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WWND:
Background: DH and I have a roommate (temporary). A good friend needed a place to stay for a couple of months on her off-season and we had an extra bedroom. And it's been great for the most part.
We have a dishwashing issue. Roommate has made her own dishwashing detergent and it leaves all the dishes with this thick cloudy "stuff" all over them (my clear glasses look like they've been frosted, it's really bad). I tried to talk to her about it and she said it's because dishwashing detergents can't use phosphates anymore. She's absolutely more into "eating organing/clean" than I am. If it were entirely up to me, I'd add phosphates back into the dishwashing detergent and be done with it. She said that she'd rather not because she thinks it's a health issue.
Do you ladies have any ideas? I feel like I have to wash all of the dishes after they come out of the dishwasher because of this "gunk" that's on them. DH is super frustrated, but since she's "my friend", he thinks I should deal with it.
Re: WWND:
She needs to use a better dishwashing detergent formula. Specifically, one that adds some acid in the form of lemishine or lemon koolaid.
In other words, I think there is a compromise to be had here- she can still be crunchy and you can get clean dishes.
Would you/she be willing to try some natural remedies...citric acid and vinegar and good ways to try and prevent this.
"Proctor and Gamble says its research and development teams have been working for two years trying to come up with formulations that work as well as the old stuff with phosphates. It says spotting or filming can occur, particularly in harder water, with these new phosphate-free formulas.
The problem is a pain, but the fix can be simple. First, use a dishwasher cleaner every six months.
The best way to get rid of the film is to put a cup of white vinegar on the top dishwasher rack and run it through a cleaning cycle. Only put glassware in there with it and that too will be cleaned.
That helps clean off all of the hard water deposits and soap buildup inside your dishwasher," said Sublett.
Then, find a good soap. Sublett says powders seem to work best if you don't have a water softener.
Use less soap, since hot water alone does a lot of the cleaning. Finally, a small amount of citric acid with the soap can help keep the film off. (you can find citric acid in the baking aisle of your supermarket with canning materials.)"
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
I am mean, if it was upsetting Todd and I wasn't into the film either, I would tell her we were going back to using our problem free store bought stuff in the dishwasher, and that she was welcome to wash her stuff by hand.
(And everyone thinks Keri is so nice.)
Spirit of Power
Eat, Drink, and be Keri
Why does she prefer to make her own instead of buying one of the phosphate-free brands on the market? It seems like most dishwasher soaps are available now phosphate-free.
I would propose that, and if the film sticks around I would go with Keri's suggestion.
Can I ask a dumb question about the bolded part? Am I supposed to put a glass upright (instead of upside-down) to put the vinegar in? Or how am I supposed to keep a cup of white vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher?
That's what it says - upright full of vinegar. I've never done it, but might try. I guess it just mixes in and cleans during the cycle?!
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
PHOTOS REMOVED
Thanks ladies.
We did try the vinegar thing to clean the dishwasher last week and since she continues to put her "crunchy" stuff in there, it continues to cause a problem.
She wants to use her homemade remedy because it's cheaper (though I've offered to pay for dishwashing detergent, and frankly, what I spend in extra water/heating since I have to wash all of our dishes by hand...any money saved is negated).
I will try adding some lemon koolaid to my detergent. Sounds like I'm not way out of line to say, we either do it this way, or you can wash your dishes by hand.
Depending on how much she made, you will need a bunch. Like 15 packets or something. The lemishine is what we used on ours, and it was much cheaper. Or the citric acid like someone else suggested.
You can buy citric acid in the canning section of King Soopers.
Also, houseguests need to defer to hosts on how to run the household.
Good luck.