Posted on 06/26/2011 12:13:10 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
As many of you have discovered, you automatic dish detergent hasn't been working very well for the past year, leaving a white film on the dishes. Well, the reason, as usual, is the envirowhackos using junk science to claim that algae blooms in rivers are caused by the phosphates in your dish detergent. The phosphates in detergent do NOT cause the algae to bloom because the algae can't break down the trisodium phosphates. So, instead of check out the facts, the detergent companies were more interested in currying favor with the envirowhackos.
Well, there isn't much way to get them to change their mind, especially since it is actually cheaper for them to make phosphate free detergent (never mind it doesn't work), but you CAN replace the phosphates in your detergent. Just go to the cleaner section of your local hardware store and look for Trisodium Phosphate. Home Depot and Lowes both carry it. Just add about a teaspoon to every load and you will get your dishes clean again. This is the cheapest method.
You can also buy Cascade with phosphates from places that sell commercial grade cleaners. Restockit.com is one place. I am sure there are others if you search.
“tablespoon & 1/2 per clothes load”
...about how much per dishwasher load?
interesting tip,
My typos just drive me insane
In our local Lowes the fake TSP is in an orange or yellow box, on the eye-level shelf. The real TSP is in the red box, and up on the highest shelf, where you have to get a clerk to go up the ladder to get it. I bought all 4 boxes they had on the shelf.
I also buy my dishwasher detergent at a janitorial supply. "Professionals" are exempt from the no-phosphate policy. Full phosphate Cascade is readily available at janitorial and/or restaurant supply stores.
Better known as lye, worse known as sodium hydroxide; it’s been used from old time to do laundry. I suppose there are things to be careful of, and it may eventually corrode the fibers of clothing, but very sure it works.
1/4 teaspoon of TSP added to neutered Cascade works wonders in my dishwasher.
Not only cleans the dishes but cleans the dishwasher! One of the first things friends and family noticed while helping to clean up after a dinner party. "How do you keep your dishwasher so clean?"
Just a dash of the magic powder....
Teaspoon for normal, half that if they’re not terribly dirty.
Thanks! I was wondering what was wrong with my dishwasher! :(
Thanks.
Thanks for the info....stay safe !
Oh, lye, makes sense that is what was use in the olden days to make soap. My neighbor swears by some stuff she calls “blueing”. I am going to try some of the suggestions here.
Thats for the info.
There are folks on ebay selling phosphate-laden dishwasher detergent.
We deliberately bought detergent without phosphates because they created a white crust in the old dishwasher.
We use the packets in the new one, don’t know how much phosphate is in them.
Can I just mix in the TP in the Detergent box?.....How much?
Bttt
Is Borax the same thing?
You know, I was wondering what the deal was. I could have sworn in years past I never had a problem with clothes not smelling clean, regardless of fabric softener.
I have to think they don’t care too much that the laundry detergent doesn’t work too well. They make a lot of money selling pre-treaters and stain removers and other additives.
No, it’s a boron compound I think. Definitely not phosphate though.
However, given the composition of some modern fabrics (polyesters, for example), check with your local dry cleaner BEFORE attempting to use lye in a washer. Might want to check with the washer manufacturer, too, to learn the correct amount to use per load.
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