First wash in TSPP

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

midcentnurse

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2015
Messages
152
Location
Lake Charles, La
So ordered a 5 lb bag on amazon of tri sodium poly phosphate ( I hope I'm not twisting the order again!) so tried out a teaspoon in the sink and it was amazing, it made the water so soft even without soap it felt really slick. There were a few small clumps in the bottom, it looked like some of it didn't dissolve but it was little clumps apparently the minerals in the water, I'm not sure the term, I could ask Scott the chemistry teacher ;) but it's the minerals binding with the TSPP. So in the wash, seemed to work great. Being a FL I couldn't feel the water but the water was somewhat sudsy, I did spray a lot of shout on the clothes but there did seem to be more suds than normal. Not foamy suds but soapy suds. They smelled really nice after too. I used the members mark liquid.
So am planning on using it in my homemade detergent mix. I think this is what it's been missing. Should be fun experimenting..

midcentnurse-2015051704300001785_1.jpg
 
I just ordered mine too! Though I decided to go with the Chemistry Store, even though the shipping was outrageous. Theirs comes in a little bucket. Next time I'll probably order from Amazon and put it in the bucket :)

Excited to see how it works on my whites.
 
Brady..where do you get that big jug of odoban??
I don't know what those little lumps are but I've never put any in a sink to test it out..I will today lol. As you said you sprayed a lot of shout on that load so that could account for the extra suds but I have noticed more suds with some detergents since I started using stpp but I think someone here told me the stpp wouldn't cause more sudzing. Well good luck with your new order of stpp I think you will notice good washing results. I'd like to hear about your homemade detergent. Cheryl
 
STPP

Will "clump" if you throw a little into the sink, unless there is already some warm water already in the sink. I've used about 1/2 tsp in my dishpan to enhance hand dishwashing, and it works very well.
Over the years, I've noticed that liquid dishwashing detergents don't clean and rinse like they use to..if you add 1/2 tsp of STPP to your dishpan (while it's filling) it won't clump, and will clean and rinse exactly like no body's business!
STPP didn't cause the minerals in the water to clump together, it "complexes" with them.
 
I thought that was backwards ;) I found that odoban at Sams, it came with a bonus spray bottle of diluted, works well on the trash can and the seats and carpet in the car. I put about a teaspoon in the fabric softener drawer, a little goes a long way Scott's not a big fan so I try to use the minimum but it makes everything smell crisp and professionally clean. My new recipe for detergent will be 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup borax, grated Fels naphtha, although I may try another bar, and maybe 1/2 cup STPP. Will keep posted on the results
 
STPP is a far superior component in calcium magnesium salt sequestration than washing soda, especially in hard water, and leaves fabrics softer. It also loosens the bond between soil and fabric better, too. For decades, soap and STPP were the standard building blocks for institutional laundering formulas.
 
STPP

Also aids in removing, built up detergent & soap residue in fabrics significantly softening them. It's really noticeable on bed & bath linens. 

 

And who doesn't love soft linens? ;) 

 

The key is... you can USE too much. So, dose carefully. And don't use it all at once. It's a magic potion.. and should be treated as such :) 
 
Tom

Im sorry,
I only used the word "complexes" because that's the word used in chemistry.
STPP is a standard "complexing" agent.
When enough STPP is added a soluble 1:1 complex [ CaP3O10]3- is formed. This effect it is known as the threshold effect.
Na5P3O 10(aq) + Ca2+ (aq) - [CaP3O10] 3- (aq) + 5Na+ (aq)
It is therefore important that the concentration of STPP is sufficient to form the soluble complex rather than the insoluble salt.
It's my understanding that if not enough is used, STPP will soften water, but but insoluble calcium and magnesium salts of STPP are formed which "precipitate" out.
 
Since one can use STPP with dishwashing liquid, could one use a teaspoon or so in a dishwasher?

Also, if it removes residue and softens linens.... would this not also cut down on wrinkles?

Thanks,

Jim
 
 
<blockquote>... could one use a teaspoon or so in a dishwasher?</blockquote> Surely.  I added STPP to dishwasher powder until I found a few boxes of old Cascade Complete w/phosphates at a local store, then later discovered Institutional Cascade.
 
today

I gave my STPP a nice challenge. ..my son called and ask for some laundry detergent. .I took him some sears( orange box) mixed with stpp, when I got there he was getting ready to wash jeans covered in black grease that he said was from a week ago..I threw them into the machine standard top loader with 1/2 dose of the detergent/stpp mixture and started them on the 20 min soak and 4 min prewash in warm water..I checked them when they were done before I started the main wash..all the black grease was gone not a trace remained I knew the sears detergent and stpp worked good but this was amazing so I had to share with you all...I am woman hear me roar..lol cheryl
 
Back
Top