Hard Water + Washing Machine

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Hard Water + Washing Machine
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Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 8:29 am Post subject: Hard Water + Washing Machine
We currently use washer tabs to stop the heating element becoming coated in limescale/calcium deposits. I would like to stop using these - can anyone suggest anything that can be added to the wash to prevent build-up of deposits?

stumbling goat

Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1990

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 8:36 am Post subject:
the only thing i know that works is a water softener. maybe not what you wanted to hear, sorry. have heard nothing good abbout the so called ionising reducing gizmos you can attach to the water mains that supposedly prevent calcium forming on pipes etc. hy

Effie

Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 1087

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 8:39 am Post subject:
Someone I know claims vinegar is supposed to work. (Although, frankly I've come to the conclusion they are a few beans short of a casserole in general, so I don't know if there is anything in it.)

Ren

Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Posts: 1782
Location: southwesterly

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 11:47 am Post subject:
I had also heard about white vinegar in the rinse cycle, it is also a good softener for clothes.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 1:07 pm Post subject:
Vinegar makes sense, with it being acid and the limescale being alkaline. It's listed in many old-fashioned books as a limescale remover for taps etc. Worth a try, and it will freshen the clothes too.

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 1:37 pm Post subject:

We have very hard water. We have to descale the kettle every week. Even the dogs' waterbowl acquires a layer of limescale

We use white vinegar to descale the kettle, shower screens, taps, showerhead, stainless steel sink, washing machine. I don't add it to the wash in the machine but every few months we put a gallon in the drum and leave it overnight. Then drain it the next day, into a bucket - not down the drain, you'll be amazed at the limescale that ends up in the bucket. We reuse the vinegar a few times. Use white vinegar - malt is smellier and there's something quite depressing about watching brown vinegar running down your tiles and pooling in your bath

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46381
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 1:44 pm Post subject:
vinegar again the magnetic things do help but an in line ion exchange filter (flush with salt like a dishwasher filter thingy )works well but is costly to buy and run

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 2:19 pm Post subject:
Vinegar it is then......not sure if we can get white vinegar here but plenty of cider vinegar. ...or would that be unsuitable? Might try the washer soak Alice but not sure how easy ours is to drain.

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 2:29 pm Post subject:
I expect they're all of a muchness When you set the m/c to 'drain' (like you would after a rinse hold) drop the waste pipe into a bucket instead of letting it go down the drain. I'm sure any sort of vinegar would do it

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 2:58 pm Post subject:

alice wrote:

We have very hard water. We have to descale the kettle every week. Even the dogs' waterbowl acquires a layer of limescale

Do you use the vinegar neat on the taps and stuff? I'm a bit worried cos ours are chrome and don't want it to spoil, we've been using the ecover descaler which is fairly diluted citric acid.

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 4:00 pm Post subject:
I use it neat in a plant sprayer. I don't know what our taps are made of - they are fairly new and look like chrome to me. I haven't noticed any damage - but I hesitate to tell you to use it in case it all goes horribly wrong and you come round and let my tyres down I've just asked OH who is the fount of all knowledge and he says vinegar won't hurt chrome...

nats

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2374
Location: Swindon but not a Swindonian

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 6:52 pm Post subject:
and where, pray tell, does one get hold of huge quantities of white vinegar at a reasonable price??

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 7:27 pm Post subject:
�2.80 for 5L from our local shop

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 7:28 pm Post subject:
You've got some weird specialist vinegar shop out on the islands?

alice

Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 2820

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 09 8:08 pm Post subject:
Its a broad church

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