Do a little googling on dishwasher phosphate. You can buy TSP phosphate and mix it with your dishwashing detergent and get clean dishes again. Be sure to read up to find the correct concentration and mix it properly.Janknitz wrote:Also, since phosphates were outlawed here in California dish detergents, there's is more residue on the dishes that go through the dishwasher and I don't want to be breathing in whatever that is.
If you're worried about mixing a "harsh" chemical with your dishwashing detergent, don't worry. You've been using phosphate to wash your dishes up until it was banned. Also the other chemicals in your dishwashing detergent are harsh as well. Try putting just one grain of dishwashing detergent on your tongue. Have a glass of water handy to wash it out. Phosphate in particular is one of the chemicals your body needs (in low doses) to survive.
Also, turning your water temperature up or getting a dishwasher that heats its own water may help. Look for a dishwasher that is certified to "sanitize" and try that setting. You may have to turn the "water heating" function on. It's often turned on by default to give the machines a better "energy star" rating.
By the way, most of the big consumer products companies have given up on phosphates. It's hard to find phosphate detergent even in states that haven't banned it.