POLL: How much STPP do you add to your FL's detergent?

[househelper]

I'm adding roughly 1 TSP of STPP to my American detergents in my LG FL for an average laundry load. I have soft water (whole house water softner).

I'm still trying to get the proper ratio to prevent over-sudsing. I have already reduced my soap dosage by 50% due to my water quality, However adding STPP just increases the foam ten fold.

I counteract the suds by adding Borax (20 mule team) 1/2 cup.

How much STPP do you add? and to that soap. please state your water hardness.

 

[launderess]

There Is Such A Thing As "Too Soft" Water

If your water is already mechanically softened, then adding extra chemcials such as STPP, borax and those already found in laundry detergents are gilding the lily.

Unless there is some special need I'd drop the borax, then reduce your detergent to a level that does not over suds, rinses easily,and gets your laundry clean. Once you have determined this experiment with adding phosphates and reducing the amount of detergent by 25% to 50% until you are where you need to be.

Using mechanically softened water already, you may find (depending upon your detergent choice), it maddening to find the proper mix with STPP. Too soft water is just as bad as too hard when it comes to laundry.

If the water is very soft not only will you have lots of froth, but rinsing can be difficult to the point laundry never is totally free of detergent. Think of the "slimy" feel many complain about when bathing with softened water.

 

[sudsman]

There Is Such A Thing As "Too Soft" Water

It sure can be and it can cause graying and yellowing just as hard water can. Items can be rough or harsh as detergents are much harder to rinse.  I have soft water in our plant here  but use STPP only on the Extreme soil loads  and then only need 1 oz per 150 lb load. Sometimes if we  have a heavy day and use all the soft water before a regen. We will use stpp on all the loads until the softner comes back on line.  Our water here ranges from 10 to 22 grains dependes on summer or winter. Even then we only need 1/2 teaspoon for a home machine. On the 150s you can see  we still will get a 1 to 2" suds level and that is more than enough. with a 6 to 8 " wash level.

 

[labboy]

We have an LG front loader and our water hardness is 14 to 16 grains. We generally add 1 tbsp of STPP/load. With this we will use about 1 oz. of Liquid Tide HE or 3 tbsp. of Persil Megaperls depending on what we are washing. With this I have found little to no suds and the first rinse seems pretty clear. STPP has allowed me to decrease the amount of detergent and get much better results than before when I was using it.

Bob

 

[labboy]

We have an LG front loader and our water hardness is 14 to 16 grains. We generally add 1 tbsp of STPP/load. With this we will use about 1 oz. of Liquid Tide HE or 3 tbsp. of Persil Megaperls depending on what we are washing. With this I have found little to no suds and the first rinse seems pretty clear. STPP has allowed me to decrease the amount of detergent and get much better results than before when I was using it.

Bob

 

[whirlcool]

We use 1 level tbsp STPP per load, only on heavily soiled or white loads. This is with 1 scoop of FOCA detergent in a TL machine.

 

[drhardee]

In my 12 lb. (5 kg.?) Miele W1930, I'll use 1 level tsp. per 3/4 scoop Sears powdered detergent for most loads; 2 tsp for nasty whites at 180 F. Our water is not especially soft.
I'll also add a level tsp. to the Miele DW for most loads with a normal wash and 1/2 Miele tablet, now that the new formula is not phosphated.

May be gilding a lily, but I like the results I get.

 

[sudsmaster]

The water here is relatively soft (5 grains or less) and I have never found STPP to increase sudsing. In fact, in early testing I did, I noticed slight decrease in the sudsing of various detergents in the presence of STPP.

Typically I pre-mix powdered detegent (Sears Ultra Plus HE) with 2 parts detergent to 1 part STPP, by weight. I then add enough of that mixture to get laundry clean and also maintain a very low suds level.

Usually I add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the mixture.