hard water area

[rsvp]

have been on several forums to get an answer - nothing conclusive so far! I live in a hard water area - regularly descale kettle and steamer by scraping but would like to sort washing machine too - have got various suggestions like lemon juice, malt vinegar and the expensive calgon - what are AB's suggestions please. thanks

[Old_Geezer]

I did think of having a water softener installed at one time, but it seemed so difficult to site the thing by the house water input; and such a large upheaval if I opted to have it. Obviously you'd want to soften water for everywhere in the house, not just the washing machine. Retrofitting some things can be quite offputting.

[rsvp]

washing soda seems to be the 'product of choice' doesn't it?
OG - how thoughtful of you not to want to wash out the bugs and nasties!

[gingejbee]

rsvp; washing-soda is the cheapest but not the best thing to use. Pay a little more for a product called Aqua Softna Limescale Preventer - it costs under £2 for 1kg box (Wilko and supermarkets do an own-brand even cheaper). Calgon is a bit more sophisticated but costs several times the amount per wash. Use this and low temps and you will never have any scaling problems.(But do an occasional hot wash to keep machine healthy- say every 6 to 8 weeks).

[rsvp]

thanks gingejbee - we don't have any of the 'modestly priced' stores around here worse luck but will hunt down what you suggest.

[Old_Geezer]

You don't wash them out, you just clean them at 30ºC. One need to kill them at 100ºC.

[gingejbee]

OG: If by "them" you mean bacteria, then you are incorrect. Washing at low temperatures in modern detergents leaves items as hygienically clean as washing at high temperatures in older products. If you wish to boil-wash all your things, then go ahead. It's unnecessary and wasteful.

[theshedman]

We used to have to descale our kettle all the time due to limescale but since we have started to use water from the water filter into the kettle it looks like new inside and no bits of limescale.

[rsvp]

thanks theshedman but I have the kettle sorted - was just curious about the washing machine - am now curious about what unfiltered water is doing to my insides!!!!!