How to get your dishwasher back (Make phosphate detergent) Vanity

Self | 2/13/2011 | self

[dickmc]

Pittsburgh isn’t even in the Chesapeake watershed. However, like everywhere else apparently phosphates have disappeared from dishwasher detergents. The result is dishes that aren’t particularly clean and feel ‘slimy’.

After some checking, I found that the disappeared phosphate content in dishwasher detergent was around six percent. On a recent visit to the plumbing supply store to get some parts, I found that they still had one pound boxes of the real TSP (trisodium phosphate Na3PO4); not the fake ersatz 'TSP' stuff that Home Depot is only selling. In fact, the real TSP is still available all over the net.

Not being able to find any phosphate containing dishwasher detergent at any grocery store, I decided to make my own. Here’s how:

1. Buy a large 7.5 pound bottle of gel type dishwasher detergent.

2. Dump in a bucket and add one-half of a one pound box of TSP. This will make a 6.25% mix of TSP in the detergent. (Actually the weight percent of Phosphate in TSP (Na3PO4) is 58% making the Phosphate in the mix 6.25 x 0.58 or 3.6% …but… that’s good enough for government work!)

3. Stir with a paint stick. If you want, add a half-cup of water to somewhat reduce the gel viscosity.

4. After about one minute of stirring, the TSP particles will be thoroughly distributed in the gel. (They don’t dissolve but that’s OK as long as they are evenly mixed.)

5. Put back in the bottle ...with the leftover in the empty bottle. (A funnel helps which I had from garage stuff.)

Tried it out yesterday.

.

VIOLA! The dishes are now 'squeaky' clean with no slime film. Also, the dishwasher insides now look clean again.

Enjoy the info.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

I got it at Lowe’s a few days ago. About $10.

[nascarnation]

thanks
the Lowes here only have the fake TSP

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Have you tried Amazon?

[Elsiejay]

Good to know; thanks.

[nascarnation]

I’m a “Amazon Prime” customer
there’s no real TSP avail with the free shipping

there are some real TSPs but the shipping cost is > the product cost

thanks for the suggestion tho

[BreitbartSentMe]

ping for later

[american_ranger]

Lowes but make sure that the ingredients list says trisodium phosphate

[Freedom4US]

JHC, is EVERYTHING used to make meth?

Coffee filters, coleman fuel, etc.

Now I’m bummed. I paid 14.95 for a 4.5 pound box this morning on eBay, plus ten bucks for shipping. It is advertised as Trisodium Phosphate. It says so on the box itself.

Now I find that it might be some thing else entirely, due to the fact some imbecile might use it to fry his brain.

I’m just trying to get through the day, but the dopeheads and greenie weenies are making it difficult. I hope they die in a fire. /s

[catnipman]

“Now I’m bummed. I paid 14.95 for a 4.5 pound box this morning on eBay, plus ten bucks for shipping. It is advertised as Trisodium Phosphate. It says so on the box itself.
Now I find that it might be some thing else entirely, due to the fact some imbecile might use it to fry his brain.”

Don’t worry til you get it. Most likely you’ll get the real stuff on ebay, whereas with Ace Hardware and the like, you might not. Ebay pretty much requires honesty in advertising, and if it’s false, then it’s easy to get your money back, particularly if you used a credit card to fund the purchase, which quite frankly, is the only safe way to fund ebay purchases anyway. The credit card company is your friend when it comes to refunds.

[Freedom4US]

Yep - I use a CC only for purchases online. But shipping would be my cost to return it, so it’s probably mine now.

The STTP stuff referenced above looks like another good bet. Kinda pricey, too. About 4 bucks a pound, ten pound minimum. Should last years, though. My finger is hovering over the “buy it now”.

The TSP is caustic, it’s supposed to be, but I bet the dose just needs to be dialed back is all. Maybe a quarter teaspoon per dishwasher load, plus the ersatz stuff.

As an aside, when I was a young teenager, I mistook the box of Spic-N-Span cleaner for Electrosol in the dishwasher. Woops.

[stilloftyhenight]

I’m a little late to the discourse, but does anyone know of a CLR substitute? I had a new commode put in, and it already as lime buildup! Is there something I can add to the water to stop this???
Does TSP work for that?

[xzins]

You will be reprogrammed.

Prepare for departure.

The reprogramming unit will correct deficiencies in your on-board evaluation system.

[I_be_tc]

Later

[Twinkie]

We filter the fool out of our water with under-house filters, then our drinking water I filter in a large Brita container. It tastes fine to us, but still has the iron and sulfur a bit; the family likes to hassle us about it but we’re doing the best we can. Also grateful for the free water! - Thanks for the info on the 20 MTB. We live in a heavy limestone area in addition.

[catnipman]

“As an aside, when I was a young teenager, I mistook the box of Spic-N-Span cleaner for Electrosol in the dishwasher. Woops.”

LOL! Haven’t we all heard of, or know, someone who either accidentally or ignorantly put soap of some kind into a dishwasher instead of dishwasher detergent? Not really funny though, given the mess it makes :(

[kitchen]

Could you share your STPP source? FReepmail me if you’d rather.

[Doe Eyes]

On-line at:

■Phosphorus content: this formula averages 6 percent phosphorus, in the form of phosphates, which is equivalent to 0.8g per tablespoon.

Meijer Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

[catnipman]

"Could you share your STPP source? FReepmail me if you’d rather."

Here's where I got it on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290346278346

This was the cheapest I could find online. The owner of the chemical company in Denver sold me a 50 lb bag as a personal favor, so it would be taking advantage of his generosity to send more people his way asking for it. His company isn't a retail company; it's a manufacturer.

[kaylar]

Thanks for the link ; it’s now in my watch list. I may try it too as a comparison with TSP.

[kanawa]

The result is dishes that aren’t particularly clean and feel ‘slimy’.

Here I was thinking that 'slimy' feeling was because
I couldn't get the rid of the dog drool from the pre-wash. :)