No, I don't see any reason to use a detergent containing phosphates when one that doesn't will do. My recollection is that too much phosphate ending up in our water systems is kind of an environmental disaster in the making, I don't need to contribute further to the problem. You, on the other hand, have some very special needs laundry-wise, so maybe they are justified in your situation.

People get all up-in-arms about environmental issues regards to phosphates in cleaning products when it's not such a big deal. Agriculture puts wayyy more phosphates into waterways (animal poop run-off is part of it) than household cleaners. Phosphates were eliminated in cleaning products just because it's easier to do that than control the larger sources.

Human bodily waste alone contains more phosphates, in a much more available form, than any detergent. The zeolites that have replaced phosphates come with their own set of problems. Mesothelioma for starters. Organic or inorganic, phosphates will be part of the waste stream. Overuse of anything will cause issues. A bar of tallow soap, a rock or wash cloth and water. Boil everything for 10 mInutes. There's your enviro friendly cleaning solution.

I have not ordered these but would really like to try the Cascade Fryer Boil Out. Members on AW seem to like it. Heard good andnot so good reviews on the Bubble Bandit. Cascade

Cascade Boil they say, has that bleachy scent and I always like that plus excellent performance.

Sandy1616, what's that about mesothelioma and zeolites?

http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/risk-factors/zeolite.htm. 

I'm sure you can find something more recent if more interested. I come across a lot of weird info researching cosmetic ingredients. Lol.

I have a small business making soaps and cosmetic products. Organic and non toxic. A surfactant and an emulsifier are very similar as they both bind oil to water, a lotion with good slip basically needs an organic polymer, etc. It's pretty crazy what we think of as orgqnic or inorganic, chemical or organic sometimes.

I tried Bubble Bandit. And I must say.. if you we're only washing, well rinsed silverware & fine china.. it'd make a great detergent. However... maybe it's just me, but the few times I've used the bag, there was a lot of stuck on food at the end of the cycle.

It makes glasses and silverware really shiny though. :)

I've been using the Cascade stuff for years. It was previously called Cascade Institutional, and has bleach which is great for stained plastics.

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?52631

I'll just leave that here ;)

MIch..thanks and that's one of my favorite posts over there.

Yes, I like hot water best of all...

Sandy, the link give a 404 error. But thanks for posting it anyway. When I have the time, I'll do more research. Again thanks.

Here is Sandy's Link.. Somehow a period was added to the end, making it invalid. :)

http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/risk-factors/zeolite.htm

Thanks Mitch. I should have double checked.

As for a heated debate over phosphates I can't imagine one here. We've all tried everything and in most combinations imaginable :). I get good results without phosphates but I am an excessive heat user. That's no more eco friendly considering all factors.

I was just researching zeolites & just to be clear, the mesothelioma connection can be traced to a couple small villages in Turkey where the volcanic rocks have a specific rare zeolite called erionite which is structurally similar to asbestos. The rate of mesothelioma cases is 100’s of times higher than the rest of Turkey. Residents are easily exposed to erionite fibers in the air & surface rock, which has been used as building material since the beginning. There are also a few places in the western US where it can be found.

Certain co-factors (genetic, viral, radiation exposure) increase one’s chances of developing mesothelioma but overall most people exposed to high amounts of asbestos itself don’t get it.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0048969783900086?via%3Dihub

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11711136 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/erionite