods only directly to consumers. A cottage food product does not include any food that is potentially hazardous that requires time/temperature control for safety (TCS) to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.

A potentially hazardous food (PHF) is a food that requires time and temperature control for safety (TCS) to limit pathogen growth or toxin production. In other words, a food must be held under proper temperature controls, such as refrigeration to prevent the growth of bacteria that may cause human illness. A PHF/TCS is a food that: contains protein, moisture (water activity greater than 0.85), and is neutral to slightly acidic (pH between 4.6 -7.5).

Food produced by a cottage food production operation must be labeled. The label must include the name and address of the cottage food production operation, common or usual name of the product, if a food is made with a major food allergen, such as eggs, nuts, soy, peanuts, milk or wheat that ingredient must be listed on the label, and a statement: “This food is made in a home kitchen and is not inspected by the Department of State Health Services or a local health department." The labels must be legible.

Food produced by a cottage food production operation may not be sold via the Internet.The Department of State Health Services adopted a new rule concerning cottage food production operations. The new rule, Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code, Section 229.661, became effective on July 22, 2012.  

Last updated August 14, 2012 

To read the bill yourself, click the link below:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/SB00081F.htm

The Church Walking with the World

The Church Walking with the World

The Church and the World walked far apart

On the changing shores of time,

The World was singing a giddy song,

And the Church a hymn sublime.

“Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World,

And walk with me this way!”

But the good Church hid her snowy hands

And solemnly answered “Nay!

“I will not give you my hand at all,

And I will not walk with you;

Your way is the way that leads to death;

Your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me but a little space,”

Said the World with a kindly air;

The road I walk is a pleasant road,

And the sun shines always there.

Your path is thorny and rough and rude,

But mine is broad and plain;

My way is paved with flowers and dews,

And yours with tears and pain.

The sky to me is always blue,

No want, no toil I know;

The sky above you is always dark,

Your lot is a lot of woe.

There’s room enough for you and me

To travel side by side.”

Half shyly the Church approached the World

And gave him her hand of snow;

And the old World grasped it and walked along,

Saying, in accents low:

“Your dress is too simple to please my taste;

I will give you pearls to wear,

Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,

And diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at her plain white robes,

And the at the dazzling World,

And blushed as she saw his handsome lip

With a smile contemptuous curled.

“I will change my dress for a costlier one,”

Said the Church, with a smile of grace;

Then her pure white garments drifted away,

And the World gave, in their place,

Beautiful satins and shining silks,

Roses and gems and costly pearls;

While over her forehead her bright hair fell

Crisped in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World,

“I’ll build you one like mine;

With walls of marble and towers of gold,

And furniture ever so fine.”

So he built her a costly and beautiful house;

Most splendid it was to behold;

Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there

Gleaming in purple and gold.

Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,

And the World and his children were there.

Laughter and music and feasts were heard

In the place that was meant for prayer.

There were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,

To sit in their pomp and pride;

But the poor who were clad in shabby array,

Sat meekly down outside.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World.

“Far more than you ought to do;

If they are in need of shelter and food,

Why need it trouble you?

Go, take your money and buy rich robes,

Buy horses and carriages fine;

Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,

Buy the rarest and costliest wine.

My children, they dote on all these things,

And if you their love would win

You must do as they do, and walk in the ways

That they are walking in.”

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,

And she heard not the orphan’s cry;

But she drew her beautiful robes aside,

As the widows went weeping by.

Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church

Walked closely hand and heart,

And only the Master, who knoweth all,

Could tell the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,

“I am rich and my goods increase;

I have need of nothing, or aught to do,

But to laugh, and dance, and feast.”

The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve,

And mockingly said, aside-

“The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;

And her shame is her boast and her pride.”

The angel drew near to the mercy seat,

And whispered in sighs her name;

Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed,

And heads were covered with shame.

And a voice was heard at last by the Church

From Him who sat on the throne,

“I know thy works, and how thou hast said,

‘I am rich, and hast not known

That thou art naked, poor and blind,

And wretched before my face;’

Therefore from my presence cast I thee out,

And blot thy name from its place.”

“...you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you

from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” Leviticus 20:26

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has

righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?

And what accord has Christ with Belial?  Or what part has a believer with an

unbeliever?  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For you

are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and

walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’

Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord.  ‘Do

not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and

you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”  2Corinthians

6:14-18

by Matilda C. Edwards

Best Loved Poems (Garden City, NY: Garden City Publishing, 1936), pages

345-347

This poem was not listed among those that required reprint permission.

Downloaded from www.crossroad.to/victory/poems then click on “church”

________________________________

By the 1930s the apostasy had digressed as indicated by this poem, Today, in

the 2000s the digression is much nearer to judgement.  Let those of us who love

the Lord separate from today’s worldly religious system and unto Jesus Christ

personally and individually.  Revelation 3:20

Rousing from Slumber

"I sleep, but my heart waketh." 
Song of Solomon 5:2 

Some sort of lethargy entangled me like a thick quilt that would hinder one from embracing the new day.

My step was as heavy as my sigh and even washing the dishes felt like toilsome labor.  

I couldn't understand. I was supposed to be the one who brewed the first cup of coffee before daybreak, who had her quiet time in the stillness of the morning, who was energized by the breath of dawn.

And yet, for more than a fortnight I would struggle with this unexplained illness that would cause me to drain energy from the home instead of contribute to its supply.  Mysterious fevers accompanied every night's sleep while the alarm clock invited a headache to pound.  It was time to prepare lunch by the time I would wake to take breakfast; even when I succumbed to my drowsiness and retired early, I never felt quite rested.

Neither fresh air nor cold showers would shake the languor.  I just couldn't wake up. 

Was it spiritual or physical? I did not know. Perhaps my spine was misaligned or I needed badly to detox.  We began back therapy more regularly. I quit drinking coffee and consuming sugar. There was a slight improvement, but the fevers still came while the energy would not.

And what was worse: I began to lose the desire to improve my condition, and this frightened me.  When had I fallen into this slump, this valley? Why was it so difficult to muster the zeal to advance the Kingdom? Why was I becoming more complacent with my sin? Why was I becoming comfortable with strained relationships and selfishness?

I sleep. Through sin that dwelleth in us we may become lax in holy duties, slothful in religious exercises, dull in spiritual joys, and altogether supine and careless. This is a shameful state for one in whom the quickening Spirit dwells; and it is dangerous to the highest degree. 

Even wise virgins sometimes slumber, but it is high time for all to shake off the bands of sloth. It is to be feared that many believers lose their strength as Samson lost his locks, while sleeping on the lap of carnal security. 

With a perishing world around us, to sleep is cruel; with eternity so near at hand, it is madness. Yet we are none of us so much awake as we should be; a few thunder-claps would do us all good, and it may be, unless we soon bestir ourselves, we shall have them in the form of war, or pestilence, or personal bereavements and losses. 

O that we may leave for ever the couch of fleshly ease, and go forth with flaming torches to meet the coming Bridegroom! 

God was incredibly gracious in delivering my "thunder-clap".  I was scheduled to travel with Daddy to New Orleans for week-long business trip.

We were hoping that I would have a chance to catch up on sleep and become diligent in daily exercise. I would have time to quiet my mind with steady reading while I sunned beside the hotel window. I would have a week to rest, to think, to create, to write, to pray.  

And I did. Physically, I was rejuvenated.  

But God was pleased to jar me from my state of spiritual apathy as well. 

First, the time was provided for Daddy and I to talk deeply over matters that were weighing on my heart. I gave my heart anew to my father, and he gave me his instruction. This was not a thunder-clap, but rather like a refreshing rain that washed a few worries away.

The "thunder-clap" came in a second Providence. Daddy wanted to try to take me to dinner someplace else than the hotel restaurant. So we took to the streets of New Orleans. He gave me instructions in deportment and I did my best to heed his advice. 

He suggested that we might browse a souvenir shop to see if we could find any decent gifts to bring home. I found a bottle of hot sauce for my brother and was perusing the sun hats for my sister when Dad suddenly told me I needed to hurry.  We hastily paid for the bottle of hot sauce and left the store.  The chaotic music that they were playing in the stores made him uneasy. I felt the same way, and was glad to be out of there. 

I saw another shop filled with pretty long flowing dresses and asked to stop there. I knew McCauley would like quite a few things hanging on the racks. As I shopped, Daddy walked toward the back to ask if the attendant could suggest a good restaurant.  Before I'd made my way to the scarves, Daddy was urging me to leave again. When we were a safe distance from the store, he explained that they had bongs burning in the back and that the curious smell alarmed him. Were they really smoking marijuana?!  I reminded him that the name of the store had the word "Hippy" in it, so we shouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

We tried several more shops, and left each one just as suddenly for one shocking reason or another. I had to browse with downcast eyes (which is difficult!), glancing carefully at the bottom of every rack to determine if it was safe for viewing. You may call me sheltered if you like - I do not mind. I am infinitely glad that I am sheltered for when I did accidentally catch a glimpse of some very wicked things, I was anxious to escape the marketplace and Daddy was all too ready to oblige. I think this is how a Christian girl should be - sensitive to sinful paraphernalia and ever ready to turn her foot way from Vanity Fair. I only regret that I am not so sensitive to the manifestations of my own besetting sins and so ready to turn away from the snares of my pet temptations.

We continued to search for a restaurant. If it wasn't an unappetizing menu it was the music blaring or the smoke hanging heavy in the greasy air that kept us from settling on any dining place. The mound of garbage overflowing from dumpsters guarded other doors. By the time we found a suitable place, it was dark and the rowdy din of New Orleans nightlife was beginning to make me anxious. Couldn't we just eat at the hotel? Daddy agreed and we settled for another second-rate meal at 5 Fifty 5. After the kind waitress took our order, I remarked to Dad that I was glad we we'd chosen to eat at the hotel. I was getting so nervous on the streets because my mind was in hyper-drive because there was just too much to analyze. We both agreed I needed to mature in that area - I needed to be able to handle a challenging environment with Christian fortitude and a peaceful spirit. But I'd had enough practice for a day, and my mind enjoyed the rest of simply analyzing the aesthetic implications of mixing old upholstery with modern light fixtures and trying to discern if there was any kind of order to the jazz music they were playing in the background. 

source

While Daddy was busy at the convention the next day, I observed the street from my hotel window. My mind was buzzing as I tried to assimilate the things I'd seen the night before. How could a city display its wickedness so openly? The influences of Christianity had faded in so many areas: voodoo was celebrated, putrid dumpsters gaped open at the entrance of restaurants, people dressed carelessly, chaotic noise was called 'music', licentious women were a main attraction, gambling looked like innocent fun compared to the other lures that were freely advertised, quality food and hygienic environments were concepts seemingly rejected by most establishments. The frequent appearance of the fleur de lis was a constant reminder of the Enlightenment ideology imported from Europe as well as the example of cultural compromise set forth by Roman Catholic missions.

Meanwhile, I had been reading a debate about abortion between Christian friends and scoffing atheists. How angry the liberals become when Christians endeavor to protect innocent life! I was saddened to think of the stronghold that humanism has in our society - so penetrating that the act of dismembering a baby in his mother's womb is not only conceivable... it's legal! I had just read a news article that announced that Chick-fil-A was caving under the pressure from the sodomite community. How close to Sodom and Gomorrah are we when it becomes a "hate crime" to declare God's Word!

As these things rolled over my mind, I began to weep for my country. A sense of responsibility began to fire my veins. Our generation will be receiving the baton. We will be obligated to make our choices in light of God's Word. Will we humble ourselves before God and pray? Will we seek His face? Will we turn from our wicked ways? If we do not, we call more judgement upon ourselves and our future children. But if we will do these things, by God's grace, then God will hear from heaven and heal our land. What will we do?

Whatever we do, we must not sleep.

My heart waketh. This is a happy sign. Life is not extinct, though sadly smothered. When our renewed heart struggles against our natural heaviness, we should be grateful to sovereign grace for keeping a little vitality within the body of this death. Jesus will hear our hearts, will help our hearts, will visit our hearts; for the voice of the wakeful heart is really the voice of our Beloved, saying, "Open to me." Holy zeal will surely unbar the door.

Thank You for the divine and merciful "thunder-clap", my Lord. You have answered my prayers, as well as those of dear friends and family. You have refreshed me with physical rest and have given me energy anew. You have also lifted me out of this valley. Let me ever rest in Christ, but let me slumber in spiritual lethargy no more.

There is a world that needs the Gospel.

By Your grace, I am awake and ready. What Kingdom work do You have for me today?

"Oh lovely attitude! He stands
With melting heart and laden hands;
My soul forsakes her every sin;
And lets the heavenly stranger in."

* Selections of text in lighter grey are taken from the evening's meditation for September 24th in Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. 

A little earring and a lot of land!

Hi again, I was just pondering on some of  life's little blessings and what they mean to us.

A friend posted on everyone's favorite site now days about how he received a Tractor Supply $50 gift card in the mail. He didn't know the circumstances of why he got the gift card but I know that this is one of those things I like to call "the little things in life".

Most people rave over big things in life like new jobs, new houses, new additions to the family, but how many people really appreciate the little things in life like a gift card, or a little earring on a large piece of land?

And  to this I will start the story:  My darling Hannah wanted her ears pierced for her 7th birthday and after asking her Papa's blessing we found ourselves at the mall. She went through the process like a champ even though she said it did hurt more than a bee sting (she should know, shes been stung twice that I know of)! We gave her the rules and such about cleaning and taking care of them and having to buy her own earrings when the time came, she was just so excited that in 6 weeks she would be able to change them like mommy's. That time flew by and the day came when she asked about getting her first pair of sparkling earrings. I was able to take her back to the mall and we went on the search! We found a card of  4 pairs of sterling silver earrings on clearance for $8 and she was excited. I was more excited that they were only $8 when before they were $16, but she would have happily emptied her wallet.

That afternoon we got home and changed her earrings to the shiny, sparkling pink that she loves. She was so happy that she couldn't wait to show them to her Geemaw, so the next day when they went to Covenant Acres she got her big chance, only that chance was saddened  by one moment. One moment where she looked down in a puddle of water and saw the back of her earring flop into it. She said she looked up and realized that something was wrong and felt that her shiny pink earring was gone. 

She started crying and telling Geemaw that mommy was going to be upset and that she bought those earrings with her own money. Right then the first lesson of money was learned. After Geemaw helping her look for half the day it was just assumed that it was gone. There was a tiny earring lost somewhere in tall grass and muddy spots from when it rained. A little girl was sad until mommy came and told her it was an accident and that she still had 3 pairs left at home.

Hannah was ready to go home and put on her purple ones, but mommy has always had a knack of finding things. Mommy has kept up with three kids shoes and socks and you can ask the family, I've been asked many times to "find that contact"!!!!!  The nagging feeling that her earring was out there (had to be near the truck) was so strong I told little Hannah we would go on a treasure hunt with the metal detector.

Well 3 days later when we went "treasure hunting" on top of having a headache we just couldn't find the lost earring! I finally told myself to give up and I really prayed to the Lord that I would be able to forget about it because those things just nag me. We all went inside for a bit, except for the hubby who by now took off on the tractor to the back 40, to rest.

It looked like a rain cloud so I jumped up to put the metal detector away and the truck was locked tight! My phone was in there so I couldn't call my hubby to bring me the keys, but that was ok, Gramps came to the rescue (with his phone) and text the hubby to let him know the situation. [are you wondering yet where this is going? keep reading, I'm almost done!]

About 15 minutes later I hear the tractor so I went outside to wait for the hubby with the keys. I walked out to the driveway and the sun came out behind a cloud. It made me squint and look straight down.

Can you even imagine what I saw???? Yes, right there in a small dirt pile was this tiny earring that we had all looked for, half buried but still shinning in the sun. 

Right then and there did I praise the Lord for showing me how it's "the little things in life" that also need God's praise and Glory.

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without  ceasing.

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Until next time,

Eight Great "Back to {Home} School" Articles

1) Can I Homeschool for Free?

"So you're sitting there looking at the family budget with a visor on your head, a pencil in your mouth and a large calculator in your hands. No matter how hard you work at it, there is no corner to cut in order to squeeze out a few pennies for homeschool textbooks. Our family has been in this position before. What does a mom do?"


By Mrs. Bambi, mother of 8, @ In the Nursery of the Nation
Bonus Link: Homeschooling Shouldn't Be Stressful

2) You Can't Cover All the Bases

"If you were to ask a new homeschooling mom what her biggest fear was about teaching her children, what would she say? Nine times out of ten, she'd probably remark that she's worried about covering all the bases. The truth is, no one covers all the bases. No teacher in any school can ever teach your child everything they need to know."

by Mrs. Jacinda, mother of 3, @ Growing Home

Bonus Link: 4 Essential Subjects to Teach Your Child

3) How Our Son is Graduating from
College at Age 18

"The point of this post is to unpack one example of how it can be done if you are willing to get off the conveyor belt and look into all of your options. Once you are free from the culture box, you’ll be surprised…and delighted…to find out what could be available to your particular child down the road!"

by Mrs. Natalie, mother of 9, @ Visionary Womanhood

Bonus Link:  7 Strategies for Home Schooling Moms

4) Learning Disability or Gift?

"Time and time again we see evidence of the beautiful gifts and amazing talents God has given to those who are labeled with various “learning disabilities.” Our daughter, Abigail, probably would have been considered “different” by many in the public school system. Perhaps we would have been instructed to medicate her; or maybe she would have grown up feeling like something was “wrong” with her. But in God’s providence, our sweet blessing is learning at home; and we are watching her blossom."

by Mrs. Stacy, mother of 10, @ Your Sacred Calling

Bonus Link:  Raising Maidens of Virtue

5) Begin Homeschooling With a Goal

"This question came from Allison:  

'My biggest question is “How do I begin?” What is the very first thing that you did when you started this process. With so much to choose from, I can’t seem to focus on any one thing.'"

by Mrs. Amy, mother of 7, @ Raising Arrows

Bonus Link:  Does That Count as School?

6) I Was a Brain-Washed School Teacher 

"Understanding the fact that different kids have different bents has escaped mainstream thought. I think one of the most harmful things the conventional classroom does (by default) is define the “success” of a student by a grossly narrow measure. That’s the only way to mass produce “education”.

I remember when I taught high school, with great shame, giving a tongue-lashing to an 18-year old student, towering over me with tears in his eyes. I had been brainwashed too."

by Mrs. Kelly, mother of 9, @ Generation Cedar

Bonus Link: The Secret to Your Child's Success

7) Give Your Child a Life Long
Love of Learning

"Learning is not mundane and boring! If it is - stop what you're doing, don't give up - there is hope! Here are the basic subjects and creative ways to make learning FUN!"

by Mrs. Hannah, mother of 6, @ Cultivating Home

Bonus Link: The Goals of a Homeschool Family

8) Who's Afraid of Homeschooling?

"Any mother considering homeschooling for the first time will be able to sympathize with the dread I felt of trying to replicate the classroom experience in our living room, my flood of doubts over whether I had the patience to make my children sit at a desk for six hours a day, and whether I was even qualified to teach them everything they would need to know. After all, taking full responsibility for a child’s life-training and preparation for the real world is no small matter, especially according to the standards of the modern education system that dictates that it can only be done by trained, qualified, and certified professionals (which most of us ordinary parents are not), in expensive, state-of-the-art institutions (which most ordinary homes are not)."

by Mrs. Victoria, mother of 7, @ Western Conservatory of the Arts and Sciences

Bonus Link:  Curriculum Advice from Victoria Botkin

Resources You'll Want to Get:

What to Show People Who Don't Like Your Decision to Homeschool

God's Word is the Best Curriculum Choice

A friend, and homeschool mom of 3, calls this book her "sanity".

What articles have encouraged you during this back to {home} school season?

Healthy Chocolate Milk {marmy's tips & tricks}

Chocolate milk.  One of the best snacks known to man.  Fill a glass about a quarter the way up with thick, chocolatey goo, fill the rest with milk from that plastic jug and then give that delicious concoction a whir.

So easy, a child can do it.  {Well, the chocolate syrup to milk ratio may be slightly incredibly off.}

But the point is, chocolate milk is delicious.  And I missed it.

You see, when Marmy decided to healthify {it's a word, google it! ;} the kitchen, one of the first things to go missing from the fridge was the beloved chocolate syrup bottle.

"But, Marmyyyyyy..."  came the chorus of whines.

"No.  Absolutely not.  That stuff will kill you, and I'm not any kind of a good mom if I keep buying it."

Of course, occasionally we'd figure out how to smuggle a bottle in every once in a while when Daddy took us grocery shopping.

But, for the most part, I've been suffering from chocolate milk deprivation for a very long time.

Well, that is until this morning, when Marmy introduced her new and healthified version of chocolate milk.

DIY - Laundry Detergent and Dishwasher Detergent

Hi, I just thought I would give this blogging thing a try and give you a couple of do it yourself recipes that I have tried personally and LOVE. This may not be for everyone, but whats the harm in trying to save a few bucks? Ok, so I am going to give you the homemade laundry recipe first (which I am going to make as soon as I post this).
I found a plastic container with a good fitting lid to put mine in ( I think its a rubbermaid container). So, before I post the recipe I just want to be clear that I have added more to the photo than what is actually used so you can see what all different things you can use.

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe:
( 1 cup for large load )

•  1(4 lb) box of Borax 
•  1(3lb) box of Washing soda
•  1/2 box (6lb box) of Clorox 2 OR oxyclean (will explain why this is highly suggested later)
• 2 bars grated Fels-Naptha, Octagon, Zote or the bar soap of your choice( the 2 I am showing are the ones that I alternate using) you can experiment also with the scents you prefer. 
• 2 (2lb) boxes of baking soda

and OPTIONAL 1 (55oz) bottle of powered Purex Crystals fabric softener ( I used this once but didn't find it to make a difference, so to cut the cost I don't use it).

Layer ingredients in the large bucket and using a large spoon mix this all together very well. (when I make mine I will add a picture of what the finished product looks like).

To me this is a great recipe and if you don't want to make all of it at once you can cut the recipe in half. On to why I suggest the Clorox 2 in every load of  clothes. Long story short, when my twins were in the hospital when they were born there was a swab test done to all the infants in the ward and the doctors told me that my little girl was tested and received a high chance for staph. This did not mean she had staph it just ment that she could develop it. We inquired to the staff of nurses how they prevent their families and themselves from having staph infections since it is so high in our area (any coastal areas). They told us that bleach in all whites (towels) and Clorox 2 in all colors was the way you could help prevent staph. This is just a suggestion and if you have any questions about staph you can find a lot of great resources on the internet. I was using the liquid Clorox 2 until I came across the powder and just added it to my recipe above. If you choose not to use the clorox to you will need to use the oxyclean or something of this nature.

Before this post gets to long I will add the...

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe:
(enough to fill the soap dispenser)

• 1 cup washing soda 
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup borax
• 1/2 cup course kosher salt
• 1/2 cup citric acid ( found with the canning supplies) 

I mix all this in a gallon size zip bag and shake until mixed together.
***This method will harden after a day so you will have to knead the bag before each use.***

I did try storing this in a container with a lid but found it easier to just bend the bag and break up what I need for the wash. I use this in every load of my dishwasher and love the way it works. I also use straight vinegar in my rinse cycle also.

This is what the finished detergents should look like!

 Thank you for this experience and let me know how you liked the recipes...until next time, when I have another great recipe to share!

Recommended Resources:

The Money Saving Mom Deluxe Collection