On 10/29/2011 4:53 PM, Jay Hanig wrote:
I live in a coastal community on a North Carolina barrier island in a
house I inherited from my father. I've noticed a film on the silverware
I've run through the dishwasher that is difficult to remove. Just
rubbing it with a damp towel won't do it but using Bartenders Friend
cleans it up nicely. Still, I shouldn't have to clean most of the
silverware that's been through the dishwasher.

I've tried running CLR followed by vinegar through it. I have tried
using Jet Dry along with the Cascade Powder I generally use.

The dishwasher is a Maytag MDB9100AWQ of indeterminate age. The house
was built in 1983 but the dishwasher has probably been replaced at least
once. It still runs very quietly and aside from the film problem, I have
no complaints with it.

I'm told our water here is very hard. I don't have a problem with rust
stains and anything you soap up rinses off very quickly. So what should
I do? Am I at the point I need a new dishwasher?



Jay

This may be due to phosphate-free detergents. Laws passed in 2010
limiting the amount of phosphates in household dishwasher detergents.
Major manufacturers have reformulated their dishwasher detergents for
the entire United States.

What are phosphates?

They are chemical additives in detergents that act as a cleaning agent
helping to remove stains, break down grease and prevent spotting. During
a washing, phosphates suspend food particles so they do not stick to
dishes. Plus, they soften water allowing suds to form for cleaning.

Phosphates have been limited in detergents because they are difficult to
remove in waste water at treatment plants. This water is then released
into streams, lakes, rivers, and drinking water reservoirs where they
can cause environmental harm. In freshwater, phosphates boost algae
growth, which consume all the oxygen, ultimately killing the fish and
plants.

How does this affect my wash performance?

This Eco-friendly change in detergents may cause white film on your
dishes, glassware, plastic items, utensils, even the dishwasher tub.


How do I reduce the white film on my dishes?

Using dishwasher detergent tablets and pacs have been proven better than
powder, liquid or gel detergents to reduce filming on your dishes. By
using these tablets and pacs, over time this will start to reduce or
eliminate white film. Also, by using a rinse aid you can minimize repeat
build-up of white film.


The above info was stolen from Whirlpool's website:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3lvlswn