re: #146 Big Steve

Not a scumbag, but you might be better off using detergents that work - Cascade Complete All In 1 pacs (28 cents per load), Ecover tablets (27 cents), Finish Powerball Tabs tablets (22 cents), and Method Smarty Dish tablets (21 cents) - all fared quite well in Consumer Reports’ tests of detergents. Those are all reformulated as phosphate free.

Another option is to make sure that you add vinegar or lemon juice to your load - it helps reduce scale and buildup. And if you have hard water - make sure to use a rinse agent like Finish (formerly known as Jet Dry).