Soap Powder

squeaky

£Ronnie wrote:

Good thought but our machine is only 3 or 4 months old, and we started using Calgon when we got it but the cost was prohibitive. I am sure there must be an os way of doing the same job with bicarb and vinegar on the indexes thread somewhere.....off to search.

Look in the Appliances section of the MEGA Index sticky

System

I used bicarbonate of soda years ago when my son had allergies. Eventually i had to replace the washer as the programme thingy went awol. I gave it to a friend who was in the business so he could fix (and so that i could have a new washer ), and when he stripped it, he was amazed at the lack of limescale round the heating element. It might be worth investing in some bicarb instead of using calgon but dont do as i did, and buy it in tiny boxes from the chemists, you can buy it in bulk from soap making suppliers.

Ticklemouse

Poshpaws - you can use any vinegar - I use the white but ordinary cheapo malt is fine too. Your son won't know about the vinegar unless you tell him. Mr TM thought I was mad and said he didn't want to go to work stinking like a chipshop - I told him he hadn't noticed and I'd already been using it for 2 weeks The smell - if any - is when it come sout of the machine but it goes after a minute or two.

Also, if you use vinegar in your rinal rinse, you shouldn't need to use calgon again - ever!!

thriftlady_2

Two questions on this topic;

Can you put the vinegar in the machine at the beginning of the cycle like you do with fabric softener,or does it have to be before the final rinse?I find this a pain as I often put the machine on and then go out.

Also,I tried the mix of powder,cheapo powder and washing soda that was recommended here(Kiwichick,I think),it washed well but the mixture caked into big chunks which stayed in the powder drawer.What did I do wrong?

Can anyone help?TIA

arkonite_babe

thriftlady, I always put my vinegar in at the start of the wash. Don't have any problems.

As for the powder, I can't help you with that one I'm afraid, I really don't know why it all caked up.

System

thriftlady wrote:

Also,I tried the mix of powder,cheapo powder and washing soda that was recommended here(Kiwichick,I think),it washed well but the mixture caked into big chunks which stayed in the powder drawer.What did I do wrong?

This normally happens when the water flowing into the washer isnt warm enough to melt the powder. I always put mine in the drum with the washing itself.

Rebob

I use 1/2 own brand powder and 1/2 soda crystals. I also only use half the directed amount at the most. I also alternate using malt vinegar with half the amount of softner. The soap rinses out better when using vinegar but after a few washes some things are stiff when dried on the airer so then I use the sofner for the next wash.

Hope this makes sense.

bargainaddict

I am intrigued by this thread. How much vinegar do you use instead of the softener? Also where is the best place to buy soda crystals as I have only been able to find them in the supermarket near me.

calleyw

I always put the vinegar in the fabric softner drawer when I put the powder at the start of the wash.

Once in while you are suppose to run a machine with no clothes in it. And either nothing or just vinegar in it. So that you can clean it out.

I use own brand colour care powder as I don't want to fade my clothes which I believe using economy own brand will do that.

Yours


Calley

Mr_Proctalgia

I use the same(ish) amount of vinegar as I would normal conditioner, ie about a cap full. Washing Soda is about 52p per kilo in most supermarkets although you can get it in 25Kg sacks in chinese supermarkets but I didn't see much of a saving per kilo in mine. Dri Pak do mail order service for Borax, scented Soda, soap flakes etc, that may be worth a look. I buy a box of cheap powder for around 65p and mix it 50/50 with soda (I use my food mixer!!!!!) then store it in a large tupperware with a measuring cup kept in it. I use about 2/3 of my mixture as compared with the recommended amount of washing powder.


You can also use Borax instead of or as well as Soda or use soap flakes instead of soap powder, I've never used tablets as they are to expensive and new fangled for me, besides that I have a top loading drum washer that spurts all the water through the lid so it is kept clean. http://www.dripak.co.uk/

I have also started putting a couple of teaspoons of soda in my washin up water, it really helps shift grease of roasting tins etc, the water literally feels wetter to the hands too....