Oxy-Clean Performance

[dj-gabriele]

I just wonder why a lot of people are so afraid to use bleac

Chlorine bleach:
putting aside the smell thing that is subjective, many don't use chlorine bleach because it does damage clothes, even if you put only 200 ml in a wash!
I'm not against it, I seldom use it when I have to spot treat fruit stains or wine or perspiration on whites, but it must be something 100% white and 100% cotton! Anything else is out, it'll get ruined! Even pastel colours will fade in chlorine bleach and the tensile strenght of the fibers will suffer!
Plus, all the detergents I know of have built in optical brighteners that take care of whitest white and on top of that there is sodium percarbonate that is oxigen bleach and, it this wasn't enough, there are bluing agents to counteract any yellowing or greying of the fibers and all of this is safe to use even on black clothes, that's just normal.
As far as disinfections goes, at least in Italy, chlorine bleach is not used for disinfection as disinfectants have to be approved by our national health system (the most similar thing to LCB is Amuchina, a multi purpose disinfectant that has sodium chloride in it). If you want disinfected wash there are many additives like Napisan (Reckitt Beckinser) or Omino Bianco (Bolton Manitoba) that are oxigen bleaches plus some para-acetic acid or something like that and those are safe on colours too (and no triclosan or similar as they're really dangeous for the enviroment and bacterial resistence!).
Also many front loader machines producers discourage the use of LCB on the machines, not because of the damage that the bleach might do to the machine but because of the harsh action on the clothes: think about having something tumbling for one hour and a half in boiling hot (I mean real hot water, because of the heater) and chlorine bleach, it'll damage the fibers.

Back to the original topic:
Sorry to know about your condition!
Did you try asking your doctor about the experience of others and about their habits? You could even try asking the manufacturer of your medicine to see if they have any tips on washing it away if it's so nasty!
I had to use a medication for a rash I had a few weeks ago and it stained both clothes and bed linens, everything came clean only if I raised the wash temperature: whites went in the 95°C wash, colours got a ride at 60°C and dark went at 40°. Everything came out fine whitout additives as I never use any. Maybe it's only because you're not washing hot enough?

 

[toggleswitch2]

~even if you put only 200 ml in a wash!

We generally use about one cup (8oz or 230ml) to a top-loader's full tub of water.

Surely a front loader would use/need not more than 1/3 to 1/4 of a cup.

Is LCB weaker or more diluted as sold in Europe?

 

[rayjay]

Surely a front loader would use/need not more than 1/3 to 1/

Steve, You are correct. I have been using 1/4 to 1/3 cup for years in my AEG at 60c or the boil wash and have not had a problem. If the clothes wear out, buy more. I guess I am good for the economy. lol lol

PS: The LG is being repaired tomorrow, Either a motor or circuit board. Glad I took the 10 year contract out, as the machines is 5 years old. PC Richards came last Friday, ordered the parts and they came in yesterday. Great service from them!

 

[dj-gabriele]

I just cheched to be sure at ACE website (P&G most famous bleach here in Italy)
It says to use only during prewash (200 ml) or for hand wash, only on natural white fibers and for no more than 20-30 minutes, after that it says that you have to rinse before putting in the washing machine.
The composition is
1-5% sodium carbonate
less than 1% sodium hydroxide
1-5% sodium hypoclorite
with a PH of 13
Anyway, I attached the link to the safety data sheet (in Italian)

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www.scienceinthebox.com

 

[rayjay]

Gabriele, Add during pre-wash? In America, the instructions say to add after 5 min or more to the wash cycle, since the bleach would slow down the washing action of the detergent.

Your comments

thanks

 

[ptcruiser51]

Sanks-a-lot

To all who responded. I guess the only thing that will work is to soak in the Oxy-Clean overnight as I have been doing. Multiple garments=multiple soakings. I have tried LCB, but it has no effect at all on these stains, neither does the STPP, so I guess I'm fortunate that >something< works! I only get flares of this miserable condition once or twice a month, and the Rx does clear it in a day or two so the laundry dilemma isn't constant.

 

[launderess]

Soakings:

Why not bung the lot into your bathtub and soak overnight there? Or, as one has done and am sure many others, bung the items in first thing in the morning, do some chores and or other work, then launder later in the day.

Chlorine Bleach in Europe:

As previously mentioned numerous times by moi, Europeans have never had the love affair with chlorine bleach for laundry that Americans developed. Even when the sanitation properties of chlorine, and later the famous "Eau de Javel",Europeans did not and do not trust the stuff for laundry. Boiling, especially after detergents with perborate bleaches, and or simply adding oxygen bleach on it's own is the perferred method. Of course today with newer percarbonate and other oxygen bleach formulas, one can obtain whitening, stain removal and sanitation at low wash temps as well.

Europeans aversion to chlorine bleach is understandable when one takes into account that until rather recently, much body, table and other "linen" was just that, made from linen. Chlorine bleach can do very nasty things to pure linen textiles.

Today of course linen has largely been replaced by cotton, but the European aversion to LCB remains.

 

[JerseyMike]

I also have psoriasis and live in New Jersey. I also have to use coin operated laundry equiptment.

The purple stains from Derma-Smooth/FS are almost impossible to get out! Ditto coal tar stains. (Let's not mention the blood stains.) I've given up on blood stains on my sheets and underwear. There isn't enough time. I only pre-treat the blood and treatment stains that are going to be seen my other people.(I can't use bleach -- except when I wash the bathroom rug -- and I also have to use "free and clear" detergents and dryer sheets, etc.)

I sometimes use Octogon soap that I buy online: http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/Octagon_Soap_p/cp1001.htm. (Shop Rite sometimes has it.)

Whenever I use Derma-Smooth/FS, I cover my pillowcase with an old towel. It's easier then pretreating the stains.

When things are really stained, I sometimes pay to rerun the wash cycle a second time. I always use the "superwash" cycle (extra washing time, plus an extra rinse, on towels, sheets and underwear, becuase it gets out the "free and clear" detergent residue.)

You might want to post your query on the National Psoriasis Foundation's message board: www.psoriasis.org.

 

[JerseyMike]

I forgot something. If I get blood or treatment stains on a shirt or something else that's going to be seen by other people, I bring it home and hang it in my apartment until I can get the stain out. Once something is put in the dryer, the stains are impossible to get out.

Mike

 

[launderess]

As someone who not only has vast experience with doing laundry, hosptial/nursing as well, am here to tell you the best way to deal with blood stains is good old drug store hydrogen peroxide.

If the stains are fresh, simply pour a bit on and watch it bubble away. Rinse well and allow to dry if one is not going to launder the same day.

For stains on bed linens and or garments I pre-treat with a stain stick or other enzyme pre-spotter, and bung into the hamper. On laundry day, the stains get the above peroxide treatment before being chucked into the wash. Most always works.

Old blood stains can often be removed with commercial rust remover products. Blood contains iron, and often it is the remaining iron, say after laundering with an enzyme detergent that didn't remove all the stain, which the rust removers work well on. However these products will also change colours and or damage fabrics, use with caution and care.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Peteski: Read this. Still want a combo?

For LCB wash-loads, I do a pre-wash with the "Short Cycle" (W-R-R-Spin).

Powdered "heavy-duty" detergent and STPP in the wash
LCB in the first rinse.
Nothing in the 2nd/final rinse.
Spin.

I then move on to the normal wash cycle. "free & clear" type of detergent and no more bleach! I use cheap watery softener in the bleach dispenser (to cut suds but not wax-up the clothes) in that in my Frigidaire the contents of that dispenser is released into the FIRST rinse. Subsequent clear-water rinses rid the load of suds and chemicals.

With regard to serivce on LG machines: Now that Sears has LGs with a Sears badge slapped across them, there is probably better (i.e. more and quicker) servicing/repairs avaialable.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Thought provoking

Speaking of psoriasis:

I was watching a travel special about the country of Turkey. There was a type of therapy tank (like a swimming or wading pool) filled with flesh-eating fish. Bathers sat immersed and one could see the fish exfoliating the patrons.

Not sure psoriasis was one of the mentioned candidates for treatment of this type, but still..........

 

[ptcruiser51]

Sheesh! What a mess!

I, too, often have to deal with bloodstains. Since I started with this condition 10 years ago, I have re-wardrobed my apparel to be mostly black or white. Black is a non-issue with stains. Bloodstains on whites I treat with the Clorox "bleach pen" and that takes care of the problem. I'm going to give the peroxide thing a try.

I have good luck with a new Rx called "Taclonex", but it's very expensive $300+ for a 4 oz. tube. Fortunately I have Rx insurance so I only pay $12 for it. It is an ointment so it does result in staining. I also use a generic Rx that is a steroid cream for minor flare-ups. Not as effective but less mess.

Wish I had a nickel for every time I sat with my head in my hands and just wept for all the misery from this disease.

 

[JerseyMike]

Speaking of flesh-fish

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www.psoriasis.org

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www.psoriasis.org

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www.psoriasis.org

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www.psoriasis.org

There was a discussion on UK psoriasis boards (http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/community/) that implied that the sanitation at the Turkish spa left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, you have to register in order to view it: http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,32558.0.html)

ptcruiser51: I'm very active in the psoriasis community. I'm very active on the message board at www.psoriasis.org and I co-faciliate a support group that meets at 7:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month (we take a break for the summer and we don't meet in December) at Rockefeller University Hospital in New York City. (It's on 66th and York; kind of sort of across the street from Sloan Kettering; it's a very long walk from the subway, unfortunately.) Attendance is spotty we average four people a meeting and there are some months when no one shows up. That said, being in the same place at the same time as other people who are dealing with them same issues that you and I have to deal with every day is priceless. It's actually one of the best things that I've ever done in terms of my disease. If you live close to the city, we'd love to have you join us.

Some of us are getting together for dinner on January 8th (one of our members has a daughter who is performing in the City). Again, you're more the welcome to join us.

My e-mail address is in my profile if you'd like more info or if you just need to talk.

Mike

 

[ronhic]

Blood stains

I am a bit of a loss with the bloody stains and the problems people seem to have with them.

Why use a chemical especially if you have time to soak?

My grandmother and my mother have both instilled in all of us that the best (cheapest) way to get blood out is to soak in cold water for as long as possible - preferably 24hrs. Then grab a bar of soap (any soap...I use the same thing I use in the shower) give it a bit of a rub and then launder as you would normally.

Miele.com.au states

Blood - At the first sign of blood, try the following first aid remedy. Rinse immediately under cold running water, and then soak in a solution of salty water. Dried on blood stains should be soaked in a solution of ammonia before being washed.

I have never done the salty water or ammonia....and have not needed to.

For most Australians, though not me, that would have meant a main brand powder detergent (Omo, Cold Power, Radiant, Drive, Surf, Bio Zet et.al) in a cold wash in a top load machine. For me, that would be a 40c wash in a front load machine....

Blood gone.

But more importantly, there are next to no additional chemicals and there is minimal cost (apart from soak time) which has to be good for the skin, the environment and your back pocket.

It is worth trying

 

[dj-gabriele]

Bleach again! Yes, I told that it goes in the prewash (and only for tough stains they say!) or it might go in the bleach compartment (that you can't find in any modern post 1985 washing machine here), I have no idea how does the bleach do with the detergent, nor I want to try

Blood stains:
I have quite often blood leaking from my noose if I get a cold because of some fragile capillaries, it usually happens at night so when I wake up i have dirty pillowcases and linens, by then the blood is also dry. I never had trouble removing it, simply put on a 40° (coloured cottons) or 60° (whites and light colours) with my favourite powder and the stains are gone without pre treating (liquids sometimes fail this). It usually comes away even in cold (30°) if the stain isn't too old shoud it happen on delicates! What kind of commercial machines are you using?

 

[toggleswitch2]

Scrambled eggs anyone?

Blood, and most proten-based stains needs cold to cool water or the protein sets ("cooks") above about 104*F (40*c).

 

[rayjay]

Bleach Again

Gabriele. I believe at one time the Clorox bottle saya to add the bleach 5 min. after the washing cycle begins. Adding the bleach with detergent does a great job, but if added at the beginning, it will slow down the clean power of the detergent.

Now for blood stains......Simply holding the garment under fast cold running water for a few min will get most of the stain out. Even dried in blood stain. Then eihter use SHOUT, (the new one) or pre wash or soak in Oxi clean first. WOrks every time. There are also special sport removers in the grocery store by Carbona. I believe there is one for blood stains also.

Hope this helps

 

[sudsman]

Too cold water WILL set blood just as fast as hot water

The best temp to use for blood is 95 to 98F . I use that temp on 4000+lbs of blood laden work daily and have NEVER in 35 years had ANY problem with it not ALL comming out. When pushed for time on Surgery linens we put 1 lb alkali in while loading and start the load right off at 160. The alkali will keep the blood from setting and knocks it right out. Saving time and water. The main trick is the alkali must be in the wash wheel BEFORE the water starts.

 

[toggleswitch2]

L C B

Gabriele:

Clorox brand liquid chlorine bleach.

1.77 litres (1.87 quarts)
$2.00 (I'm sure the price is less in a bigger store).

Active ingredient: Sodium Hypochlorite 6.0%
Other ingredients: ................... 94.0%
----------------------------------------------
TOTAL: .................................100.0%
---------------------------------------------

Looks like there is a difference in concentration!