DON'T use Calgon!

kwatt

davetrousers wrote: »

Another thought I had is that now more people are washing at 30 degrees the chance of scale building up is reduced. Isn't it?

No, increased if detergents are not used correctly.

Neither I, many engineers and a few people in the detergent industry are convinced that a 30C wash is a good thing but I guess we'll all just have to live with it since it's been so heavily plugged.

K.

alexsimonzander

Back to the calgon and the money - simple maths says its not worth it!
An average family probably does 4-5 loads per week - thats 234 washes (4.5 x52). My calculations are based on using a Calgon 15 tablet packet (rrp £10.54). In a year you would use 15.6 boxes of calgon at a total price of £164.42.

I have never spent more than £300 on a washing machine so in less than 2 years I could have bought a new machine for less than the price I've spent on calgon. Most washing machines come with a 2 year guarantee so this calgon thing makes no sense. I know its not very environmentally friendly to bin (or recycle) the washing machine after 2 years but it certainly makes more sense than using calgon.

kwatt

alexsimonzander wrote: »

I have never spent more than £300 on a washing machine so in less than 2 years I could have bought a new machine for less than the price I've spent on calgon. Most washing machines come with a 2 year guarantee so this calgon thing makes no sense. I know its not very environmentally friendly to bin (or recycle) the washing machine after 2 years but it certainly makes more sense than using calgon.

Or...

Buy a decent machine in the first place and save a lot more over the life of it than chucking away cheap tat after a few years.

K.

hogweed

Calgon is a COMPLETE rip-off, because it is completely unnecessary. I live in a hard water area, and a couple of years ago chucked my washing machine out after 18 years of service – it has never seen Calgon, and it was still working OK!

I wrote to Ariel and Persil I think it was, and asked them for their comments. They both told me Calgon was a complete waste of time, as their detergents contained all the softener anybody needed, as long as you read the instructions about how much to use.

It always works for me – don't be patronised and lied to by rip-off TV adverts.

Brooktop

The simple facts are these:

If you live in a hard water area - you can get limescale build up on heating elements. Even if you're using colder temperatures, it still happens (you still see deposits on the cold tap don't you?). Detergents help soften the water to help prevent limescale build up. If you use a dedicated water softener, you need to reduce the amount of detergent you use - otherwise, what's the point? Soda crystals are a fraction of the cost of Calgon and will also help with stain removal.

If you have limescale build up already, you're best using a dedicated limescale remover and then using soda crystals as a preventative measure. Build up MAY affect the life of the machine, but more importantly, it increases your fuel bill.

Horasio

The water softener option is good but not easy to do if you live in a rental property

Lady_K

I had a new washing machine and with it came an advertising leaflet for calgon with a water testing stick. My water is not that hard, its medium I'd say or less, I never have to descale my kettle and I don't get build up on taps or anything yet this free tester from calgon says I have 'very hard water' I believe its a con to make you buy the stuff

Edit

I just found I could check my water hardness on severn trent site by postcode and it does state that my water hardness is slightly hard which is just as I expected. I wouldnt be surprised iof calgon make those testers to ive a false high reading to worry peope into buying thier product

On the calgon tester is had 4 levels, 1 soft, 2 mildly hard, 3 hard and 4 very hard, so mine should have read 2 mildly hard, not 4 very hard like the free calgon test came out

It should be re named CALCON not Calgon

Andy_ArT_Trigg

Here's a relevant article called "Should I use Calgon?"
http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/limescale_2.html#cl_q1

sharkie

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.

I have an ultra reliable Miele machine that is only switch on on when I'm in. After 15 years of faultless labour I knew I could leave it on. So the first time I tried it, on coming home 14 hours later, found the timer got stuck and my clothes were fairly mangled in a drainage spin loop and everything covered in 'fur'.

After wiggling the electrics the timer started again and has not failed since this one and only time 2 years ago. I never leave the machine unattended.

adouglasmhor

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Try simply active eco smart - much better than ecover - https://www.simplywashing.com. you get a sensitive skin version too and they have a softener.

Morrisons sell them I don't know who else. Much cheaper than ecover too. free delivery from their website too

Sainsburys sell simply too I found out the other day.

Another vote for washing soda to get rid of limescale though.