Question for Ya'll

[bosch2460]

I have a question for any of you who might like to throw fact or opinion out there. I sold my Euro version Bosch Axxis set to my sister when she bought a house a few months ago. I have trained her properly on the front load lessons, etc.

Now the problem. They are on well water. I do not think it is that hard, but they have a very high iron content. They have an incoming filter that needs frequent changing. So, I have always had very white whites, and she is amazed at how clean her clothes get in a FL compared to a TL, without bleach. However, my nephews were over, and I went to wash their clothes tonight. When i was loading whites into my Miele, I noticed they were kinda yellowish, compared to mine. So, I wanted to know if there is any additive to control or suspend the iron so it will rinse out, etc. STTP maybe? Oh, and when the filter is near changing time, the actual rinse water has a rust color to it. Any suggestions, ya'll?

 

[launderess]

A nonprecipitating water softener such as phosphates are great for dealing with iron in water.

If doing laundry at your home where iron in water is absent, then you may only wish to add some STPP to the wash water. In areas where the reverse is true, persons often added STPP to the wash as well as rinse water.

L.

 

[petek]

High iron content well water requires a dedicated iron filter system. We had this problem back on the acreage in Calgary. While a water softener will remove some it won't remove near enough and then there's the question of whether their well water actually needs softening or not.. Our well water was naturally soft but high in iron. The last thing we needed to do was add more salt to it.
They should take a sample of their water to a county agent or a labratory specializing in water analysis and find out what's in there. No sense wasting money on filtering systems you don't need.
A proper stand alone iron-filter looks almost exactly like a water-softener except that you never have to add salt.. It has a big tank filled with iron removing strata that the water flows through after coming out of the well. It has a settable timer just like a water softener and you set the timer to do backflushes to clean out the strata. The strata in the tank needs to be replaced approximately every 7-10 years.. Ours system cost about $1000 installed. It ended all the yellow clothes, the yellow iron toilet bowl and bathtub etc.

 

[petek]

Here's what I'm talking about

This is similar to what we had... note that the picture makes the machine look tiny enough to fit under a cupboard.. it's actually nearly 5 feet tall.

 

[bosch2460]

Thanks guys!! I thought maybe phosphates would work. I do not know if they want to spring for a $1000 system. They have what looks like a filter that is attached just off of the well pump. Kinda resembles an under the sink water filter. They have to change it frequently. How full it is depends on water pressure too. If its too clogged, the washer will signal and flash the water tap error.

Thanks again for the info.....

Joel

 

[panthera]

Joe,

Home Depot has kits that test for iron, cost about US$9.95. Very simple to use, immediate results on a color scale which gives you a good idea of what steps need to be taken to solve the problem.

Chlorine bleach and iron are a big no-no, unless you are tie-dying for the circus.

Laundress solution is the cheapest, Mexican detergents are said to work well with high-iron water here in the Southwest, no idea - water quality varies enormously around here. We have lots of other minerals, just not iron.