Dishwasher Detergent Recipe: Updated

(See below for an update.)

The part of the country that still cooks and eats at home is up in arms because the dishes don't get clean in the dishwasher anymore, thanks to the phosphate Nazis from Washington state who spearheaded the drive to see it removed from such famous and beloved products as Cascade. (Remember, gentle reader, Jerry Seinfeld started it, with The Soup Nazi).

Unfortunately, phosphate was key to efficient operation of units designed to run at lower temperature and with less water:

Grace Segrist, of Mumma’s Appliances in central Pennsylvania, explains that for the last five years, dishwasher technology has been walking a tightrope between efficiency and performance and the switch to phosphate-free detergents finally pushed many consumers over the edge. “The old dishwashers used 16 to 18 gallons of water during a wash cycle,” Segrist explains, “and used hotter water, too.” Five years ago Energy Star units arrived on the scene that use only 6 to 8 gallons of lower-temperature water. Between those changes and the new detergents, Segrist estimates that about half her customers now call in to complain about the quality of the wash. Adding to the problem is that unlike when Coca-Cola made a big to-do of switching formulas in 1985, the new dish detergents were slipped onto shelves under cover of night. “People didn’t have a huge knowledge base on how phosphate-free would affect their dishwashers,” she says, “so people didn’t know what the problem was.”

That's according to a long article here explaining the history of this fiasco, which has now saved me from adding a half-cup of white vinegar with which to "re-wash" every load of supposedly clean dishes.

Instead, I'm using a tip from a reader at Quarter Life Crisis here, who suggested adding TSP, or trisodium phosphate, powder to the cheapest dishwasher detergent he can find:

Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

2 parts Cascade, or other already phosphate-free dishwasher detergent

1 part TSP powder (Savogran brand has an "average elemental phosphorus content 7.3 percent in the form of phosphates")

So far it's producing dishes without any particles stuck to the sides of things, and the glasses sparkle, but the amount of phosphate in this mixture is considerably less (2.4 percent) than was previously present (8 percent) before the removal nationwide in July 2010:

One of the key ingredients in dish detergent is (or was) phosphorus. Phosphorus is a sociable element, bonding easily and well with others. In detergent, it strips food and grease off dirty dishes and breaks down calcium-based stains. It also keeps the dirt suspended in water, so it can’t reattach to dishes. Best of all, it prevents the washed-away grime and minerals from gumming up the inner-workings of your dishwasher. Traditionally, phosphorus was loaded into dish detergent in the form of phosphates, which are compounds of phosphorus bonded to oxygen. (PO4 if you’re keeping score at home.) Prior to last July, most detergents were around 8 percent elemental phosphorus. Now they’re less than 0.5 percent phosphorus.

Over time it's possible I'll need to boost the TSP in the recipe, an expensive proposition. My little one pound box cost me $5. I'll keep you posted.

Update 9/24/11:

I've been unable to adjust the proportions of the detergent/TSP mixture to get consistent results. I often end up having to run a half cup of white vinegar over the washed dishes anyway, say on "light wash" cycle after they've already been washed once on "Normal" or "Heavy Duty" just to make everything really sparkle.

Washing each load a second time in this way is a pain!

My contact at Whirpool, however, has saved the day and clued me in to a product made under the "Finish" label called "Glass Magic." The product really works, BECAUSE IT'S LOADED WITH PHOSPHORUS IN THE FORM OF PHOSPHATES: 2.3 grams per tablespoon.

I simply fill each detergent reservoir of my KitchenAid dishwasher half full with soap powder, and top each one off with Glass Magic.

Works every time.

The teeny tiny little box costs over $4 retail, but when it goes on sale I stock up. Still, it's cheaper than the TSP I was using.

Don't tell the detergent Nazis at the EPA.