Washington State Bans Phosphorus in Dishwasher Detergent
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.20.08
When I used to design cottages, I would try to convince clients to wash their dishes by hand and not install dishwashers; the detergent is the last to contain phosphates, which leach into lakes. There are lots of low phosphate or now phosphate detergents on the market, but they used to cost more and did not work as well. Now the State of Washington has booted Cascade and Electrasol off the shelves, blaming them for feeding algae blooms, and when algae die, their decay uses up oxygen, choking lakes and streams, suffocating salmon and other aquatic life. As of July 1st, any dishwasher detergent for residential use must have no more than half a percent phosphorus. No word on why it is still allowed for commercial uses, that go through tons of the stuff. ::Bellingham Herald
Brands like Seventh Generation and Ecover are still on the shelves. We would be interested in hearing if readers have used low and zero phosphate dishwasher detergents and if they thought they worked as well.
It does add a twist to the question Dishwasher vs Handwashing: the Winner
see also How To Green Your Dishwasher
Eco-Tip: Dishwasher
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I know many metal fab companies replaced chlorinated hydrocarbon cleaning with industrial 'dishwashers' to degrease or clean components.They are required to treat discharges to remove contaminants, but phosphates get passed through. I wonder what they will change to next?
Seventh Generation works just fine for me. I haven't noticed the difference from a conventional brand. Good job Washington!
Tried 7th Generation, it was a bit cranky in my cranky inherited dishwasher. I plan to try again when I get the Energy Star model installed.
I use SQUEEK in Australia, and absolutely no complaints. (It's not promoted as being super green, but is listed as phosphate free.)
We use Palmolive Eco - phosphate free, I think it works even better than regular dish detergent, and is even cheaper than the regular name-brand dish detergents. Our local Targets carry it (We live in Baltimore, MD). I imagine as more and more locales enact similar legislation more low-cost phosphate-free detergents will pop up.
We use Shaklee's Get Clean dishwasher concentrate which is phosphate-free, and works as good as (if not better than) any non-green brand we've tried. We live in Washington, and since we've already gone green this law won't affect us!
I use the Seventh Generation detergent and haven't had any issues with it. I will say that the Seventh Generation brand you don't have to use a lot of to get your dishes clean.
and I live in WA so PROPS FOR WA!! I had no idea this was coming either! YAY us!
I have gone through 3x as much detergent since the enacted this BS bit. As far as I am concerned Those Nazi's in Olympia don't know squat. Banning it from home use? Yet the restaurants still use it? Why not get the wastewater treatment plants up to par in getting rid of the phosphates? Instead of blaming other people the government needs to take responsibility for their lack of foresight. It's like the majority of people who think that the hybrid motors are so much better than non hybrid motors. They use more gas and pollute more than the good old geo metro and have worse fuel economy! I have done the tests comparing those two and my geo metro is better than my neighbors nice new prius!
I live in Washington and I noticed the ECO brand we tried from Costco left grit all over the dishes. Also without bleach the dishes are starting to permanently stain.
I'll have to try some other brands but for now I guess I'll trade plastic bags for working dishwasher detergent.... start my own black market. =)
Only brand my local store carried was Palmolive and it doesn't clean anything on the top rack (many of my friends have the same problem) nor clean my silverware. I won't have people over unless I use plastic ware since my dishes look so bad. I want to save the lakes and want to have clean dishes without having to hand wash everything.
I have been using Lanosoft Starbrite on soft water with great results. Two teaspoons cleans an entire load with my "many years old" dishwasher.
I think the phosphate free dishwasher soap sucks!! My friends and family agree with me. There is little phosphate in it to begin with but it works better. I live on the WA-ID border and I will now go to ID to buy the regular dishwasher soap. I hate to do it but why do I have to wash them with 3 cycles. Just cant do it.
The City has had a few complaints, mostly that the new formulas "Seventh Generation" and "Palmolive Eco" leave a filmy haze or spots on glasses. I have had trouble with the top shelf not getting as clean too, but bought "Wave" gel at Cosco last time, and it did a pretty good job. I was surprised because here in Spokane County we have very hard water. Try it, and if it doesn't work, at least you can get your money back and slip over to Post Falls and buy some Cascade. ;)
I have been using Seventh Generation for a couple years now. Gell form not powder. I used it while I lived in NC and now live in WA. I had no idea WA went phosphate free as I already was!!! I have no issues with my dishes being cleaned properly. I have a new energy star model diswasher and use the Eco wash option with the gel along with a 1/2 cup vinegar (poured into the bottom) for that extra shine. None of my glasses have spots and all residue is gone upon cycle completion.
I have been using Seventh Generation for a couple years now. Gell form not powder. I used it while I lived in NC and now live in WA. I had no idea WA went phosphate free as I already was!!! I have no issues with my dishes being cleaned properly. I have a new energy star model diswasher and use the Eco wash option with the gel along with a 1/2 cup vinegar (poured into the bottom) for that extra shine. None of my glasses have spots and all residue is gone upon cycle completion.