Sir, - It is distressing to note the large quantity of detergents labelled as "Alpine Fresh" or "Lemon Fresh". If the truth is to be told, there is nothing "Fresh" or even natural about these powerful chemicals. Detergents, which are often marked as irritant, typically end up down a plug-hole and hence into our rivers and oceans. The ecological implications of these often non-biodegradable detergents on our environment, in an age when washing dishes by hand at home is fast becoming unusual, is obviously great.
It has been well over 100 years since the invention of the steam engine, surely today we can convert this most ancient of technologies to clean our dirty dishes without the use of detergents? The thought does, however, occur that somebody somewhere has already realised that they can't sell us steam. - Yours, etc.,
Oisn Horgan, Lusk, Co Dublin.