Ordering STPP in Australia

[washer111]

Looked at ordering some STPP for us and some friends (5LB pail from http://www.chemistrystore.com/Sodium_Tripolyphosphate-Sodium_Tripolyphosphate_5lbs.html), but was horrified when I saw the $200+ shipping price attached! NO THANKS!

Is there anyone on here who could suggest where we could get some Phosphate locally/without the extravagant shipping costs? (Just for s**ts and giggles, I suggest adding the 5LB pail to your cart, then selecting Australia and NSW as the shipping locale. Then, see the prices of shipping... Now, the only option for us is the most expensive one...)

I'm really upset, as I/we have friends who need help with their DD's, Dishlex machines and regular clothes washers... So any advice would be good.

 

[launderess]

A Thought

You can ship anything for one flat rate world wide using USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes,or so they say don't know if there are restrictions to Oz.

Someone would have to purchase the STPP here and repackage it to fit one of the Priority Mail boxes then do the mailing. Only fly in the ointment might be customs though.

Locally look for chemical supply warehouses or some such . All The Chemistry Store does is purchase bulk amounts of substances and repackages them into smaller amounts for resale. This is mainly because so many of the substances only are sold in bulk or worse pallet form. It takes ages to go through five pounds of STPP, imagine fifty or one hundred pounds of the stuff?

 

[washer111]

Thanks

Many thanks for your help here Launderess! Even if customs were to open the package, I wouldn't think that the drug sample machines would take a positive reading to the stuff.
As long as the user clearly stated the product being shipped, gave it their signature and wrote a note to customs officials (maybe?) about the contents, then we'd be A-Okay (I would hope, anyway).

Anyway, I'll ask our friends and the teacher involved (who has a "poor performing" DD, no water softener and 25GPG hardness) whether they'd be interested in the stuff or not, then I'd have to start looking about into getting payments through, and so forth.

 

[washer111]

Ooo! A Thought...

This just came to my rescue:

Finish PowerUp! Doesn't that contain phosphates?

Lets hope so

 

[polkanut]

Do you have a chemical supply company locally that you could contact?  I purchased 50lbs of STPP from our local chemical company, Wausau Chemical Corporation.  Wausau Chemical will sell over-the-counter to the general public.

http://www.wausauchemical.com/

 

[donprohel]

...something like this, for instance

(just the first found by Google)

http://www.auroracleaning.com.au/type.asp?TypeID={714EBE28-672E-4DF5-ACAB-8F48049D8420}&CategoryID=&S.t.p.p.%20%28sodium%20Tripolyphosphate%29

 

[washer111]

Interesting. My google search simply came up with those annoying "hotfrog" websites and sites that are suggesting I would have to be ordering 23Metric Tonnes of STPP!

I may consider this site, and use some of that.

Here's something I found on my quest of STPP/Better performance. A really annoying commercial series, especially the ones with that annoying character "Jack." What a weirdo!

http://www.youtube.com/user/FinishDishwashing?feature=watch

 

[washer111]

@donprohel

Thanks!!!

Tomorrow, when our VISA GiftCard is activated (yeah, it takes 24 hours), we will be purchasing 4 boxes of Finish Powder + 1 Finish PowerUP from Amazon.com (believe it or not, buying the same size/amount from the supermarket here in the plastic contain will cost around $30 MORE!). That will cost around $34.37, and after exchange rates, it will be around $33.11! YAY!

Along with that, we'll be ordering the STPP from the Cleaning Supplies site you posted (Probably only 1KG, see how we go with that).

 

[dustin92]

The Finish Power Up is nothing more than heavily scented citric acid. It works well at removing hard water buildup from dishes, but not so sure how well it would do on clothing.

 

[launderess]

Citric Acid

Is used to as a laundry "sour" as well as to soften hard water by dealing with minerals contained therein. Most liquid and or gel laundry detergents contain various amounts of citric acid for that purpose. There are also fabric softeners that contain various amounts of citric acid as well.

In terms of use as a laundry detergent builder no single substance equals all the properties of phosphates, period. It takes several others (washing soda, Zeolites, etc....) in combination to equal what say STPP will do on it's own.

 

[launderess]

If you're going to order STPP I'd stick to small amounts unless you plan on giving some away and or can repackage (in air tight and moisture proof containers)into smaller amounts.

Lying about exposed to air/moisture STPP will start to degrade eventually. That is one reason the old Calgon water softener boxes were foil covered as are most phosphate containing dishwashing detergents.

Thing is you need so little STPP per laundry or dishwasher load (about 5 or 6 grams for most purposes), that even ten pounds will last a very long time.

 

[washer111]

Thanks Launderess

Your wisdom is thought provoking! (Yet Again!)

I was only planning on ordering 1Kg of the STPP from the dealer over east (Melbourne, I believe). That should last us around 13 boxes of detergent, if I remember correctly! I suppose we'll be able to "re-use" our plastic detergent container, and keep it for the very purpose of housing mixed Detergent (Will peel off the old label, and add a new one with 'PHOSPHATE DETERGENT' on it!).

Edit:

It would seem my attempt of buying detergent was short-lived  

It was going to cost $104 in total for $30 worth of detergent to be shipping. Ouch. 

Looking elsewhere, we seem to be getting a good deal on Finish Detergent. Only trouble is the Phosphates. The cleaning supplies place would like you to have "an account," so I am concerned I will be billed monthly. 

 

Guess I'm going to have to do some e-mailing!

[this post was last edited: 8/29/2012-03:10]

 

[launderess]

"An Account"

Suppliers to the trade and or others that sell mainly to commercial businesses do the same here. Usually it means they take down certain information including government issued tax payer ID such as a sales tax certificate, or VAT etc..., run a business credit check (here it's usually Dunn & Bradstreet) then if everything checks out opens up an account.

Ordering usually involves either calling in or contacting your local sales representative who places the order. Things are shipped a number of ways including company's own truck or UPS, and so forth.

The main purpose of a business account is that businesses invoices are usually paid "Net 30 days" by check or even company credit card. It allows for better accouting methods on both ends. It also keeps domestic consumers from obtaining products that aren't meant for them to have. Also again certain things aren't ordered by one or afew, but cases, pallets, or hundreds of pounds.

Still say STPP is cheap enough here that you should look into having a fellow member send you along a pound or two (whatever will fit into a USPS International Flat Rate box), long as neither US or AU customs are bothered.

 

[washer111]

Well, if thats the case they can kiss my... Right, this isn't the place!

 

They don't take anything other than Credit Card, Billing Address, Name/Phone-Number and company name. Doesn't look like they would send an account, but you can never be too sure... 

 

Looks like I'll have to arrange some shipping from another member. I'll be checking with our Customs Office within the next day or so (if they provide contact details) about shipping Phosphates. 

 

I suppose I could make do without, but you know...

 

[launderess]

Am Sure It's Not Personal

If they asked for CC information upfront then they probably are going to charge your card at time of sale rather than bill. Lots of places work on that system as well. In which case having an "account" just means they have your information on file for future orders, nothing odd or evil. It is common practice over here and used by hundreds of commercial vendors.

If you don't place another order they legally cannot charge your card for anything. However should it happen the solution would be the same as with any other false charge, contact your CC company to dispute/remove.

You might want to add up the total cost of STPP from this vendor and see if any other Oz members or whatever are willing to go in with you. Or, simply repackage small amounts, mark them up and sell them on. Am sure you could at least cover your costs if not make a small profit.

 

[washer111]

Interesting suggestion!

 

Thing is, I'm using a VISA Gift-card, since we are quite "protective" of our details online. And the fact of the matter is, I ain't gonna give PayPal my Bank Details. I don't want 15 3/4 years worth of saving gone! (Thats right, I've saved most money, most of my life. Having a part-time job makes that so much easier!)

 

But I've sent them an e-mail, and we'll see what comes of it. If there are any "maintenance" fees, then, well, maybe I will have to order from another member here!

 

I would (however) be possibly interested in making a large order, then processing the stuff out. I know my Home Economics Teacher and a close(ish) friend of ours would probably be interested. Now, if I can pursuade our friend to stop Pre-Rinsing at the same time...

 

Well, I think we all know the answer!

 

[washer111]

For Those Interested:

I received a reply from the kind folks at Aurora Cleaning Supplies. There is no need to "open an account" for non-frequent purchases, so it looks as if I'm in the green! 

 

This time around, I'll be ordering for myself and some friends in our locality. Next time I order, I think I'll place a notice here on AW.org, to inform any Aussie members of my intentions, and so they can lodge any interest in possessing STPP.

 

Many thanks goes to Launderess for their continued support on the subject! (Perhaps I.O.U. some STPP?)

 

[launderess]

You'll Find That Here As Well

If it is say a small one off order of the odd product some commercial places don't mind doing the deal. Long as you don't ask them to break up something. That is if the only size of a detergent is 50lbs, that do be what you're getting.

*LOL*

 

[washer111]

Lol!

 

Oh well, I'll probably order a nice 5KG (11Lb), which should, uh, shall we say last me for the indefinite future - otherwise I'll just buy more! If I mix 100g in with every box, that means I get 50 boxes worth of detergent with STPP (Yay!). Should last for a very long time, if that is the case.

 

 

 

[launderess]

Often the only real time it is hard for domestic consumers to obtain "commerical" chemicals is if government law forbids, and or the maker restricts sales.

We've often spoken here in the group about how Ecolab will not offer customer support to domestic users under any circumstances. Their commercial products are just that, and should you happen to get ahold of some product don't even bother trying to obtain things such as dosage/dilution rates etc.

The other problem is many commercial laundry,cleaning and ware washing products still often contain some *VERY dangerous chemicals. This that will maim, harm and even kill if not used in the proper manner. Oxalic acid is a poison but often used in laundry sours for commercial laundries.