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Finally! A cure for white film on dishes (EPA caused the problem!)
WCPO ^ | 08/18/2011 | By: John Matarese

Posted on 08/18/2011 5:45:07 PM PDT by TSgt

Have you noticed a white film on your dishes in recent months? As we first reported earlier this year, the reason is a new environmental law.

Most manufacturers have reformulated their dishwasher detergents after laws limiting phosphates went into effect last year.

Julie Schimpf of Ft Thomas, Kentucky showed me how bad her dishes looked. Julie said "there's this frosty, filmy look on the top and bottom and it won't go away. I'm finding the same film here on the edges of my plates."

Complaints Nationwide

Our partners at Consumer Reports Magazine have heard many of the same complaints, from homeowners everywhere who are finding glasses and plates coated in white film.

Jim Nanni of Consumer Reports said "some readers wrote to us, complaining about film and buildup on their dishware."

So Consumer Reports started investigating. They ran the same set of dishes 20 times with the same detergent to simulate more than a month of dishwashing.

Film built up more with some detergents. With Method Smarty Dish, which the magazine said otherwise is a very good cleaner, the glassware turned milky white after 20 washes. The dishes washed in Whole Foods' "365" also developed a milky coating.

Top Performing Detergent

After hundreds of washes, the magazine found one detergent that it says can prevent the problem.

It's Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs, from Cincinnati's Procter and Gamble. The packets -- not the powder version--- topped Consumer Reports' cleaning tests. Even with very hard water, the Cascade Pacs did not leave a white residue behind.

Alternate Cure

Some other cures, reported by homeowners nationwide: Add a tiny amount of white vinegar to the wash, or buy a product called Lemi Shine, sold at Walmart and Target, that you add to the load to reduce hard water stains.

Either of those, however, take a bit more effort. As always, don't waste your money.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: degredation; dishwasher; dishwasherdetergent; ecoweenies; greenieweenies; greenreligion; lowerstandards; nannystate; phosphates; theamerianway; theamericanway; thedestroyers; tsp
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To: Cyber Liberty

Where then?


41 posted on 08/18/2011 6:25:00 PM PDT by MestaMachine (If the truth hurts, prepare yourself for a LOT of pain.)
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To: goodwithagun

I use vinegar, too. A couple of bucks for a big gallon, keeps the dishwasher gunk-free and the dishes sparkle.


42 posted on 08/18/2011 6:25:00 PM PDT by nodumbblonde ("The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity." - Ayn Rand)
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Bookmarking


43 posted on 08/18/2011 6:29:13 PM PDT by RandallFlagg ("I can see 2012 from my house!" Jim Thompson, 7-16-2011)
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To: momtothree
Also, does it get rid of the soap scum in a shower?

Probably, but I'd talk to someone more knowledgeable about chemicals before I used it that way. It's pretty potent stuff. Used for cleaning siding and decks before painting.

I have been pretty satisfied with one of the soap scum bathroom sprays like Tilex. Clorox makes a pretty good one called Green Works which actually does a very good job on soap scum and is pretty benign, doesn't fry your lungs. You just need to use it on a reasonably regular basis. I have fiberglass showers and tubs, it works well on them.

44 posted on 08/18/2011 6:29:26 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there)
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To: MestaMachine

I got mine at Home Depot, paint department (you have to know to go t the paint department!). It is hygroscopic, meaning it will suck water out of the air and ruin it, so I have mine sealed in big ziplock bags with Silica Gel.


45 posted on 08/18/2011 6:30:24 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Rick Perry: Looks like Joe Isuzu, acts like Grant Woods [AZ joke])
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To: Cyber Liberty

I just got it online from Lowes.


46 posted on 08/18/2011 6:31:15 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Happiness is a choice)
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To: nodumbblonde

Generic detergent plus vinegar and our dishes are fine, and at a fraction of the cost of the expensive stuff with or without phosphates. We also use vinegar in the washing machine instead of fabric softener. It doesn’t gunk anything up (actually keeps things running more smoothly), it’s cheaper than softener, and it helps with static cling.


47 posted on 08/18/2011 6:32:05 PM PDT by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: ChildOfThe60s
Buy a 4 pound box of TSP. Put a teaspoon in with your powdered dish detergent.

Yep..TSP will do the trick.I have about 8 lbs of it. That will last me a lifetime. It replaces the phosphate that Uncle Sam is making manufacturers remove from cleaning products.

48 posted on 08/18/2011 6:33:28 PM PDT by ExtremeUnction
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Yep. I just discovered that a month or two back - what a difference! Be careful, though - there’s a “green” TSP that is worthless.


49 posted on 08/18/2011 6:33:33 PM PDT by BuckyKat (Green = the new red)
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To: icanhasbailout

“...laundry detergents as well as dishwasher detergents. Much of it is now worthless”

I dunno. Selling detergent that doesn’t wash is about as good as it gets...right up there with being paid not to farm by the Dept of Agriculture...being forced to buy health “insurance” that provides scrap for benefits...The Feds and the corporatists about have us all over a barrel.


50 posted on 08/18/2011 6:35:31 PM PDT by mo
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To: netmilsmom
That's good news. I had friends tell me they can't get it there. Make sure the stuff you get is "real" TSP and not a "substitute" TSP. I've seen that out there, and it's in really teeny tiny print on the label.

Would you mind posting the URL of the exact item you got? Others want to get it too...

51 posted on 08/18/2011 6:36:31 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (Rick Perry: Looks like Joe Isuzu, acts like Grant Woods [AZ joke])
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To: Reaganez
This seems to agree with your assessment:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/laundry/2003052601018823.html

That being the case, I wonder how one could purchase the chemical STPP.

52 posted on 08/18/2011 6:37:32 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s....you weren't really there)
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To: TSgt

Use your regular brand and add a shot glass of white vinegar to the wash cycle, works well, and move regular glasses to bottom shelf too if they are glass. Hand wash you fine crystal.


53 posted on 08/18/2011 6:41:13 PM PDT by GailA (Any congress critter who fails to keep faith with the Military, will NOT keep faith with YOU!)
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To: Dr. Sivana
I got my wife a box of commercial Cascade from the GFS, and she immediately noticed a marked improvement.

You can still order the old Cascade with phosphates from Restockit.com

54 posted on 08/18/2011 6:42:35 PM PDT by alley cat
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To: Cyber Liberty

You can still buy commercial dish detergent with phosphates over the internet. I haven’t bought any because I stocked up before they took it off the market. Now, I’m going to look for TSP.

What is driving me crazy is the liquid dish detergent, that won’t wash grease off the dishes or pans. The detergent companies don’t care because they sell about three times as much detergent. You can pour the stuff directly on a pan or greasy dish and it still won’t get it clean.


55 posted on 08/18/2011 6:44:02 PM PDT by Eva
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To: TSgt

Hurrah and three cheers for phosphate.

As gray water is allowed for yard irrigation here in AZ, all washer water goes into a 55 gallon plastic drum, then distributed via hoses for vegetation.

Wife seeks out the cheaper phosphate based detergents made in Mexico as the phosphate works great for fertilizing.

Also as we have used only two super efficient roof mounted evaporative coolers for the last 20 years, (no AC) the resulting evaporation of water made calcium carbonate mineral deposits onto cooler wetted metal surfaces and the paper cooling medium a big problem.

Although have timed pumps that empties the cooler reservoirs every 8 hours of operation, the mineral deposits remained a problem. Until got some water supply inline scale eliminator phosphate filled cartridges which have virtually eliminated the problem as the phosphate insures the mineral deposits remain in suspension until reservoir water is periodically pumped out.


56 posted on 08/18/2011 6:44:46 PM PDT by Sea Parrot (Democrats creation of the entitlement class will prove out to be their very own Frankenstein monster)
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To: Cyber Liberty

Sure!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_124762-68-63004_0__?productId=3010340


57 posted on 08/18/2011 6:45:05 PM PDT by netmilsmom (Happiness is a choice)
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To: TSgt

I was told to put 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a cup in the back, lower corner of my d/w. The glasses are beautiful. Cuts the soap film. I was about to tear my hair.


58 posted on 08/18/2011 6:47:12 PM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: momtothree

TSP is both a chemical, tri-sodium phosphate, and a Brand.
The TSP brand does NOT have the chemical in it.

Try the paint dept. at Lowe’s for the real thing. It’s used as a cleaner/degreaser.


59 posted on 08/18/2011 6:48:08 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Cyber Liberty

Individual pacs were excluded from the law, claiming that the individual pacs limited the amount of detergent that could be used, so it was ok.

The problem is that I have the new drawer dishwashers and the individual pacs are too big to fit in the dispenser.


60 posted on 08/18/2011 6:48:08 PM PDT by Eva
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