TODAY'S TURN: Wash dishes without dirtying the water

THE ISSUE:
How do most dishwasher detergents clean your plates to a sparkling shine? By using complex phosphates. By itself, not horrible.

But when it accumulates in rivers, lakes, and canals, too much of these nutrients can cause too much algae growth and decay (if you're a biologist or crossword nut, you might recognize the formal name 'eutrophication'). In the end, that means less oxygen, much lower water quality and tougher living arrangements for fish.

According to Wikipedia, a survey showed that 54% of lakes in Asia are eutrophic; in Europe, 53%; in North America, 48%; in South America, 41%; and in Africa, 28%. That's why phosphates have been removed from laundry detergents in many countries.

THE GOOD TURN:
Citrus Magic is a biodegradable, phosphate-free dishwasher detergent that apparently cleans the heck out of your dinnerware. It comes in gel form and obliges you with a fresh, citrus scent. When you check out the site, you can read reviews of the product from users.

Click here to do this Good Turn