Whirlpool Duet Sanitize cycle test: Dirty socks

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lakewebsterkid

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Yesterday, my brother needed to borrow socks from a family member to play hockey. The socks are disgusting. My aunt is one of those cold water washer only types (plugs nose). Her son also plays hockey, with these socks. So after watching many threads about water temp tests with various stains, I figured I would put the sanitize cycle to the test. These socks were originally white just like the other sock shown in the picture(mine after many years!). No chlorine or oxygenated bleach will be used as I am washing them with colored sheets. All the info is in the pictures and more is to come once the cycle is finished. Tide Pods Spring Meadow sample and Downy Infusions Citrus Spice.

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Well, after the 2 hour cycle the results are in. I'm disappointed.. The socks should look much better. I wonder if they were tangled up in the sheets? I might just have to do a cycle of whites using a Tide Boost pac. Hmm..

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reply to henene4

I completely agree! I just figured I would add the socks to the normal load of sheets. A Whitest Whites cycle with sanitize temp probably would provide better results, but would be overkill for the sheets.
 
I would have used Whitest Whites or Heavy Duty and not Light Soil. On top of that, you could try powdered detergent, which does better on dirt. Liquids are better for oily stains.

Alex
 
Wow, those socks don't even look like they've been washed!

I launder grimy socks all the time with Tide pods and they are dazzling white at the end of the Sanitize cycle on my Frigidaire, which is 10 minutes shorter than yours. The Sanitize cycle never fails to remove every imaginable stain, and I've used pods exclusively for months, now. Your hockey socks should have been cleaned even if they spent the entire cycle trapped inside the pocket of a bottom sheet.

This photo shows a pair of grimy white socks (among several similar pairs in the same load) that were washed with a pod in cool water (75-degrees) and they came out perfectly clean using a Normal cycle that clocked in 1:24 minutes! No bleach or booster was used.

You're sure you put those socks in the washer, right, LOL?

 

Also:  Always toss the pod into the drum before adding clothes.

[this post was last edited: 7/31/2014-19:26]

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Sometimes it is more tricky to remove dirt after it has been washed in and dried in, particularly if (as looks to be case with these) they've been washed with mixed colours and taken on other colours.

I have no issue cleaning white socks on a normal 40C cycle without additives. Occasionally with prewash if a particularly manky load. Shows how cold water washing doesn't have the effects people wish it to here though!
 
Response to all

I definatley put the pod in the back! That is a big rule! I always use Tide Powder and a Tide Boost for my whites. I got a free sample of Pods with a Tide bottle so I figured I would try it out on the sanitize cycle to see how sudsy it would get. The Duets bulky cycle uses a slower tumbling speed versus Whitest Whites and Heavy Duty. I just wanted to see results, but I agree and I imagine that the stains are well dried in! I figured a near 2 hour cycle would still provide results and a heavier soil level was unnecessary, but I thought wrong.
 
Disappointing results considering high dollar machinery and laundry products. My 1998 Maytag LAT, plus tank temp hot water, a scoop of Kroger Value detergent and 1 cup of dollar store bleach would of turned out a completely clean load of clothes with dazzling white socks in 27 minutes.
 
I've discovered Bulky Items cycle doesn't reach the proper temperature.  If you have Allergen cycle, use it--I do.  Allergen with Sanitize temperature, heavy soil, and Stain Treat option if available.  Extra rinse.  Allergen is assured temperature--required, uss more water than Whites or heavy Duty and is also longer.  I always use Tide He Powder with Bleach for whites.  Can't complain one bit. 
 
The Problem...

You mention you didn't use any Oxygen Bleach.

Liquids do not come with oxygen bleaches to begin with - and some stains can only be removed with a bleach product. This wouldn't matter, regardless of what temperature you use.

If you added Oxygen Bleach - the reuslts would be markedly different. Oxy-Bleach is safe for colours and all fabrics, provided you are careful with the dosage.

Water temperature IS everything when you are oxy-bleaching ('Launderess' can give you the "Oxy-Bleach and Temperature" figures), and removing oils.
The enzymes in detergent require warm-hot water to reach their optimal operating temperature.

The above reasons are why you find better results with your Tide Powder, and not your liquid.
Hope this helps :)
 
I think

It does have a lot to do with being washed/dried in dirt. LCB and sanitize would have helped. In my OLD duet I've gotten a lot of stains out on the sanitary cycle. It gets HOT HOT.
 
Reply

Temperature isn't everything. I do agree however, that a different cycle and oxygenated bleach would work better. Im not going to blame the Pods though.. There are TONS of variables. Unfortunately, no allergen cycle here, but I have three versions of the Handwash cycle(Handwash, Wool, Silk). Lol.
 
Hey Lakewebsterkid

not to go off topic......but I just noticed in the picture (at least I think if I can see it well enough) that you have one of those Duets from a few years ago that has the Max rinse button on the very right. I've never found anyone who had one so can you tell me, if you use max rinse instead of regular, does it use more water?
 
mark_wpduet

YES! This machine has the max rinse option. It simply does 4 rinses instead of 2 or 3 (extra). I rarely use it. I would rather have three deep rinses instead, similar to the LG Water Plus option which works better. Typically I use the Oxi Dispenser option which adds water to flush the dispenser, but I use it to simply add water towards the end if the wash and that eliminates the need for the max rinse option. But I'm glad someone noticed that!
 
I have the same washer and I thought standard was 3 rinses, extra was 4 and max was 5 rinses. I have never watched or counted the actual rinse period so I may be wrong. The other button I have started using is the fan fresh option. Seems to work well doing a load at night and not getting it into the dryer in the morning. The glass in the door and the boot are dry in the morning.
Jon
 

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