Valerie Phillips: Readers dish on keeping dishes clean

"I use Finish Powerball Tabs (not too expensive when purchased in the large container at Costco, especially when you use a coupon). In the second compartment I put in 1 tablespoon of baking soda (or washing soda), and 1 tablespoon of Borax. If I put in too much, it doesn't do the job. I read somewhere online that more is definitely not better.

"My dishes are cleaner, and glassware is more clear and sparkly that it has ever been.

"I do not have a water softener (wish I did), and have very hard water. I washed dishes by hand for several months because I couldn't stand the cloudy silverware and glasses. My daughters say this doesn't work as well for them as it does for me, and that makes we wonder if the temperature of the water has anything to do with it. Our water heater is set a little hotter than it should be."

— April

Valerie Phillips is the former Deseret News food editor. She blogs at www.chewandchat.blogspot.com .

Email: vphillips@desnews.com