Phosphate Substitutes for a Dishwasher

Phosphate Detergent Dangers

• As of 2010, Indiana, Vermont, Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, Utah, Montana and Pennsylvania banned the sale of phosphate dishwasher detergent in the hopes of keeping the streams, lakes and rivers phosphate-free. Phosphate, although nontoxic, promotes the growth of hazardous algae when it enters water.

Phosphate-Free Detergent Ingredients and Risks

• Phosphate-free dishwasher detergent usually contains amino acids, which are derived from organic chelating agents. The agents work to remove caked-on food and dirt from the dishes. Most phosphate-free detergents will also contain an abundance of surfactants, polycarboxylates, phosphonates, enzymes and chlorine compounds to adequately clean the dishes, according to the Centre Europeen d’Etudes sur les Polyphosphates and the European Chemical Industry Council. Most such chemicals have poor environmental biodegradability and can significantly increase the organic compounds in the sewage. The additional chemicals also pose a toxic risk to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

All-Natural Phospate-Free Detergents

• All-natural phosphate-free detergents offer users a completely eco-friendly product that poses no danger to the waterways or aquatic life. They contain no harsh chemicals. All-natural dish-washing products may contain sodium carbonate, which helps reduce hard water and successfully clean dishes. Although not harmful to the environment, sodium carbonate detergent should be kept away from children and pets. It can cause skin burns and is toxic if swallowed. Some commercial all-natural, phosphate-free dishwasher detergents contain sodium citrate as the active ingredient. Sodium citrate, derived from citrus products, offers a nontoxic dishwasher cleaner that is safe to use around children and pets. People can opt to make their own phosphate-free automatic dishwasher soap at home or purchase a product that contains only natural ingredients. Eartheasy suggests using borax and washing soap in the dishwasher for a phosphate-free wash.

Effectiveness of Phosphate-Free Detergents

• The consumer will have to try numerous brands of phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to evaluate each one's effectiveness. Most phosphate-free detergents do not perform as well as phosphate-containing cleaners. The consumer may be faced with higher water usage when using phosphate-free detergents. Dishes washed with a phosphate-free detergent will usually require more rinse cycles and additional detergent to become adequately clean. Phosphate-free cleaners lack the superior cleaning ability that a phosphate cleaner demonstrates in quickly breaking down mineral deposits and dirt.