Cal gon

[daffodiltulip]

Does anyone know, is Calgon meant to remove limescale as well as protect against it?

[MKG]

Hi daffodiltulip

No, Calgon will NOT remove limescale. By all trustworthy reports, it doesn't do a great job at anything, really. In fact, those same reports say that it's simply not worth bothering with.

Mike

[boboff]

Diluted clear vinegar is good.

[MKG]

Nah - tried that on chips, but it made 'em go soggy.

[daffodiltulip]

I got a look into the washing machine and there's quite an encrustation of limescale. I can't see vinegar at any strength doing anything to it. IS there anything on the market that can be used to remove it?

[boboff]

Vinegar.

Leave to soak

Remove

[Crickleymal]

You could try Fernox. it's available from most plumbing outlets including B&Q

[daffodiltulip]

Bosch, I found, have their own, but it's a bit pricey and there's about a five pound p&p on top of that. Fernox isn't available near me and it's hard to see which is suitable for washing machines from websites, so I've plumped for Oust which is inexpensive and has free p&p. I hope it does the trick as there's quite a build up now from the hard water here after.

[diggernotdreamer]

A budget water softener is ordinary washing soda, put in a bit with each wash and it also helps degrease so a laundry booster as well.

[daffodiltulip]

I hope that isn't the same as "soda crystals" - I have used them from time to time with no obvious effect. I'm in the SE of England where it's very hard.

[Stonehead]

When we lived in London we had a washing machine that scaled heavily. I used to buy a 5l bottle of pickling vinegar (the distilled white vinegar with 6%§ acidity) and pour that into the machine, then turned the tub manually every few hours and left it for at least 24 hours before doing a wash cycle with the machine empty. It worked well. Note, don't do a load of washing without doing the empty wash or you'll have clothes that stink of vinegar.

[Green Aura]

That borax replacer, sodium sesqui something or other, is sold as a limescale remover. I use it along with my washing powder and although I haven't seen the inside of the machine it seems OK - very hard water here.

[thesunflowergal]

I was told to use Soda Crystals instead of Cal gon, it is meant to prevent a build up of limescale on the machine. Our last machine lived until it was 8, and then limescalewas not the cause of death .