Washing my filter socks

Chad82110 · Nov 21, 2016

Spray off in sink, soak in bleach for 24 hours, then soak in prime for 24 hours.

blueface · Nov 21, 2016

Rinse with high pressure first. Wash on hot with bleach in wash machine. Rinse twice in washer. Air dry. Works great.

Robert Scott · Nov 21, 2016

For two years I would change filter socks twice per week and wash in washer, no bleach. I had a Triton test done and found very high Iron and traces of copper. I have a well in mid-Michigan and I'm thinking the untreated water used for the washer might be "trapping" iron in the socks to be released into the tank vs the RO/DI I use for tank water. I switched to a throw away dyi filter instead of filter socks along with some poly filter. My latest Triton test showed undetectable Iron (6 mos. later). I've quit using the poly filter and will test the water again soon. Does it make sense iron could be leaching and do you think rinsing in RO/DI would mitigate?

Bruce Burnett · Nov 21, 2016

1. rinse in sink inside out 2. soak in hot water 3. rinse again. 4. Run washer empty on a hot cycle to remove soap residue, 5. then wash socks in machine using hot water and bleach with socks turned inside out, 6. then put socks back to outside out do another rinse 7. let socks dry and ready to use.

Bruce Burnett · Nov 21, 2016

Robert Scott said:
For two years I would change filter socks twice per week and wash in washer, no bleach. I had a Triton test done and found very high Iron and traces of copper. I have a well in mid-Michigan and I'm thinking the untreated water used for the washer might be "trapping" iron in the socks to be released into the tank vs the RO/DI I use for tank water. I switched to a throw away dyi filter instead of filter socks along with some poly filter. My latest Triton test showed undetectable Iron (6 mos. later). I've quit using the poly filter and will test the water again soon. Does it make sense iron could be leaching and do you think rinsing in RO/DI would mitigate?

I would have your tap water checked for Iron and copper since you are on a well but I would be surprised but it is possible.

shoelaceike · Nov 21, 2016

I throw mine out

Bruce Burnett · Nov 21, 2016

shoelaceike said:
I throw mine out

When you use three at one time it can get expensive even at 4 dollars a piece.

shoelaceike · Nov 21, 2016

I use 4 a week. my wife makes them. costs about .10 per sock

Robert Scott · Nov 21, 2016

There's no doubt I have iron in tap water. I remember a comment from Randy Holmes-Comb on one of his threads that he had never seen detectable iron from a triton test. Being kind of new I didn't respond, but it caught my attention.

DanConnor · Nov 21, 2016

I turn them inside out, run them through the washer, turn them outside in, and put back in the sump. Why overcomplicate things?

statru · Nov 21, 2016

psirex said:
I run mine through with bleach on a hot water cycle and let them air dry for a few days

I do the same thing with mine. They come out almost as good as new and white again!

jasonrusso · Nov 21, 2016

I have a HE front loader. My washer has a steam cycle, so I put the socks in there with vinegar, run the steam cycle and add an extra rinse. They come out like new and don't smell. I never rinse them either. I also wash them inside out if that matters.

joro · Nov 21, 2016

I flip them inside out then run them through 2 wash cycles with "Hot" water. The first cycle is with bleach, the second with nothing. I then let them air dry a few days and haven't had any issues. I'd also advise the "sniff test" to make sure you're not smelling any bleach, that's a quick tell that they may need another cycle without any bleach.

Shaun Sweeney · Nov 22, 2016

I use a couple of heaping tsp of baking soda and put them on quick wash. Take them out and use immediately. Works fine.

Shaun Sweeney · Nov 22, 2016

Punksboops said:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1943735
Read this several years ago and been using hydrogen peroxide ever since. Absolutely no residual effects

Tried the link and it no longer works.... phooey.

Bruce Burnett · Nov 22, 2016

shoelaceike said:
I use 4 a week. my wife makes them. costs about .10 per sock

Well I hope you thank your wife. I only use my socks when I blow off the rocks otherwise I go sock less. Not everyone that uses sock continuously have a sewing machine or wife that will make them. Assume she is using plain felt from Joann's as I have never seen any there that looks like the felt mine are made of. I would have to mail order if I wanted to make my own. I can get a 12 pack for about $3 ea and that would last me years by washing them.

DrewZ · Nov 22, 2016

I have three on rotation. Two soak in a bleach bath( 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of water and a 1 cup of bleach). Pull the oldest one out the day prior to a water change and rinse thoroughly. Let it air dry and swap with dirty in the sump and In to the bleach bucket it goes. Works great for me and looks brand new and have had no ill effects

shoelaceike · Nov 22, 2016

Bruce Burnett said:
Well I hope you thank your wife. I only use my socks when I blow off the rocks otherwise I go sock less. Not everyone that uses sock continuously have a sewing machine or wife that will make them. Assume she is using plain felt from Joann's as I have never seen any there that looks like the felt mine are made of. I would have to mail order if I wanted to make my own. I can get a 12 pack for about $3 ea and that would last me years by washing them.

I do and she does.

frankragghianti · Nov 22, 2016

Soak in laundry sink with bleach water till clean, rinse well let
Them soak over night in clean water air dry

redfishbluefish · Nov 22, 2016

First off, I'm a mesh sock user and simply run it under the kitchen sink while rubbing fabric to fabric....comes out very clean within a minute or two. Easy-peasy.

I'm assuming comments here about bleach and washing machines are for felt socks. I recently picked up felt socks for free from a friend who was throwing them out....and I thought I'd give them a try. I cleaned them using my power washer, and they came out pretty clean. Anyway, I posted that info here and someone posted that a study was done with the bleaching method and what they found was that it didn't "clean" the sock, but simply bleached the detritus white....it was still there, but now white. He commented that the power wash method was the way to clean felt socks. FYI, I used one and decided it was too much of a PITA and will be passing these now clean felt socks back to that friend.

EDIT TO ADD:

I found that thread.....HERE.....check out post #20.