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T~
RES~TS
OF
CONT~ED
USE OF
CA~ONATE
DETERGENTS
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.
Effeck on Clothes
Although limestone buildup occurs more rapidly on ● Causes spot-fading of bright colors as a result of
cotton, it will eventually affect various fabrics in the
direct contact with detergent.
following ways:
● Reduces wrinkle-resistance of permanent
● Gives a stiff, harsh, rough feel to fabrics
press fabrics.
such as toweling.
● Destroys effectiveness of flame-retardant finishes on
● Causes colors to fade and become dull and dingy.
cottons such as children’s
sleepwear.
● Causes graying of fabrics.
● Increases fabric wear because of the scrubbing action
● Leaves a white, powdery residue on
dark-
between limestone deposits on the fabrics during
colored items.
washer agitation.
Effeck on Washer
● Unsightly buildup on all washer surfaces exposed to
the wash solution.
● Mat-like, 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
Iife
of washer.
Recommended Methods to Reduce
Limestone 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
the effects of limestone on your clothes. These are
generally good washing practices and
will
give better
soil removal whether or not you have hard water or use
carbonate detergent.
● Use hotter wash water, for example up to
150°F.
(65°C.)
for cottons. This also improves oily-soil
removal.
● If you wash in cooler water to save energy, use
more detergent to promote better washing. Also
be sure to use
bleach
on
bleachable
fabrics. Use
hot water whenever possible.
● Add detergent and allow washer to fill and agitate
for three or four minutes to dissolve detergent before
adding clothes.
● Increase amount of detergent. See guide on opposite
page for recommended detergent amounts in relation
to water hardness.
● Increase use of bleaches, presoaks, packaged water
conditioners, prewash soil and stain removers to
help
in removing stubborn soils and stains.
● Use greater care in sorting loads. Wash very dirty
loads
separately and increase detergent to help
keep dirt from redepositing on less soiled items.
Wash delicate items separately to prevent damage
from heavy, sturdy clothes.
● Wash smaller loads to increase cleaning action of
washer.
“
Use fabric softener to counteract stiffness or
harshness in clothes.
●
LIMESTONE–technically called CALCIUM
CAflBONATE-is
caused by the
reaction of the calcium in the hard water with the sodium carbonate in the detergent
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