Who's tried making their own yet? I've done the sums to work out how much it costs to make your own and it only costs approximately $4.75 to make a 115ml bottle! And then you can re-use the same bottle so after the first bottle it will only cost approximately $1.26. You can get just over 16 bottles worth out of a 1kg bag. With some retailers charging $35 for a 250ml bottle you will be saving yourself $11.35 on the first bottle and then $14.85 thereafter, plus it's so easy to make! (Sums based on distilled water costing $3.50 for 4L, Natural Magnesium Chloride Flakes costing $19 for 1kg and a $3.50 spray bottle).

Apparently there can be different side effects that people can notice when applying magnesium oil, especially when using it for the first time. I have been one of the lucky ones who hasn’t noticed anything so far. Below is a list of notes I have made along the way. It’s not an exhaustive list so please keep this in mind. I am not medically trained in anyway I am just someone who has wanted to take their own health into their hands and to see what positive changes I could make into my life to make it as natural and chemical free as possible, and share what I have learnt/still learning with people along the way. Ok back to the Magnesium Oil………

- Whilst it is called an oil, Magnesium Oil is not an oil as such, it has an oil appearance, hence the name. Some people have reported when applying the oil that it can sting at first, my understanding of this is it can be related to your body being deficient and once the oil is sprayed onto the skin it can sting due to your body pulling the oil in transdermal at a quick rate due to deficiency. I work on the rule if it hurts too much wash it off. If you think you are largely deficient don’t spray too much on at first, do a patch test on a small part of the skin and see how you react.

- Some people don’t like the feeling after the oil has been applied, I have applied mine and then wash my hands after. If you want to wash your skin after, make sure you do it at least 30 minutes after application as you want to give your body time to absorb what it needs. I just leave mine on.

- Don’t apply the magnesium after shaving as it will most likely sting

Magnesium Oil Recipe

½ Cup of Distilled Water

½ Cup Natural Magnesium Chloride Flakes

10 drops of essential oil (I like to use lavender or lavender peace)

115ml bottle (either glass or plastic, if plastic make sure it has either 1(PETE) or 2(HDPE) on the bottom of it) Funnel

Thermomix Method

Add the water to the thermomix and heat for 5 minutes at 80 degrees speed 2. Once complete add the Magnesium Flakes and mix for 45 – 60 seconds speed 2 (You want all the flakes to be dissolved, if some flakes aren’t dissolved mix for a further 15 seconds). Allow to cool, once cool pour into a 115 ml spritzer bottle, add essential oils of your choice, the oils are optional but beneficial. If you have a little left over I just leave it in the jug and spray some out of my bottle onto my skin and then top the bottle up with the remainder.

Stove top Method

Add water to a stainless-steel pan and heat until boiling. Once boiled remove from heat and stir in the Magnesium Flakes until dissolved. Allow to cool before you put it in your bottle, add 10 drops of essential oil. If you have a little left over I just leave it in the jug and spray some out of my bottle onto my skin and then top the bottle up with the remainder.

The information provided with this product /recipe is for information and educational purposes only. This information is not a claim for a cure, treatment or prevention of any disease or condition, and is not intended to supersede sound medical/practitioner advice. It is advisable to consult with a professional health care provider for your personal health needs

Have you ever wondered what the ingredients are in your dishwashing tablets? If not then maybe it’s time to, given they wash the utensils and plates etc that we eat off, a bunch of chemicals that I can’t even pronounce probably shouldn’t be going into our bodies.

I spent a bit of time trying to find out on manufacturers websites what the ingredients are of the dishwashing tablets you purchase from the supermarket, and guess what, no one was proud enough to post it on their website! Given that fact I am definitely happy to make my own, especially when it takes as little as 2 or 3 minutes to make my own and 24 – 48 hours to set and costs approximately 18c a tablet to make (not including essential oils)

The AMAZING Krissy from The Inspired Little Pot has shared her recipe for you free of charge. You can find her recipe here

I use the ice cube trays available from Kmart and most supermarkets and I store them in an air tight jar that you can also find at Kmart.

Here is my slight variant of Krissy's recipe: 

100g Himalayan Pink Rock Salt (Fine salt is preferred but rock will also work)

200g Natural Pure Borax

300g Natural Washing Soda

300g Citric Acid

30 drops of essential oil (I like to use Lemon, Lime, Wild Orange or Lavender)

• Add all ingredients to a large glass bowl and mix well. (If you are using rock salt you can grind this up in a high powered blender and then when its a fine consistency add the remainder ingredients and mix well)
• Pour into your ice cube trays evenly and allow to set for 24-48 hours.

I keep mine on my kitchen bench on a oven tray with a tea towel over them while they set. Once they set simply pop them out carefully and place in a glass air tight container. If for some strange reason yours haven’t set (I am yet to have a batch that hasn’t set) You can simply use this powder and pop approximately a tablespoon in the soap dispenser of your dishwasher. This makes approximately  36– 42 tablets for me but this will depend on the size of the ice cube trays you use.

I also use vinegar in my rinse aid department rather than Rinse Aid.

If you would like to watch how easy it is to make the Dishwashing tablets check out my Facebook video

As this is a DIY recipe it is your choice to use in your dishwasher and if you are concerned it may void your warranty of your dishwasher contact the manufacturer. All liability remains with you to make the best decision on the use of these tablets. We are comfortable using them in our own machine and I can only imagine what is in the ones we buy commercially if they won’t disclose what is in them so that is why we chose to make our own.

We also have a pack available to purchase  that contains all the ingredients you need to make your own dish washing tablets (except the Essential Oils)-  DIY Dishwashing Tablet Pack  You can also purchase all ingredients individually by cliking on the link of each ingredient in the recipe above. 

We recommend using gloves and safety glasses if you have sensitive skin when preparing or mixing. Seek medical attention if required. Keep out of the reach of children.