Washing filter socks in washing machine?

[tigre44]

I have been washing mine with a little bleach for years with no problem

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I do like 20 socks at a time. I just put them inside out and then run 2 cycles on hot with about a cup of bleach. then do another 2 cycles on hot without any bleach, throw them in a bucket to dry then use. sometimes they still have a bit of a bleach smell.

no de chlorinated step?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Curious how many folks do this. I recently (lol) learned you can reuse filter socks. I read on BRS that you can wash them in your washing machine with some bleach as long as you run a rinse cycle prior to wash any potential detergent out of the drum. That being said, it still makes me nervous as hell that some detergent will get into the sock and ultimately the aquarium. Does anyone use this method? Any issues? Just 1 rinse cycle or multiple?

I machine wash them in warm water only- no soap or bleach and always clean for next use.

 

[Joe.D]

I’ve been doing this the past 2 years. Bleach, heavy duty load with hot water and an extra rinse - then stand them up to dry for 2 days.

But, not for much longer. Bought a ReefMat this past weekend. Now I just need to make time to install it!

 

[StewL6]

I wash around 24 at a time when my old reef crystals bucket gets full. Warm Wash with about a half cup clorox bleach only. SometimesI I complete two cycles if really really stinky. I throw the washed socks into a clean old reef Crystals bucket and fill with RO water and two caps prime, let sit over night. Then next day throw them back into washer for a rinse and Spin cycle. Then I put them in their clean bucket in fish room. Then most important step I complete a empty wash with two refresh tabs and a tide odor removal packet so my wife tolerates me washing the soocks . I thought about getting a small dedicated washer but so far my procedure has worked pretty good the last three years or so.

 

[WvAquatics]

Im looking into the pool filter socks someone mentioned. Just figuring out how to mount them in sump.

With socks previously i would just wash with a capfull of bleach om quick wash. Then another cycle with prime air dry and done.

 

[edsbeaker]

Going to ask the real question. How did everyone get their wives to agree to allow you to use the washing machine for your filter socks?!?

I am the wife! LOL

 

[Glowurm]

Yeah run mine through the washing machine on the regular, i dont pre rinse, then again the cycle is for 2 hours so the chance that anything remains from previous washes is limited.

Edit - I hate filter socks...

 

[Tide2water]

I have washed thousands upon thousand of filter socks in a washing machine, sometimes multiple loads a day for years, ranging from 1um to 200um. Add from a splash up to 1/2 cup of chlorine depending on the organics level that is expected to get chewed up. Too much WILL eat your machine and make gaskets break down. Less is needed if you pre-rinse, outside-inside-outside with pressurized water (NOT a pressure washer use a hose nozzle or sink sprayer); then flip inside out for washing. Air dry for 24hrs, add Thiosulfate to the softener compartment or take ’em for a slosh in a bucket with thio if you’re in a hurry to use them

 

[blazn]

When I swap out filter socks, they go into a 5 gallon bucket of bleach water. Once a month, I then wash those socks in the washing machine on a heavy setting with hot water and an extra rinse (wife doesn't mind). They always come out looking like new. I then stand them up to air dry with a fan on them for 24 hours and then another 24 hours without the fan. Works great and I've never had an issue. Easy enough that I have no desire to invest in a 'reefmat'/filter-roller.

 

[PharmrJohn]

also, she doesn't do a pre-rinse, washes on gentle with warm water, it defaults to 2 rinses.

Two rinses is good enough. My old machine wouldn't do that.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Going to ask the real question. How did everyone get their wives to agree to allow you to use the washing machine for your filter socks?!?

Back when I used to do this the easiest thing to do was to purchase a $50 portable Camping washing machine from ebay and use that

 

[wjm6449]

I do it. No problems. Two caps of bleach. Air dry.

 

[Linlox]

hmm, am I the only one who just uses vinegar?
Have bleached them in the past if they needed it without issue, just figured it was harder on the sock material. Bleach pretty much destroys my septic system, so its used minimally.

 

[Tide2water]

hmm, am I the only one who just uses vinegar?
Have bleached them in the past if they needed it without issue, just figured it was harder on the sock material. Bleach pretty much destroys my septic system, so its used minimally.

Polyester is very resistant to chlorine, higher temps not so much. VERY surprised how many people here use hot water, I cannot see a single benefit for hot water. It doesn't get hot enough to sterilize, and doesn't help the chlorine out much past warm for all intents and purposes.


If vinegar works for you keep using it!

 

[56longroof]

I hand wash mine in a 5 gallon bucket in bleach water. I let them sit overnight then rinse in RO water and let them sit another 24 hours in RO water with declorinator. Then air dry.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I hand wash mine in a 5 gallon bucket in bleach water. I let them sit overnight then rinse in RO water and let them sit another 24 hours in RO water with declorinator. Then air dry.

Back when I was doing this, I just filled up the camping washer with cold water, added a couple of tablespoons of liquid bleach and let it wash. Doesn't take much bleach.

Rinse twice with tap water.

Line dry.

I forget how many years I was doing that with no problems. There is no need for declorinator or RO water.

 

[OrionN]

In spray them with garden hose to remove most of the dirt particles, then I put them in my washer without soap use the disinfecting cycle, (wash longer with hotter temperature). I have 15 homemade filter socks. I wash them all every few months when I am using my last filter.

 

[Reign1]

Going to ask the real question. How did everyone get their wives to agree to allow you to use the washing machine for your filter socks?!?

The previous owner of our house cleaned windows professionally so we have an extra washer in the garage besides our w/d room .
I usually spray w/ garden hose outside and hang dry and only run them in the washer is they are really dirty ..

 

[likemike99]

I used 3 salt buckets. used 2 socks, changed them every week. 2 in each bucket. 1st bucket bleech, second bucket clean water (remove the bleech), 3rd bucket fresh water (just to make sure). it kept the process easy. just switch out socks every sunday from one bucket to the next. 8 socks used. minimal work.