STPP usage and amounts...

[nmassman44]

Ok I bought this bag of STPP and there are no instructions in its usage for laundry. I have not gone onto the manufacturers website or even checked to see if they have one yet. I bought this because of the hard water we have here in Florida. I have noticed when I do laundry that fabrics have been emerging kinda stiff and rough feeling when taken out of the dryer and that is with using fabric softener. So my question is how much should I use? Here is a pic of said bag...

 

[sudsmaster]

OK.

STPP is what is called a "builder". All powdered laundry detergents contain builders, but they tend to be stuff like sodium carbonate that can leave that rough feeling you've noticed. That's because they can form precipitates with hard water minerals (like calcium) which get deposited inside the washer.

STPP's great feature is that while it binds with hard water minerals, it does not form a precipitate, and instead keeps them in solution so they can be rinsed away.

For starters I would suggest you try adding about a tablespoon of STPP to the wash water. I tend to add it first, let the front loader fill a little and then add the detergent (generally these days liquid).

If you still get rough results you can try increasing the STPP amount. Maybe 1/2 as much as the regular powder laundry detergent you might add. You may notice you don't need as much regular laundry detergent (powder or liquid) because STPP does such a good job of softening the water.

 

[supersuds]

Traditional advice was to use enough to make the water feel slippery. There isn’t any set amount since everyone’s water hardness is different.

It may not keep your clothes from feeling scratchy, however.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

STPP

I recommend 1 tablespoon for starters as well! 1 TEAspoon in the dishwasher with the detergent! It certainly does more than you think!
How much were you using initially?

 

[nmassman44]

I have not done anything with it yet since I just got it today. I have been using the Charlies Soap Booster for Hard Water and that seems to be working quite well at a Tablespoon in my Whirlpool top loader. It rinses out completely and the clothes are getting to where I want them to be softness wise. I had not used anything like that up until a couple of weeks ago. Before that since late October when we got here its been no additive for water softening at all so there was a build up on jeans, underwear, towels etc of the hard water minerals. My other half noticed it right away, too. I figured that I would try this stuff and see how it performs. Eventually methinks a mechanical water softener is in the cards soon.

 

[polkanut]

I use 2 tbsp in our 1998 Maytag Dependable Care machine.  It's just the right amount for the water hardness here.

 

[appnut]

Well, I just bit the bullet and bought some on Amazon. A little difficult gaging how much to use in the Duet. But have to admit looking forward to reducing the amount of detergent being used each load/ Have the Smart Dispense set for hard water. Probably set it back to normal and see.

 

[chachp]

Question...

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you are using this product in the wash portion and nothing in the rinse, aren't you getting the deposits back on to your clothes especially if your machine does multiple rinses?</span>

 

[nmassman44]

I thought the same thing as well. I know with my washer there is some carry over from the wash cycle to the rinse even though there is a spray rinse before the first spin. I have been using the Super Wash cycle since that fills the wash basket all the way. Medium to small loads get washed on Normal, but I add water to make sure the load rolls over and doesn’t just slosh around since it doesn’t use enough water without wearing the fabrics.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, the problem with many non-STPP detergents is that their primary builder, usually sodium carbonate, forms a hard precipitate with hard water minerals, and this is what doesn't get rinsed away. There should be no reason why the rinse water would form more precipitate in the absence of detergent containing sodium carbonate, unless one really overdosed the wash cycle.

If one is really concerned, one could always add some STPP to the rinse cycle. But I doubt this is necessary.

 

[appnut]

Today's my first laundry day ever with this. All my loads have been hot and cannot open the door because it's locked. But I can tell a distinct difference how the water and slight soap bubbles slide/cascade down the window.

 

[DADoES]

 
Hmmmm ... I thought you'd already been using it for a while.

 

[givemehotwater]

As for dosing

Most of FL has moderately or very hard water. Bare that in mind, when dosing -- that you'll need to use enough to accommodate that.

In my experience, You should attempt to use at least two to three tablespoons in a Deep Fill Machine like a Conventional TL or Deep Fill Top Loader.

I would use about One Tablespoon in a Conventional Front Loader that uses 8 Gallons or Less for a Fill.

 

[appnut]

Mike, I used a tablespoon for each load in my Duet today.