Method concentrated laundry detergent Wild Lavender

[launderess]

Don't think the Calgon sold in UK (or any where else in Europe) is phosphate based. If it is anything like the USA versions powder is mostly washing soda and other alkaline substances. That sort of defeats the purpose of using a more gentle liquid laundry product free of harsh alkali.

Can one even purchase phosphates like STPP in UK/Europe. Lord knows with water often so hard you can chip teeth, something is needed unless going with mechanical water softener.

 

[mralex]

Launderess - calgon is pretty much what you’re suspecting.. it’s possible to buy stpp online but fairly expensive, I might try it though! I’m quite lucky that my water is medium hardness, I still have to wipe down the kitchen sink and taps everyday and remove lime scale from the shower unfortunately

 

[jamiel]

The water is so hard in the UK---I was in Luton a couple years ago visiting our office--the water kettle was so encrusted I couldn't believe it...I can get multiple years out of a kettle here in Detroit, but they maybe get 6 months--amazing!!

 

[dixan]

Here is the ingredients list in one of Calgon versions:
Zeolite, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Aqua, Bentonite, PEG-200, Polydimethylsiloxane, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Colorant.
As you can see, no washing soda, no harsh alkali inside.

Anyway, Calgon is too expensive. Lidl own brand W5 limescale tablets are great. Cheap and also free of harsh substances.

 

[launderess]

Based my comments on last one looked at Calgon sold here

Powdered product seems to have gone through several formulas in a short period of time. Guess they were experimenting with having to cope with elimination of phosphates.

https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=18001373

https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=2001007

https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=18001539

https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=18001030

Balance can be found here: https://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=manu&id=18001

 

[mralex]

jamiel - lol yeah, that happens.. I’ve learnt to never run out of citric acid powder.. once a month I run the coffee machines and kettle with it.. they look like new, but it needs constant attention so if I see some scale I have to deal with it right away. Ironing requires deionised water, I had to bin my last iron, it started coughing scale buildup

Dixan - might try the W5, calgon is overly expensive for what it is

Laundress - aren’t the ingredients I’m calgon byproducts from different types of Washing soda/soda crystals and baking soda?

 

[launderess]

@alex

Not sure of the question.

Calgon powder here went from phosphates to having two separate versions. One was with phosphates and the other without, they were sold depending upon local laws regarding sale of phosphate containing laundry products.

Then everything went non-phosphate and the results were show in above links. At one time yes to washing soda, but don't think any versions ever contained baking soda.

Nosing around various European media it does seem many think that Calgon is just a con. If hard water issues are a problem just use more detergent, which going by information provided above seems right. I mean Calgon just has *more* Zeolites and so forth that one already finds in detergents.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/may/26/washing-machines-calgon-claim-which

Being as that may "two tarts in the kitchen" adverts continue to convince that Calgon is necessary.



Or in this case one good-looking Italian male!

 

[mralex]

So since I’m already dosing according to medium water hardness I shouldn’t really need it? Since I have a TL that uses hot and cold fill, it doesn’t have a heater so I don’t really have the heater buildup either

 

[iej]

If you're in a very hard water area, the solution is really a proper water softener on your supply.
It's not a uniquely European issue by any means. It's just that some areas with large populations in Europe are also areas that have very soft limestone / sedimentary type rock in the ground. The South of England being a prime example. The famous White Cliffs of Dover are also what ends up in your tea and your washing machine.

 

[mralex]

The white cliffs in Dover sure is pretty! I was there last summer

I've heard that London water is rather hard and chlorinated. I'll get a water softener when we decide to buy a place, it's too much of a hassle moving around with all these appliances and extras

 

[foraloysius]

If you have skin problems, you could try using a shower filter, easier to take with you than a whole house water softener.

 

[mralex]

foraloysius - Smart!! That seems like an easy solution!

 

[liamy1]

Mr Alex

The Method “Fresh Air” in the Pump bottle was around for years here in the U.K, available in nearly all stores.

You could buy the refill bags too. It was about £6.50 in the pump bottle and £11 for the refill bag.

It looks to have been withdrawn from general sale in favour of this liquid.

The fresh air smell was really nice, hard to describe, but just a clean smell if that makes sense (I on,y ever bought one bottle of it).

I currently have the Peony (pink) bottle of the liquid and yes, cleans well and smells nice.

 

[liamy1]

Jamiel

Not the whole of the UK has hard water.

I’m up in the North and the water is ridiculously soft, we NEVER get limescale. As a general rule for the U.K, water up North is soft and water down South is hard (I like to think it’s a reward for the South getting better weather than the North does).

 

[mralex]

Liamy1 - I’ve ordered it! Method ultra concentrated detergent with pump is on its way!

 

[liamy1]

Great

I’m sure you’ll like it, the pump bottle is pretty nifty, just 4 pumps in to your machine and away you go.

It was probably about 5 years back when I had mine (I never ended up buying a refill bag to refill; I moved on to yet another detergent lol) but I do remember it being good and smelling nice.

Enjoy

 

[rolls_rapide]

Water hardness

The hardness of the water varies region to region. I stay in Scotland and the water quality does vary.

Mostly, Scottish supplies are indeed 'soft'. But I have noticed a slight build-up of scale in kettles, around taps in the bathroom, and my iron sometimes spits out gritty bits from its steam holes.

Apparently, all water supplies contain limescale to some extent, some more so than others.

 

[jamiel]

You definitely can tell here in the US when you're in a hard-water area--they sell the salt widely. Around us (Detroit city water) about the only place you can find water softener salt is Aldi and Sears...out in the countryside they have it at gas stations, Meijer, other supermarkets, etc.

 

[mralex]

Just got my Method Ultra Concentrated with pump and Fresh Air scent. 

 

Works just as well as the 4x detergent and the smell is really nice 

 

I used 4 pumps which is 12ml! I've never used a detergent that is so concentrated, I don't think we have anything on the market here that has the same concentration 

 

[dixieland]

Fresh Air

Is this the American one? My colleague in London has me send/bring over refills for it occasionally.