Use of Phosphates in Detergent
As some of us laundry-lovers are pretty well-informed, phosphates have been banned for sale and manufacture in today's powder detergents. While some liquids in the past, such as all and Wisk, had phosphates, they never "kept too well" in the bottle. It should be told that phosphate's use in liquid detergents isn't "stable", and doesn't stay soluble for long in the compounds. I had an OLD bottle of Canadian Wisk with phosphates that just about solidified after about a year in my laundry cabinet. The liquid was clouded and thickened by the chemical. I still have two "lunch-pail" boxes of 1991 Fab Ultra phosphate detergent from my trip to Dallas. I had one box from RI I used-up last year. I also still have a quantity of 1998 Amway SA8 Plus detergent with 11.6% phosphates, which I only use along with enzyme boosters, as it has no enzymes itself. I also have what I believe contains NTA, a box of 1997 vintage Canadian all detergent, that I never used. I have used that all in the past with good results, albeit very sudsy and with no enzymes.
Too bad the use of phosphates has been banned, as all the eco-freaks in government and population are unwilling lemmings in the belief the harm they may supposedly cause. Also, it is so sad the banning of NTA, as all the detergents I used back in the early 70's that contained that ingredient, worked just as well as phosphates. If only USA detergent manufacturers would use EDTA(or "TAED" as it is known in Europe)for detergents. They chelate minerals in the wash water and provide pretty much the same good results with our laundry. Again, sadly, manufacturers don't seem to care about upgrading their detergent formulas for the better, everyone's cutting costs yet charging a lot more for goods. By the way, has anyone noticed that it is very difficult to find detergents at competetive prices ANYWHERE? It seems apparent the manufacturers and/or stores are price-fixing all laundry products.
