Prohibition Creates Smugglers, Even When it's Dishwasher Detergent
Thanks to the toughest dish detergent regulations in the nation, residents in Spokane, Washington are now heading across state lines to get their illegal suds. No joke. In order to protect water quality, the Washington legislature passed a law back in 2006 which banned dishwasher detergents that contained polluting phosphates. As the phosphate ban is slowly being phased in this year, many consumers are in open revolt as they realize that green detergents like Seventh Generation, Ecover, and Trader Joe's aren't quite up to snuff. In fact, it appears that many law-abiding Washingtonians have become quite addicted to their squeaky clean dishes. Many are crossing into Idaho to buy Cascade. In fact, there may even be an emerging black market for suds. Says real estate agent Patti Marcotte:
"Yes, I am a smuggler ... I'm taking my chances because dirty dishes I cannot live with."Supporters of the ban are blaming hard water as the reason green detergents are leaving dishes crusty with yesterday's spaghetti.














