Calgon is a long-known remedy that many people recommend using in addition to washing powder. However, not everyone knows why it is needed, how it works, whether it is effective and how much. Consider these and other factors.
How to use Calgon
The instructions that come with any Calgon package give dosage recommendations and explain what the product should be used depending on how hard the tap water is. For convenience and accuracy, and therefore economy, a 96 ml measuring cup is included with each Calgon pack. How many Kalgon need to pour into the washing machine:
- If the water is of medium hardness, 32 ml is enough (a third of a measuring cup).
- When the water is hard, you need 64 ml (two thirds of the cup).
- If the water in the water supply system is very hard, you will have to add 96 ml (full glass).
Pills are easier to use. One tablet is added to the wash for any degree of water hardness.
When it is determined how much Calgon is needed for one wash, often the hostess has a reasonable question: where to pour Calgon in the washing machine (pour gel or lay tablets)? After all, the washing machine has more than one compartment. Calgon should be poured into the main (largest) compartment - the same place where the powder is poured. You can simply add it to the powder. It is not recommended to pour the substance directly into the machine drum where the laundry is placed.
The manufacturer also points out that for maximum efficiency, Calgon should be used constantly, without missing a single wash.
See also - How to descale a washing machine: useful tips, an overview of special products
Composition and release forms
Calgon is needed when washing in a washing machine to soften water. What substances are involved in this process?
Any water contains calcium ions. And the main active ingredient of Calgon is sodium tripolyphosphate. The interaction of these two chemical elements provides water softening.
Calgon also contains the following substances:
- polycarboxylates (up to 30%);
- microcrystalline cellulose (up to 15%);
- polyethylene glycol (up to 5%).
The manufacturer has provided usability Calgon, developing three forms of release:
- powder;
- pills;
- gel.
Calgon has a light and unobtrusive smell. The convenience of the powder is that the dosage can be varied. It is convenient for those whose water is not very hard to independently determine how much it needs to be filled. This will save the Calgon and not spill over. They prefer to buy Calgon tablets for a washing machine when the water is very hard. The tablets are also convenient in accurate dosage. In terms of composition, the powder, tablets, and gel are the same.
There are also different dosages for all three Calgon dosage forms:
- powder packages are 0.55 kg, 1 kg, 1.6 kg;
- tablets are packaged in boxes of 12, 15, 32, 35, 40, 70 pcs.;
- the gel is available in bottles of 0.75 l, 1.5 l, 2 l.
Beneficial features
Calgon is needed not only to soften water. It prevents the appearance of scale on the heating element, and it is scale that often becomes the reason that one day the washing machine will need the help of a specialist. So that it doesn't come to repair, the Calgona manufacturer recommends adding it to the powder with every wash. ( See also: How to clean the washing machine from scale and dirt )
What are the main benefits Calgon boasts:
- Saving washing powder (since softened water requires less than hard water).
- Preventing the appearance of scale on the internal parts of the machine (and thereby increasing the service life of the washing machine).
- Preservation of bright colors of linen (since it does not allow scale to settle on the fabric).
- Improving the quality of the wash (since even stubborn stains are better washed in soft water).
Supporters of a healthy lifestyle have a legitimate question: can using Calgon have a negative effect on health? After all, this is a chemical agent. Experts say that it is no more dangerous than ordinary washing powder, and even putting it into the machine, you do not need to wear gloves.
However, you should always remember about basic safety measures. Keep Calgon in a dark place so that it is not accessible to children. In case of careless handling and accidental contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth (no matter how much it is), you need to quickly wash it off with plenty of clean water. To eliminate this possibility, it is better to use pills.
Is Calgon Really Effective
There are studies that prove the ineffectiveness of Calgon. Some experts argue that it is similar in composition to washing powder, which also contains water softening agents. In addition, Calgon only prevents the occurrence of scale in the washing machine, but does not delete the existing one. There are already a sufficient number of reviews about the senselessness of using this tool and even that it may be the cause of a washing machine malfunction. If you have never used Kalgon and scale has formed in the washing machine, you can always clean it with folk remedies, for example ordinary baking sodavinegar or citric acid.
However, many housewives still use Calgon, claiming that it retains the color and strength of fabrics better, and prevents white fabrics from turning gray.
In this article, we have provided detailed instructions on how to use Calgon for washing machines. They told where and how much to pour Kalgon into the washing machine. Now you yourself have to weigh all the pros and cons, calculate the amounts for the purchase of Calgon and a new washing machine and determine whether to use an additional product when washing or not. If you see more pluses than minuses, buy any form of release convenient for you - powder, tablets or gel - and be happy with the result.
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