Am I being too paranoid about bleaching Filter Socks?

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2015

So after reading around numerous posts about bleaching filter socks for reuse, I am still a bit paranoid about using them again, despite taking a bunch of precautions. Here's how I did it:

- Ran washing machine empty first.
- Ran a pre-rinse, filter sock load with 2/3 cup of bleach, then another rinse afterward. All set on Steam clean, hottest setting, high spin, normal soil load.
- After the above was completed, the socks were left in the machine that goes into Fan Fresh Mode for the entire night.
- After taking out the dried socks, I laid them out on the counter, and left them there for the entire day.

There's a hint of chlorine smell, and I am told that is not unusual (This comes from numerous reefers who do even less than I do, in terms of Filter Sock cleaning). Should I re-wet the socks via Prime, or is this overboard? I would hate to have to re-soak the socks, and then have to re-dry them if it's unnecessary.

I appreciate everyone's input!

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2015

Also.. I am assuming we shouldn't use a dryer for filter socks? I air dried them on the washers fan mode, then left them and out all day... I wouldn't mind using Prime if I could machine dry them, I guess.

veselym · Mar 17, 2015

I run them through wash with 1/4 cup of bleach then run them again with just hot water and let dry for 24 hours and never had an issue.

I also turn them inside out

Jc_ellis · Mar 17, 2015

I use a dryer for my filter socks and I also use hydrogen peroxide as an alternative to bleach.

gacolt · Mar 17, 2015

i run my washer on hot pour around 1oz bleach add socks after cycle is down i wash again with no bleach then hang them to dry for atleast a day.been doing this for about a year now with no problems.

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2015

How many socks are y'all washing? I am using 2/3 cup of bleach (chlorox) for about 30 socks.

gacolt · Mar 17, 2015

im washing 15 sock.alittle bleach goes a long way

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2015

I don't really know how much chlorine or hypochlorite would get into a reef tank from treated socks.

Less of a concern, IMO, than folks using ozone without carbon treatment of the effluent, however.

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I don't really know how much chlorine or hypochlorite would get into a reef tank from treated socks.

Less of a concern, IMO, than folks using ozone without carbon treatment of the effluent, however.

Based on my current method, do you believe I should be concerned? Does Hydrogen Peroxide sound like a better option?

ptreef · Mar 17, 2015

Yes your worried.
Wash with bleach, extra rinse air dry and your fine next day.

I wash like 8 at a time

bneufelder · Mar 17, 2015

I agree the smell freaks me out a bit. I switched to oxyclean.

veselym · Mar 17, 2015

I wash around 5 socks at a time...put them through a good rinse after using bleach and they should be fine

Eckolancer · Mar 17, 2015

Use a lot of bleach on mine. Even add bleach to the fabric softener part on my front loader.

mfinn · Mar 17, 2015

When I used filter socks, I would run them through a short cycle with a cup of bleach.
Then I would take the filter socks out of the washer and put them in a small container with some water and a strong dechlorinator solution for a couple hours.
Let drip over night and use.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2015

Electrobes said:
Based on my current method, do you believe I should be concerned? Does Hydrogen Peroxide sound like a better option?

I just do not know, but if the tank seems ok, I probably would not worry. I'm not nearly as comfortable with hydrogen peroxide as many are, so I wouldn't switch on the assumption that it is better. It may be, but that is not obvious to me.

Skynyrd Fish · Mar 17, 2015

I rinse mine out soak them in a bucket with water and a splash of bleach. I wait a day then rinse well and air dry for a couple days. No problems.

mjs020294 · Mar 17, 2015

I hand wash them under hot water. Then soak in a bucket of bleach with 1/2 cup of bleach. Then throughly rinse with cold water for a few minutes. Then soak in a bucket of cold water for a day or two. Then air dry them. Before they go back in the tank I soak them in water I have just removed from the tank during a water change.

cope413 · Mar 21, 2015

If you're worried, why not just get some prime? It's so cheap...

Electrobes · Mar 21, 2015

I am no longer paranoid. After several change outs, tank hasn't gone nuclear on me.

I have prime, and while cheap, it was an extra step that's a bit of a pain.