DON'T use Calgon!

Rhino666

'The element just heats up the water doesn't it?'

No, the element keeps the water in the machine together with powder, etc at a certain temperature. Softeners in the washing powder should protect the entire system.

Pink.

Just in case any one is interested there's a recent Calgon thread on the Old Style board:
Calgon, Limescale and Landfill

Pink

Plasticman

I know a couple of people who had allergic reactions after using Calgon in their washing machines (all together - "make your scrotum itch longer with Calgon....")

jobbingmusician

Pink-winged wrote:

Just in case any one is interested there's a recent Calgon thread on the Old Style board:
Calgon, Limescale and Landfill

Pink

How did I miss this!!!! :eek:

Soapy955

Lady_K wrote: »

I think I'll try that with the soda crystals. Do you think it should be on half fill or full fill? I think I'll put it on at night when my economy 7 starts aswell if its for hottest setting to save a bit with the heating up

I was advised by the fire brigade that you shouldn't leave washing machines running overnight or when no-one is home as if it were to have some kind of electrical fault it could cause a house fire. The fireman said that alot of fires he attends are due to a flooded washing machine and the electrics affected by the flood.

soolin

Oh gosh, my machines on all the time when I'm out and overnight. I'm not home long enough to get all the loads done that I need to do on a daily basis so I set a timer for cheap rate electricity over night and then re fill it on my way out again in the morning.

As for Calgon, I do get through my washing machines quickly but I've never had a reapir man tell me anything about furring even though here in east London we have very hard water. Usually I wear the carbon brushes, or on the newer machines the computer bit dies.

Inactive

Soapy955 wrote: »

I was advised by the fire brigade that you shouldn't leave washing machines running overnight or when no-one is home as if it were to have some kind of electrical fault it could cause a house fire. The fireman said that alot of fires he attends are due to a flooded washing machine and the electrics affected by the flood.

So, do we all turn off our fridges then?

I have never heard of a washing machine catching fire.:rolleyes:

newlywed

Our tumble dryer did catch fire. Our washing machine flooded the kitchen as the sensor to say it was full of water had broken so it just kept filling up.

We were never allowed to leave anything on if we were out because of those two things (that both happened when we were in).

Poppycat

Our washing machines we have had last about 4-5 years and that's using 5-6 loads a week and using less than what the manufacturers of the powders recommend, so unless we don't have hard water then I don't see this a problem as I would expect given the age of the washing machines we have to only last about that times.

The only problem we have every had touch wood, it with a Indesit having a too sensitive balance sensor, which despite having new sensors several times within weeks of each other, yet despite this the washing machine faulted, so engineer said it was a design fault and I never buy Indesit or shop at Comet again after that because of the agro.

never_enough

I've often wondered if it was just a gimmick. Hard to know if you're not looking inside machines on a regular basis, so thanks for this.
I have bought calgon in the past but figured that the cost wasn't worth it. I've never paid more than £200 for a machine, they always last 8+ years (despite doing at least 1 load a day). Will try the soda crystals, at about 60p a bag, it's a much cheaper option.