Some of the comments at the link humor me. So many people rely on the knowledge of the all-knowing 'they'; and, they are horrified that people would be selfish enough to want soap to actually clean.
Phosphorus causes algae blooms. Fine. So they pick an incredibly small source of it for banning? Ever wonder what the middle number on a bag of fertilizer means...its phosphorous content. Just a hunch, but I bet the biggest source of phosphorus in lakes and streams is from farming...but they'll probably ban that next.
I wash my dishes in battery acid.
We noticed that the dishes weren’t as clean at our house too. At first we blamed the dishwasher. Now we know better.
Great......now I won’t be able to buy TSP anymore. I use it for everything. People will go to the hardware store and drive the price up 3 fold and then the EPA will ban it out right.
This Eco-Fecal freak sh!t is way out of hand.
Econuts are always harping on homeowners to use phosphate-free fertilizers.
Go get Monsanto and all the other huge factory farmers to stop using phosphates first, then come and talk to me.
Good post!
I’ve been having trouble with our dishwasher. Started about 6 months ago. I switched over to a no-name brand and instantly had better performance (My state is not one of the states).
I’m going to have to check labels.
= = =
BTW
States instituting the rule include Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin
I have to disagree with your statement about farmers using too much fertilizer. Perhaps, decades ago, yes, but costs these days are so high, a farmer will use only just what is necessary to do the job.
I think there are two other culprits.
1.) The average homeowner with a lawn—do they use the entire huge bage of fertilizer in one summer, when only a cup or so will do?
2.) The average diet of a human being, in most areas I suppose, is mostly grain based. This can make for a nitrogen rich feces, which is then flushed down the toilet, then treated at the local sewage plant, then released into the local waterway. I am not sure all of the nitrogen is recovered from the waste stream before being put back into the local waters.
Oddly enough, Young and Wright (the two consumers mentioned in the article) are from Florida and Texas, neither of which has banned phosphates.
They would do better by switching to local or no-name detergents that may contain phosphates.
We will outlive our Cascade supply. Then our son can decide whether to use it or sell it for maximum profit.
To all who have asked how much and how to add TSP. I just added around two tablespoons to the soap compartment, and filled the rest with Cascade. It worked perfectly. With each successive load, I am adding a little less, to see where the tipping point is...that’s how I plan to figure out how much.
I was able to find TSP at Home Depot; but, yes, I was almost tricked into buying TSP substitute....so read the label carefully. I bought a two pound box for around $9.
Oh, and to answer all the questions about safety...it was in the detergent before, just a few months ago...with no problem. We need phosphorous to live, its in alot of foods, we guzzle it in soda. It shouldn’t be a big deal if there is a residue left on the plates...and as it turns out, it Doesn’t leave a residue.
And yes vinegar works for some people...but if you have hard water, it really doesn’t help.
This TSP is not some ‘home grown recipe’...its simply adding back in to the formula the ingredient the environazi’s have taken out.
TPS—is it expensive? I have been using Lemi-Shine with good results, but it’s kind of expensive. I hate the EPA.