How do you clean your filter socks?

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I have extremely bad water where I live. I would usually toss them in the washing machine for a cycle by themselves, but not sure that's a good idea. What's everyone doing these days?

 

[DSC reef]

After switching to red sea nylon mesh it's been a breeze, rinse in a sink and dip in RO then back into the tank. With felt I filled a 5 gallon bucket with oxiclean and let the socks soak a few days. Then ran them in the wash and after I'd soak them in some RO before using again. Oxiclean seemed to get them whiter. Before that we would run them in the wash with just bleach, rinse and let them sun dry. Before switching to mesh the skimmer would go nuts for a bit after putting the washed felt socks back in. At one point we kept 20+ socks on hand.

 

[NS Mike D]

I just rinsed one out and dropped in a container of water with a capful of bleach. Will rinse it out again and let air dry. I change them aboyt every 3 day. I used to do the washer machine thing but I find me current routine very easy and on the same floor as the tank, plus I think it the soak in bleach water does a better job than the machine. If I don't have a clean sock handy, I pull the dirty one anyway and run sockless until I can get a clean one in there. I have three socks so two should always be on standby . I may get more

 

[SeaJay]

Inside out in the washing machine with bleach and the old towels that I use during maintenance. Set it to extra rinse and air dry until ready for use again. I’ve got 4 pair on rotation so it’s usually at least a week before they go back in.

 

[Muttley000]

I also turn inside out and put in the washing machine with just bleach (looks around to make sure wife doesn't see what I'm typing) and then run them again with nothing just to get several rinses. RODI dip and air dry. That said I don't use my socks much any more, seemed like they got to where they were only catching amphipods.

 

[SPR1968]

I use the Red Sea mesh socks and used to wash them outside with a hose pipe. I hated this especially in winter

So what I now do is put them all in the washing machine with a squirt of bleach on a long wash. I then put them on another long wash afterwards with just water in. Just because I don’t like the idea of bleach and my fish tank, and it makes me feel better.

Then they just go back in my ‘clean’ bucket to dry

This is just so easy and I have about 10 sets so only do this every month or so.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I'm concerned about washing machine. TDS on my water is in the 1000s. Perhaps that then a rodi soak. Thanks everyone!

 

[Velcro]

I threw them all away. Good as new!

 

[Bob Weigant]

Washing machine with some bleach for me. I rinse 3 times after that. Good to go

 

[Tuffloud1]

Is rinsing with rodi water really necessary? If you let filter socks dry after blasting with the hose, what does rinsing in rodi accomplish?

It seems like the incredibly tiny amount of trace phosphate or other contaminants in tap water after drying would be completely insignificant unless your city water is filthy. My tap is 28-35 tds.