Filter Sock Cleaning/Bleaching

[Fish Keeper82]

After some long thought about adding filter sock to my sump I finally went ahead and did just to keep detritus out. I bought about 15 filter socks and I'm down to my last 3 or so.

My question is what is the best way to clean these?....

(1) Any particular type of bleach to use? or not use
(2) Anything special to do washing machine to clear detergents besides empty cycle?
(3)How to dry them? Just air dry? if so for how long?
(4)Any extra tips?
(5)Any bad experiences?

 

[PhaneSoul]

I made my own, i just put em in, no special washer treatment, with about a cup of bleach and let soak and do the prewas then let soak again, aboutan hour there. Then i put it on the longest wash cycle i have along with a 2nd rinse. Might do a 3rd rinse if i feel like it. When done air dry. I have put a sock on straight from the wash without drying a few times with no ill effect.

Turn inside out, dirty side out when washing, store this way aswell so the outside doesnt pick up any stray hairs in storage.

No bad experiences with 1 year in service

 

[scooter31707]

+1^^^

 

[kmbyrnes]

'Sanitary' washer setting ( extra hot water ) no soap, a little bleach, extra rinse, air dry.

 

[aredhead]

Ive been turning mine inside out and then outside in sun for a couple of days. Than I wash on hot with extra rinse. No soap or bleach. I am always willing to hear berter ways. Ive had good luck likr this though.

 

[cushms01]

I run them (inside out) in the washer w/o bleach or soap. 2 cycles. Air dry. Worked like a charm for 2 years. Have about a dozen or so in the rotation. Change every 3-4 days.

 

[snorvich]

I run them (inside out) in the washer w/o bleach or soap. 2 cycles. Air dry. Worked like a charm for 2 years. Have about a dozen or so in the rotation. Change every 3-4 days.

This works. Key to any methods is turning them inside out.

 

[CStrickland]

I have to pay for laundry in my apartment building so I just rinse them well inside out in hot hot water when I switch them out every other day and then when all 7 are dirty I soak them overnight in 1/2 cup bleach and 3 gallons of cold water, then I rinse them in really hot again and a quick final swish in cool water with some Prime in it just to be safe and let them air dry.

Phane taught me how to make them out of felt and they are working really good for 6 months.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

This works. Key to any methods is turning them inside out.

Does the bleach serve any real purpose then besides keeping the sock white?

 

[CoralNerd]

Hose clean outside, then flip inside out hose. Then I run the washing machine empty. Then run socks in washing machine with 1/2 cup bleach. Then I soak them in a bucket of RODI. Then I put them in the sun to dry out.

 

[slief]

After some long thought about adding filter sock to my sump I finally went ahead and did just to keep detritus out. I bought about 15 filter socks and I'm down to my last 3 or so.

My question is what is the best way to clean these?....

(1) Any particular type of bleach to use? or not use
(2) Anything special to do washing machine to clear detergents besides empty cycle?
(3)How to dry them? Just air dry? if so for how long?
(4)Any extra tips?
(5)Any bad experiences?

I run four 7" felt socks in my sump. Like you, I keep a bunch of extra socks on hand and only wash them when I've accumulated a bunch. For me, that is about 20 socks. When I remove the socks from my sump, I turn them inside out and toss them into an empty/dry bucket where they dry out until wash time weeks later. When it comes time to clean a bunch of them, I take the soap/softener tray drawer out of the washing machine and rinse it thoroughly in hot water to remove any extra soap before putting it back in. This is probably not needed but I do it anyway.

I use about 1/4 cup of uncscented Clorox bleach. Set my wash to whites with a pre-wash and extra rinse cycle using the medium/hot heat setting. Once the wash is done, I let them air dry and use them as needed. I don't rinse them in RODI after the wash. There is absolutely no reason to in my experience. I've been using this method for the last 5 years without an issue. My skimmer doesn't react at all to the sock changes. My socks always come out like new and last just as long as they did when new.

 

[Rognin]

I use vinegar only in the washing machine on sanitize and air dry.

 

[PhaneSoul]

Does the bleach serve any real purpose then besides keeping the sock white?

Bleach is an oxidizer so it will break down organics

 

[Fish Keeper82]

Thanks all for the replies and advice.....In the washing machine as I type this up with a bit of bleach.
Had about half 8" socks and half 14".... the 14" were a pain to flip inside out will be buying the 8" from now on.

 

[Fish Keeper82]

Socks came out great... might try the hand was cycle as opposed to the regular next time(felt looked a bit rough) but I'm happy with the outcome. after the spin dry cycle they were almost completely dry.

Just curious how long do you air dry before putting in service?

 

[anthonys51]

i cleaned mine 3 different ways so far
soaked in pure bleach, then ran in washer twice . came very clean
didn't soak just added bleach to washer. ran twice. didn't come as white

no bleach just ran twice, less whiter than other 2

 

[triksrevival]

I wash 4-5 in a 1/4 cup of bleach in the washer, run an extra rinse cycle and air dry. Been doing this to the same filters for almost a year and they still come out great. Also I soak them in water for a minute or two before throwing them in the wash.

 

[robertifly]

I quit the felt type and went to screen style, also quit the bleach and washing machine now I just use peroxide after hose rinse and it works for me. Made by Filter Specialists, Inc. p/n BNMO300P4PA don't remember who I bought from but I like them as they seen easier to clean and don't get stiff.