Never Clean Socks Again

[GARRIGA]

I just take my dirty filter socks and put them in the washing machine without soaps. They come out spotless without any chemicals. Just water.

If I really wanted to deep clean them, I‘d use bleach.

I have 2 sets of filter socks, so the newly-washed set completely air dries before I use later that week, which neutralizes any possible chlorine residue.

Fair comparison but not all have a washing machine or wife/husband appreciative of using it for that purpose or wishing not to use bleach and why I pose an alternate solution. This would obviously be more cost effective for those having to clean a larger volume of socks although a little does go a long way based on my research. Was hoping others might have tried it and perhaps add some knowledge and perspective.

 

[GARRIGA]

Reefers have the dirtiest socks of any hobby but are used to the smell. A proven strategy is to back-flush a filter with as much pressure as needed. This could be done with socks by some future design. Evaporation trays could dry sludge to its most compact form. Spent saltwater might give back its water, and brine residue fractionated to remove heavy metals, and so on. Still a lot of progress pending.

Plan to use canisters for sediment filtration and back-washing to remove most of the trapped detritus with this as the final cleansing solution. Didn't consider applying this to dried contents. Perhaps making it more effective.

There are contraption for pressure washing pool cartridge filters. Guessing some inventive type can develop that for socks because anything that adds convenience is welcomed and likely profitable. Those pool cleaning devices seem rather costly for the materials used.

Not familiar with fractioning with salt. I'll have to research that. Thanks.

 

[Troylee]

I don’t even bother with chemicals.. I pull mine out once a week and blast them with my garden hose and throw them right back in my sump soaking wet with all the tap water nasties! My tank loves it and never had a problem lol..

 

[GARRIGA]

I don’t even bother with chemicals.. I pull mine out once a week and blast them with my garden hose and throw them right back in my sump soaking wet with all the tap water nasties! My tank loves it and never had a problem lol..

Then perhaps this thread not for you but thanks for your contribution. I’m also not afraid of washing with tap water but sometimes water alone isn’t getting the job done depending on micron rating.

 

[vin's tank]

look,the easy way to dose with hydrogen peroxide is to use sochting oxydator.i have two d models in my 65 gal aio tank.use 6% peroxide food grade.it works wonders.

 

[GARRIGA]

look,the easy way to dose with hydrogen peroxide is to use sochting oxydator.i have two d models in my 65 gal aio tank.use 6% peroxide food grade.it works wonders.

Was researching that yesterday but for now I’m sticking to dosing it ahead of UV on my next build. For now manually adding it.

Not saying those don’t work but just that I believe it’s more effective with UV. Obviously all based on research and not actual practice.

Might still get one for any builds where adding UV not pragmatic.

 

[Mschmidt]

Why not just oxyclean? why do I need to pay the hazard fee and keep 35% peroxide in a house with my infant?

 

[GARRIGA]

Why not just oxyclean? why do I need to pay the hazard fee and keep 35% peroxide in a house with my infant?

Valid point but can be said about many cleaning solutions we keep including additives for our aquariums such as Kalk. Stored in safe cool place would be my solution.

As for Oxyclean. I believe that’s sodium percarbonate which is just soda ash and 35% hydrogen peroxide but don’t know to what percentage oxyclean is diluted. Which just reminded me I need to ask Randy.

 

[TWYOUNG]

I'm suspicious of anything that doesn't actually REMOVE all the debris. It seems like even if sterilized with bleach or H2O2 there are still pores in filter material that will eventually clog up. I thoroughly hose mine off and then run through a bleach cycle in the washing machine.

 

[GARRIGA]

I'm suspicious of anything that doesn't actually REMOVE all the debris. It seems like even if sterilized with bleach or H2O2 there are still pores in filter material that will eventually clog up. I thoroughly hose mine off and then run through a bleach cycle in the washing machine.

I’m also cautious in assuming either solution completely sanitizes yet both get you to a better place than when started. Alternative is throwing things away which I’m hoping to avoid.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not averse to using bleach. Just presenting an option as some prefer greener options. Neither might be perfect solutions, however. Yet HP might offer less use of water which in some communities is a concern. Just add and dispose of the water without adding more to effectively rinse or drying required.

 

[Miami Reef]

Just presenting an option as some prefer greener options.

How is using bleach less green? Just air dry it.

 

[GARRIGA]

How is using bleach less green?

Requires more water to fully rinse. For some communities that’s of concern.

 

[Miami Reef]

Requires more water to fully rinse. For some communities that’s of concern.

That’s not true. A normal washing cycle + air drying is all you need.

 

[PNW_squidz]

Requires more water to fully rinse. For some communities that’s of concern.

If you are worried about water usage when rinsing bleach off a sock, don't keep a fish tank.

 

[GARRIGA]

That’s not true. A normal washing cycle + air drying is all you need.

But that washing cycle adds water. This doesn’t require drying. One step solution and for some that might matter. Plus as mentioned before. Not all have washing machines or access to use as they desire. Just another option.

 

[GARRIGA]

If you are worried about water usage when rinsing bleach off a sock, don't keep a fish tank.

I’m not. Others might be and why deprive them of keeping a fish tank? Plus I’ll do as I please

 

[GARRIGA]

Just confirmed with Randy that Sodium Percarbonate makes soda ash plus 35% hydrogen peroxide which is considerably more economical than liquid solution therefore removes any concerned with added cost or issues with acquiring can put that to bed.

 

[Troylee]

Just confirmed with Randy that Sodium Percarbonate makes soda ash plus 35% hydrogen peroxide which is considerably more economical than liquid solution therefore removes any concerned with added cost or issues with acquiring can put that to bed.

So what is your end game here? Never clean a sock again was the title.. now! If you use that 35% h202 and nuke your socks what do you in the aftermath? Just dry them out and good to go? You’re all over the board with saving water etc etc… are you not gonna rinse the muck the h202 just destroyed off your socks? I can only imagine that stuff costs more than the socks lol.. I’m not attacking you I’m generally curious how this ends sock cleaning and saves water and time and money.

 

[GARRIGA]

So what is your end game here? Never clean a sock again was the title.. now! If you use that 35% h202 and nuke your socks what do you in the aftermath? Just dry them out and good to go? You’re all over the board with saving water etc etc… are you not gonna rinse the muck the h202 just destroyed off your socks? I can only imagine that stuff costs more than the socks lol.. I’m not attacking you I’m generally curious how this ends sock cleaning and saves water and time and money.

I’m not trying to save anything. Just offering an alternative. I’m going to use it for other purposes. Have already explained the title more than once. Each decides if they might want to consider it. I’m not preaching.

As for time and water. It’s a one step treatment. Add HP to socks. Don’t see why you’d need to rinse the resulting water from the process. Oxygen released will gas off. Don’t see why one needs to dry it either. Shake it off in the solution added. Ready to go.

Did you see my post on sodium percarbonate. Should ease your concerns with cost.

Do I need to change the title or can we move forward because I honestly don’t grasp the literal requirements of no cleaning. I assumed after watching the video that would be the focus of concern. Being of a holistic thinker. Don’t often appreciate the nuance many place on the literal meaning of anything and just assume most can read between the lines.

Wasn’t also considering the emotional draw this would have with some. Literally blown away by it as if I’ve proclaimed the earth was flat. To those that think it is. I mean no offense

 

[GARRIGA]

Fast forward to around 5 minute mark on why I’m not worried about rinsing and why I consider this one step solution. Hence could be literally construed as not cleaning. More like dunk and plunk