leads to dirty dishes To the Editor: If you've noticed that your
dishes and glasses are coming out of your dishwasher with a
cloudy, white residue, or that your black heat-proof handles,
spatulas, and utensils are coming out damaged, with a white,
rough coating on them that doesn't disappear, or that some
dishes come out of the dishwasher dirtier than when you put them
in, or that your dishwasher tub is suddenly very grungy, you're
not alone. The truth is that your dishwasher may be fine. The
real problem could be your detergent. People may piling their
dishwashers into landfills for no reason. In 2010, manufacturers
reformulated their detergents in response to regulations banning
phosphates in household detergents. A major consumer magazine's
test found that none of the phosphate-free dishwasher detergents
matched the performance of products with phosphates. Phosphorus
in the form of phosphates suspends particles so they don't stick
to dishes, helps to remove stains, breaks down grease, prevents
spotting and