Dirty Dishes

How clean have your dishes been looking lately? Are you mad at your dishwasher because its performance is not up to par? Maybe it's not your dishwasher that isn't doing its job. Many of my friends have been complaining that their dishes have come out of the dishwasher dirty or covered in a white film. And that's exactly the experience I've had recently. My plastics (baby bottles, cups, and plastic utensils) have suffered the most noticeable change. Then I read in the newspaper that the government created a law that reduces phosphates in dishwasher detergent. Phosphates, which help your dishes come out clean has been reduced to 0.5 percent from as high as 8.7 percent. So that's why your dishes are coming out dirty. Read this article to better understand the issue.

I'm not a tree-hugger but I try to do my part to eliminate waste for the environment. I take quick showers, I don't let the water run while brushing my teeth, I unplug my cell phone charger when not in use, and I turn off lights when I leave a room. But I have to draw a line somewhere. What is the point of having an expensive dishwasher and buying costly detergent when it's not doing the job properly? As the head of a household of six people, I really don't want to resort to washing dishes by hand. I'll never get out of the kitchen! Thoughts?