At first I thought my dishwasher was dying -- there were lipstick marks on my wineglasses and the plates were streaked and sketchy. Then I ran across a newspaper story saying dishwasher detergent companies have quietly changed their formulas to eliminate environmentally unfriendly phosphates. (Some states now have laws banning phosphates.)

Well, turns out it’s phosphates -- not just soap alone -- that makes dishwasher detergents get the job done. “Phosphorus in the form of phosphates suspends particles so they do not stick to dishes and softens water to allow suds to form,” said the article in The New York Times.

Are you having trouble with your dishes too? We’d love to hear your comments on any problems or solutions you might be experiencing! The Cascade brand seems to be taking the biggest hit as dirty dishes across the country are alarming and angering consumers. Some folks are saying their dishes -- and their dishwashers -- are all but ruined. All you have to do is Google “Cascade” and “phosphates” and you’ll find online discussions with bewildered folks who just want to get their utensils clean. When it comes to a choice between phosphate-free (and thus algae-free) rivers and streams and eating tonight’s dinner on top of last night’s leftovers -- it’s a conundrum.

On a Website called DishwasherDetergentPhosphate.com, folks aren’t just ranting, they’re also experimenting with solutions. These include:

• Add ½ cup to 1 cup of cheap vinegar in addition to detergent -- just pour it into the bottom of the dishwasher before running a load.
• Mix the detergent with equal parts of baking soda to soften the water.
• Buy citric acid from any pharmacy and use it like dishwashing detergent occasionally. Supposedly adds back the sparkle.
• Get a dishwasher with a built-in water softener.

And finally, here’s a recipe for homemade dishwasher soap that another person uses:

1/3 cup borax
1/3 cup washing soda (not baking soda)
1/3 cup salt
4 envelopes lemon Kool-Aid, unsweetened (or citric acid)

Using a funnel, add the above ingredients to a 32-ounce plastic bottle with a lid. (I use an old white vinegar bottle). Add just enough warm water to cover ingredients, cap and shake well. Mixture will foam–release lid to let CO2 escape. Add more water, shake. Continue until bottle is full. Mixture will smell like a lemon drop. Fill dispenser with the mix, shaking before each use. "I use white vinegar in my rinse aid dispenser. Sparkling clean dishes for pennies a week!" she says.

If you try any of these remedies, please come back and comment here so that we can all solve this dirty little problem together. Thanks in advance for any help you can give us!