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Blame big government for your dirty dishes
Washington Examiner ^ | 12/17/2010 | Mark Hemingway

Posted on 12/17/2010 10:59:14 AM PST by markomalley

It was not heavily advertised, but earlier this year dishwashing detergent makers reworked their formulas to comply with environmental regulations banning phosphates. NPR reports that consumers are starting to get very frustrated:

Sue Wright from Austin, Texas, says for months her cups and glasses have been coming out of her year-old dishwasher covered with black specks. She called three repairmen to her kitchen, but her dishes were still dirty.

"I looked at a plumber's rear end for about two months this summer sticking out from under my sink," Wright says. "I was just totally frustrated. I couldn't figure out what was going wrong."

Finally, after months of aggravation and expense, Wright found out the real reason for her speckled cups: This summer, detergent makers took phosphates out of their detergents.

Seventeen states banned phosphates from dishwasher detergents because the chemical compounds also pollute lakes, bays and streams. They create algae blooms and starve fish of oxygen.

But dirty and damaged dishes are turning many people into skeptics, including Wright.

"I'm angry at the people who decided that phosphate was growing algae. I'm not sure that I believe that," Wright adds.

This reminds me that satirist P.J. O'Rourke was joking when he wrote this last year:

The next great government crusade will be against soap. The president will appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission, which will determine that soap releases polluting grime into the ecosystem, leads to aquifer depletion, and contains fatty acids that laboratory studies have shown to be acidic and not fat-free…

Big government -- it's impossible to parody any more.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dishwasher; tsp
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To: Jmouse007

You should be able to buy Commercial Cascade with the usual 7% phosphate content at a restaurant supply store. It’s only home use detergents that are affected.


61 posted on 12/17/2010 1:41:41 PM PST by Eepsy
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To: Eepsy

Thanks for the advice, will see what I can find because we have been washing everything by hand as a result of this mess.


62 posted on 12/17/2010 1:44:06 PM PST by Jmouse007 (Lord deliver us from evil and from those perpetuating it, in Jesus name, amen.)
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To: Eepsy

Thanks for the advice, will see what I can find because we have been washing everything by hand as a result of this mess.


63 posted on 12/17/2010 1:44:06 PM PST by Jmouse007 (Lord deliver us from evil and from those perpetuating it, in Jesus name, amen.)
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To: Lurker

“How does it feel to live in a country where you have to produce more identification to by cough medicine than you do to vote? “


Great comment! I’m going to use it in my next argument with the local Libs.


64 posted on 12/17/2010 3:31:44 PM PST by The Working Man
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To: Carley

Thanks for post, thought something was wrong with my dishwasher, will switch brands.


65 posted on 12/17/2010 3:38:33 PM PST by opentalk
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To: Slump Tester

Of all the toilet cleaners, SaniFlush actually worked.


66 posted on 12/17/2010 3:50:35 PM PST by reg45
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To: lkco

If it’s “phosphate free”, it ain’t TSP.


67 posted on 12/17/2010 3:53:28 PM PST by reg45
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To: markomalley

I may be wrong here, but I thought there was a similar ban enacted for laundry detergent years and years ago. I think I remember seeing a detergent commercial back in the late 1970s where the product announced it was “phosphate free”.

As for whether dishwasher detergent/dish soap is really a significant factor in algae blooms...*shrug*. Algae blooms do occur, and some have been quite harmful. China has had more toxic blooms in the Beijing sea and inland water sources than you can shake a stick at. But in those cases, massive amounts of industrial and agricultural runoff appear to have been the source of the algae growth.


68 posted on 12/17/2010 4:00:51 PM PST by DemforBush (I got three passports, a couple of visas. You don't even know my real name..)
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To: reg45
"Of all the toilet cleaners, SaniFlush actually worked."

Tell me about it! It worked good even if you only used it a couple times a year.

And it wouldn't bubble the paint on the seat and lid like bleach does.

69 posted on 12/17/2010 4:33:52 PM PST by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
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To: opentalk

Everyone was blaming their dishwasher. The water temp, etc.

Turns out the enviro-crazies made them change the formula.


70 posted on 12/17/2010 4:45:30 PM PST by Carley (ISRAEL.......NOT SO ALONE!!!)
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To: FourPeas

Its Tri Sodium Phosphate. Has been in laundry and auto dishwashing soaps since Cesar was a Private in the Roman Legions.


71 posted on 12/17/2010 5:07:12 PM PST by DariusBane (People are like sheep and have two speeds: grazing and stampede)
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