Spokane, Wash. (AP) - The quest for squeaky-clean dishes has turned some otherwise law-abiding people in Spokane, Washington, into dishwater-detergent smugglers crossing the state line for old style suds.
They are bringing Cascade or Electrasol in from Idaho because the eco-friendly varieties required under Washington State law just don't work as well.
Spokane County became the launch pad last July for the nation's strictest ban on dishwasher detergent made with phosphates, a measure aimed at reducing water pollution. The ban will be expanded statewide in July 2010, the same time similar laws take effect in several other states.
But it's not easy to get sparkling dishes when you go green.
Many people were shocked to find that products without phosphates left their dishes encrusted with food, smeared with grease and too gross to use without rewashing them by hand. The culprit was hard water, which is mineral-rich and resistant to soap.
Among other states that have banned or are banning phosphates in dishwasher detergent are Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Michigan.
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