I found this post on http://kitchenkneadsinc.blogspot.com Kitchen Kneads is a wonderful store in Ogden, Utah that sells just about everything and anything you could want for cooking and food storage. Thanks to them for the information.
If you think your dishes aren’t getting as clean as they used to, you’re probably right! As of July 1, 2010, all the detergent makers removed phosphates from their detergents. This has caused a rash of washability complaints because the phosphates did a number of important things to help the detergent clean better. 
For example, phosphate causes food to break apart and dissolve by removing the calcium that binds foods together. It also reduces spotting and filming during the wash cycle. Phosphate also helps break up and get rid of grease, helps control water hardness, and suspends soils within the wash water so they are not redistributed onto the plates.
The old-formula dishwasher detergents had about 30% phosphates. Now, with the phosphates removed, the calcium is free to run around inside the dishwasher slurry causing trouble.
But all is not lost. I have the solution. After being plagued with this horrible film that not only made my dishes look terrible, but also made them taste funny (glasses), I got fed up and went on a search for a recipe to make my own dishwasher detergent. I searched and searched and happened upon a recipe that goes as follows:
Not only is this an awesome dishwasher detergent, but it's also tons cheaper. The top 2 photos are what was plaguing me - a horrible white film that wouldn't even scrub off. These last 2 are what happened to the same dishes after washing them with this detergent. Amazing difference, huh?
*Note: You may have to wash your dishes a few times before the white residue is removed.
The old-formula dishwasher detergents had about 30% phosphates. Now, with the phosphates removed, the calcium is free to run around inside the dishwasher slurry causing trouble.
But all is not lost. I have the solution. After being plagued with this horrible film that not only made my dishes look terrible, but also made them taste funny (glasses), I got fed up and went on a search for a recipe to make my own dishwasher detergent. I searched and searched and happened upon a recipe that goes as follows:
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
(NOT Baking Soda. Washing soda can be found in the laundry aisle of some stores. I found mine at Macey's.)
1/4 cup Citric Acid
(Not as easy to find. The only place I know of to find it is at Kitchen Kneads. And even if I did know where else to find it, I wouldn't say because [come on] this is a Kitchen Kneads blog.) The citric acid is what creates that *sparkle and shine*. It basically does what the phosphates do.
1/4 cup Coarse Kosher Salt
(The salt is your scrubber)
Mix it all up well. Use 1 Tablespoon per load. That's really all you need.
As a rinse agent, forget the Jet Dry and just pour some vinegar in the rinse agent spot. It's awesome!
*Note: You may have to wash your dishes a few times before the white residue is removed.
This works like a charm. I buy the cheapest auto dish soap the store has. I add the baking soda to the little tray and put vinegar in my rinse container. My dishes come out looking amazing and no more cloudy film on them. And the best part is it is so inexpensive.
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