Is it possible to wash children's clothes, silk, and wool with Calgon?
Calgon is a water softener that protects your automatic machine from scale and unpleasant odors. You can wash things with Calgon, that’s what it’s designed for. It is added to washing powder if tap water is very hard.
If the water hardness is low, there is no need to use Calgon. In addition, many modern washing products already contain softeners.
How to use Calgon?
Calgon is available in powder, gel and laundry tablet forms. It costs about 200 rubles per 500 g. It is used exclusively for washing machines and is a preventative measure.
"Kalgon" does not clean scale, but prevents its formation! It also does not clean dirt and stains. There is no point in washing things with it without powder.
Instructions for use:
- The manufacturer recommends adding Calgon with each wash, regardless of the mode and water temperature.
- Powdered “Calgon” is added to the same compartment as the washing powder, gel is added to the container for liquid products. The tablet is placed in the drum.
- The dosage of the product depends on the hardness of the water. For very hard water, use 100 ml of powder per wash, hard water - 66 ml, medium hard water - 33 ml.
- When using Calgon tablets, one piece is enough to wash in water of any hardness.
The effectiveness of the anti-scale product is confirmed by research results. "Kalgon" is recommended for use by leading manufacturers of washing machines - Bosch, Electrolux, Siemens.
Benefit
The direct purpose of using Calgon is to protect the washing machine and extend the service life of heating elements. The product binds hardness salts and prevents them from settling on the heating element (heater), plastic tubes, and drum. In addition, its use has additional advantages:
- increases the efficiency of washing powder;
- eliminates unpleasant odor;
- saves energy;
- protects the machine from damage.
A heating element that is free of scale uses less energy to heat up. The water becomes soft and the powder works better in it. This way you can reduce its consumption and focus on the dosage for soft water. When using Calgon, the laundry does not turn gray or become rough.
There are also budget analogues of “Kalgona” with an identical composition on sale: “Antinakipin”, “Alfagon”.
Harm and contraindications
Until recently, Calgon was based on phosphates, which, as was later discovered, are harmful to human health and the environment. They practically do not decompose and cause intensive growth of algae, clogging reservoirs and drainage pits. Now phosphates have completely replaced zeolites - minerals from the group of hydrous aluminosilicates. They are much safer and, like phosphates, increase the effectiveness of surfactants (surfactants). Thus, they reduce the content of aggressive chemicals.
Zeolites, of which there are over 30% in Calgon, are also found in expensive powders (Ariel, Tide), but in smaller quantities (up to 5–10%). About 5% of Calgon is made up of nonionic surfactants and polycarboxylates. Of course, these are all chemical compounds, but when used as intended, they are not dangerous to health.
There are isolated cases where zeolites caused an allergic reaction.Therefore, the first time powders containing them and Calgon should be used with caution.
It is better not to wash some things with Calgon:
- clothes, towels, bedding for newborns;
- things for allergy sufferers.
Some washing powders (for example, Persil Sensitive expert) do not require the use of Calgon. They already contain a sufficient amount of water softeners. Relevant information can be found on the packaging. Usually this is an icon with a heating element and a check mark.
Calgon is intended for systematic use. It is added to the detergent every time you wash. If you use this powder occasionally, it will not have the desired effect.