Is your water
hard’?
If it is,
and
if you use a carbonate type non-phosphate detergent, you will most probably notice
limestone* deposits on your clothes and washer surfaces. The hardness of your water and your washing frequency
will
determine how rapidly the limestone
will
build up. If your water is VERY HARD (11 or more grains) and if
you wash just a few loads a week, you may see limestone buildups in just a few months.
Effecti on Clothes
Although limestone buildup occurs more rapidly on
cotton, it will eventually affect various fabrics in the
following ways:
● Gives a stiff, harsh, rough feel to fabrics such as
toweling.
“
Causes colors to fade and become dull and dingy.
● Causes graying of fabrics.
“
Leaves a white, powdery residue on dark-colored
items.
● Causes spot-fading of bright colors as a
result
of
direct contact with detergent.
● Reduces wrinkle-resistance of permanent press
fabrics.
● Destroys effectiveness of flame-retardant finishes on
cottons such as children’s
sleepwear.
● Increases fabric wear because of the scrubbing action
between limestone deposits on the fabrics during
washer agitation.
Effecti on Washer
● Unsightly buildup on all washer surfaces exposed to
the wash solution.
● Mat-1ike, crusty formations caused by lint adhering to
the sticky limestone deposits.
● Increased service calls because of limestone deposits
in the pump, recirculation water hoses, filters and
other washer parts.
● Reduced useful life of washer.
Recommended Methods to ReduceLimestone Buildup
● Use a powdered phosphate detergent or a liquid
detergent if these are available in your area.
● Install a home water softener. This will significantly
reduce limestone buildup.
● Use a packaged non-precipitating water softener,
such as
Calgon
brand with phosphate.
Good Washing Practices May Delay Limestone Damage to Clothes
The following recommendations
will
temportily
delay
● Increase amount of detergent. See guide on opposite
the effects of limestone on your clothes. These are page for recommended detergent amounts in relation
generally good washing practices and will give better
to water hardness.
soil removal whether or not you have hard water or use
● Increase use of bleaches, presoaks, packaged water
carbonate detergent.
conditioners, prewash soil and stain removers to
● Use hotter wash water, for example up to
150°F.
help in removing stubborn soils and stains.
(65°C.)
for cottons. This also improves oily-soil
removal.
“
Use greater care in sorting loads. Wash very dirty
loads separately and increase detergent to help
● If you wash in cooler water to save energy, use keep dirt from redepositing on less soiled items.
more detergent to promote better washing. Also Wash delicate items separately to prevent damage
be sure to use bleach on
bleachable
fabrics. Use
from heavy, sturdy clothes.
hot water whenever possible. ● Wash smaller loads to increase cleaning action of
● Add detergent and allow washer to fill and agitate
washer.
for three or four minutes to dissolve detergent before ● Use fabric softener to counteract stiffness or
adding clothes. harshness in clothes.
*LIMESTONE–technically called CALCIUM CARBONATE–is caused by the
reaction of the calcium in the hard water with the sodium carbonate in the detergent.
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