A suggestion she probably regrets making...

[combo52]

Contaminated Loads Of Whites Etc

Always go in my Calypso on Whitest Whites with a full cup of LCB in the dispenser. This consists of all the cleaning cloths from the kitchen, white work socks, handkerchiefs, hand towels, clean-up cloths from the bedroom, etc etc. I have never had any other washer than the Calypso that can clean and rinse a load like this so well and when you take the clothing out there is not a hint of the smell of LCB.

 

[washer111]

Some Further Thoughts

Frig, I was thinking about what you said regarding your whites and cold water. Having read over it, and thought about it, I wonder if your "luck" (if dare call it that!) might be from your generous usage of good 'ole LCB? I wonder if the results would have differed much with your FriGEMore using just cold-water, or even now on your current Frigidaire...*

With that in mind, I can't help but wonder if cold-water washing in the U.S. is bound to turn out better, what with more folks using LCB for washing. It seems that European machines carrying warnings not to use it, for "Risk of Spontaneous Combustion,"** and therefore results there with traditional European detergents might be worse off.

The other thing is that LCB and cold-water, at least in theory, shouldn't present so many of the mold, scum and odor issues - with the cleaning and sanitising power the stuff has...

* I feel as though another of your "good old fashioned performance tests" might happen sometime in the near future?
** I'll admit that was an exaggeration. But they (at least Miele) seem convinced it is detrimental to the machine, IIRC.

 

[frigilux]

washer111: I am certain the frequent use of liquid chlorine bleach has kept my washers free from odors, mold, mildew and scum---especially through the months I was washing in cold water. I always leave the door ajar and the dispenser drawer partially opened when the machine is not in use.

 

[lordkenmore]

I suppose heavy use of bleach would probably make it fine to mix kitchen towels with underwear. That said, I hate to admit it, but it's not something I could do myself. I'd have a paranoia that germs might find the perfect place to hide from the bleach... Or that the bleach I'm using is accidentally a factory mix up of Good Bleach and Bleach For The Dollar store. Or...

 

[lordkenmore]

>Lord Kenmore, you should give serious consideration to legally changing your name!

Interesting idea! (Although I suppose a name change wouldn't be necessary for the Starbucks order!)

My real life full name is pretty common, which can be dull. Although I have to admit that in this era of Google searches that it's hard to find much about me via Google, which may be an advantage.

 

[frigilux]

"...my real life full name is fairly common..."

Well, thanks for being honest about it John or James Smith.

 

[arbilab]

I seldom used LCB in my 1998 FL..... and it never stunk. I also never used LFS, after a few tries where it grew mold in the dispenser drawer despite emptying, rinsing and superficially drying it. LFS is a deal with the devil. JMO.

So is LCB, unless you just automatically throw your clothes away every 9 months. That's how long heavy-wear white cottons (martial arts gi) lasted. Them summabitches are EXPENSIVE. 3 figures. And rugged. LCB ate the entire sleeve off my first one. The knees dissolved long before that.

Guess what. OXI did the same thing. Oh, and NEITHER removed the mat-color stains. Add $350 to the cost of a bluebelt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, on top of the lessons, trying chemically to keep them white.

 

[frigilux]

I'm right with you on liquid fabric softeners, Rick. I think they cause as many problems as they resolve.
In fact, I'd like to require the same disclosures for fabric softener TV ads that you see for prescription drugs---you know, where they spend a few seconds telling you how the medication can help, then the rest of ad listing the fifty ways it can harm or kill you.

Fabric softener ads would consist of ten seconds claiming "Makes fabrics softer and leaves a nice scent." The remaining twenty seconds would list all the ways it can cause problems for your washing machine.

On LCB: Good heavens! How much were you using on your martial arts gear?! I use it on nearly all white loads (which is basically everything in my house) and have never noticed accelerated wear unless undiluted bleach touched the fabric.[this post was last edited: 7/8/2015-08:36]

 

[lordkenmore]

I'm not wild about fabric softeners, either. No trouble with washers in the past (but then I was using top load machines, and NOT doing everything in cold). That said, I have had some skin issues, and I figure that it's probably best NOT to use a product that, by design, is left on the clothes until their next trip through the washer.

I don't recall my experience with Downy and the like. But the brands I have tried in memory--various "green" brands (chosen because they seem least likely to cause skin trouble)--didn't seem to do enough to justify the cost/trouble. The only exception was Ecover, but that was available from only one store, which is not easy for me to get to.

One other thought: it seems to me that fabric softener can be used as a crutch to "solve" problems that are better solved other others. Some Americans might like the strong scent of Downy, since it can mix with the strong scent of Tide, and cover up the fact that washing at 38 degrees really doesn't work. Or the softening might cover up problems with poor rinsing of detergent on towels.

 

[mamapinky]

I think many people consider their clothes clean if they have that overwhelming perfume scent following them around.I don't mind an occasional light scent on duvets, but I prefer the scent of clean, not perfume. JMO...Cheryl

 

[mamapinky]

PS..lol LordKenmore no amount of scent can cover up bedding that's washed in cold water, I can smell it the moment I walk into a home that uses cold cold water

 

[askolover]

Same towels for 10 years

washed in LCB and they are just now starting to get thinner, but still usable! 

 

[arbilab]

Eugene: I knew better than to exceed LCB dosing. Basically, a splash in a sinkful as a soak for 10min.

A gi is a VERY-HIGH wear cotton. Which exacerbates laundry degradation. It's also very sturdy to start with. Closer to indoor/outdoor carpet than clothing.

My third one, I quit bleaching altogether and guess what. It's still fine.

Hotel I worked for in 2009, ran a blanqueador liquid with all hotel linens in their 35# Unimacs. Hotel linens are relatively low wear, but washed/bleached often. And often thrown away as threadbare.

I don't have a scientific A/B controlled comparison to assert the rate at which bleach destroys cottons. Just enough anecdotal evidence to convince myself that it does.

Here's an alternative that's just as germicidal and produces a 'sterilized' smell although doesn't whiten or attack fabrics at all: 6 drops of iodine prediluted (before clothes) in a home FL (or 12 drops in a TL) with the detergent. (May affect enzymes, I can't say. We know LCB tends to emasculate them.)