The damaging effectsofCarbonateDetergents
on.your clothesandyour washer.
is your waterhard? If it is, and if The hardnessof yourwater and
week,you may seelimestone
you usea carbonatetypenon-
your washingfrequencywill
build-upsin just a fewmonths.
phosphatedetergent,the
determinehow rapidlythe lime-
(seePage 14).
unavoidableresultwillbelimes-
tone willbuildup. If yourwateris
stone*depositson your clothes
VERYHARD (11or moregrains)
and washersurfaces.
evenif you washjust a fewloadsa
Damage
toChines
Althoughlimestonebuild-up
occursmorerapidlyon cotton,
it willeventuallyaffect various
fabricsin the followingways:
@Givesa stiff, harsh, rough feel
to fabricssuchas toweling.
* Causescolorsto fade and
becomedulland dingy.
~ Causesgrayingof fabrics.
~ Leavesa white,powderyresidue
on dark-coloreditems.
~ Causesspot-fadingof bright
colorsasa resultof directcontact
withdetergent.
@Reduceswrinkle-resistanceof
permanent-pressfabrics.
@Destroyseffectivenessof flame-
retardant finisheson cottonssuch
as children’ssleepwear.
~ Increasesfabric wearbecause
of the scrubbingactionbetween
limestonedepositson the fabrics
duringwasheragitation.
Damage to washer
~ Unsightlybuild-upon allwasher
surfacesexposedto the wash
solution.
* Mat-likecrustyformations
causedby lintadhering to the
stickylimestonedeposits.
~ Increasedservicecallsbecauseof
limestonedepositsin the pump,
recirculationwater hoses,filters
and other washerparts.
* Reducedusefullifeof washer.
How
toIredwi!ehw?3tone
ibuiki-ups
RecommendedMethods
~ Usea powderedphosphate
detergentor a liquiddetergentif
theseare availab~ein your area.
@Installa homewater softener.
Thiswillsignificantlyreduce
limestonebuild-up.
~ Usea packagednon-precipitating
water softener,suchas Calgon
with phosphate.
Secondary Methods
The followingmethodshave
limitedbenefit and willonly delay
temporarily the formation of the
limestonedeposits.
@tJse of hotter washwater, for
example125‘1?to 135‘F (52°Cto
57°C)for cottons. Thisalso
improvesoily-soilremoval.
@Adding detergentand allowing
washerto filland agitatefor three
or four minutesto dissolve
detergentbefore addingclothes.
How
topartially restore
clothes
~ Soak clothesin a solution of 2
cupsof vinegarin onegallon of
hot tap-water for 15minutes. USE
A PLASTIC CONTAINER. Then
washclothesin the Washerusing
detergent.
CAUTIONS:
~ Donotusevinegarsoaksolution
in washer.Theacidic action of the
vinegarmaydamagethe porcelain.
oVinegarsoaksolutionmay
reducethe wrinkle-resistanceof
permanent-pressfabrics.
~Vinegarsoakmaydamagethe
dyesin some‘tabrics.
* LIMESTONE–technically called CALCIUM CARBONATE–is caused by the
reaction of lhe calcium in the hardwater with the sodium carbonate in the detergent.
