Knowledge about Descale Powder

I have been regularly using Descale Powder provided by IFB Washing Machine Company for past 8 years.

I am living in Hard Water area where the water is very hard. It taste salty. Initially after purchasing the new Front-Loading Washing Machine the washing performance was good for 6 months. Later on the clothes after washing seems to become ASH in color. The new T-Shirts turned to become ASH.

When I raised a complain the Technician came and investigated. He said that Scaling has been formed and that's the reason the clothes are changing color.

Since the Scaling was too much he said the IFB is providing Descale Powder which was costing Rs.100 during 2005 and at present Rs.160. He said that 4 packets are required to remove the Scaling.

The Machine was running Hot Water Wash Cycle for 2 Hours with 4 packets of Descale Power. As per the specification in the Descale Power Packet the Machine should be Switched-off and kept in soak condition for 30 minutes.

After soaking and completing the washing cycle I found that 1/2 of the Drum has lost its shinning and has become blue black in color. It has happened due to the Acidic reaction of the chemicals and because the machine was kept in soaking state for 30 minutes. Scaling removed was Ok but not to my 100% satisfaction.

At the end of the 1st year I arranged the Technician personally to visit and arranged to remove the entire Drum. I found that lots and lots of Scaling has been formed which is impossible to remove using Descale Powder.

I used a scrubber and removed all the Scaling and the Drum changed to its Original State.

The common mistake the Technician instruct the Customers buying new Washing Machine is not to use the Descale Powder at the initial stage. It is one reason for them to improve their Business as they charge for Visiting Charge along with Descale Powder. Also they say that using Hot Water Cycle regularly will avoid Scaling which is 100% FALSE. Regular heating of water will create SCALING in short period. Also by using the excess soap detergent which are left-over residing inside the Drum after completing the Washing Cycle will settle permanently due to regular heating.

This is why I required to open the entire Drum to scrub the Scaling after 1 year.

The technique I found to avoid Scaling is immediately after each Wash Cycle after removing the clothes the Washing Machine should cycle with Plain Water without clothes, Spinning and draining the Soap water. This is a very simple technique which most of them would have not discovered. Keep the door opened for at least 3 hours to dry using air circulation.

Try to avoid Hot Water Cycle in Washing Cycle until and otherwise required. Heating water produces Calcium and Minerals Salt deposit in the Tub which cannot be avoided.

The best way to over come these problem and keep the Washing Machine in good condition is: -

1.Strictly follow the Plain Water Cycle after every Washing Cycle to remove the Detergent deposit inside the drum.

3.Use a single packet of Descale Powder once in every month and run 2 Hrs of Hot Water Cycle, flush out the Ash color waste water and re-run the Plain Water Cycle which you follow daily to remove the left-over Descale Powder residue.

At present IFB Descale Powder cost is Rs.160/- Even the Descale Powder provided by Whirlpool cost Rs.160/-. Since this powder cost is rising day by day I thought of analyzing the chemicals components present in this to prepare Descale Powder by myself. But none of them mention the chemical components present in it because it is once again the Marketing Technique to do Business. If you take a Coke or Pepsi Cool Drinks bottle you could clearly see what are the components it contains.

After analyzing various websites and Research Papers published in Google I finally found the Chemical Components used in Descale Powder. There are various Chemicals used for Descaling various purpose but I am only discussing the Descaling Chemicals used for Washing Machine, Dish Washer, Heater, Coffee Maker Machines.

Chemicals used in Descale Powder for the purpose which I mentioned above are: -

1.Sodium Bicarbonate( commonly known as Baking Soda used in cooking)