Miele and Chlorine Bleach

10 years ago

Found this while skimming over a Miele Pro washer manual. Makes bleach sound really bad.

Chlorine and component damage

Notes on using chlorine bleach and perchlorethylene

Frequent use of chlorine increases the risk of component damage. The use of agents containing chlorine, such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorine bleach in powder form, can damage the protective upper surface of stainless steel and cause corrosion to components. Factors affecting this are chlorine concentration levels, contact time and temperature. It is therefore advisable to avoid the use of such agents. Oxygen based bleaching agents should be used instead. If, however, chlorine based bleaching agents have to be used for particular types of soiling, then anti-chlorine measures must also be carried out. If this is not done irreparable damage can occur to components in the machine and to laundry.

Anti-chlorine treatment has to be carried out immediately after chlorine bleach has been used. The use of hydrogen peroxide or an oxygen based cleaning or bleaching agent is recommended and the laundry should not be drained in between. With thiosulfate, especially when used with hard water, gypsum can form, which can lead to incrustations on laundry or deposits in the machine. The use of hydrogen peroxide is preferable as it aids the chorline neutralising process. The exact quantity of additives and the treatment temperatures required must be set and tested on site in accordance with the dosage recommendations of the detergent and additive manufacturers. The laundry must also be tested to check whether it contains any active chlorine residues.

Featured Answer

User Post

10 years ago

@sandy1616 Chlorine Bleach is one of those nasty, nasty American habits. I love the way Chlorine smells and finished laundry looks and feels after being bleached.

I typically reserve bleaching for Bath Towels and Wash Cloths. However, it's also great for duvets and other miscellaneous bedding.

It just leaves behind a Beautiful white hue, nice and clean and soft. I love the stuff :p

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Comments (17)

User Post
10 years ago
I've always used Thiosulfate, when using Chlorine Bleach. I do have really soft water though.
sandy1616
10 years ago
I haven't used chlorine bleach in years but holy batman! Gypsum deposits and the apocalypse. I'm curious now just how hard the average water is in most of europe. From a well the water around here is about 30 grains.
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larsi_gw
10 years ago
Miele Little Giant says NO Chlorine Bleach!
enduring
10 years ago
What is thiosulfate?
User Post
10 years ago
It's an Antichlor agent. :-)
mamapinky0
10 years ago
Enduring, it neutralizes chlorine. ..it can also be found in pet stores for aquariums, chlorine will kill a fish fast. It gives the directions on how many drops per gal of water and works almost instantly. Its not a bad thing to have on hand for regular chlorine bleach users.
georgect
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Is it more inclined to damage front loaders because I've always used bleach. I'm not giving it up. I only use 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load of whites or beding in the front loader.
mamapinky0
10 years ago
George...bleach has been used in FL washers for years.And your not overdosing, I'd say your fine as long as you rinse until you don't smell any..LOL.
georgect
10 years ago
I was using too much at the beginning when I first got the Elux but learned my dosing. I don't smell any bleach, just a faint detergent smell.
mamapinky0
10 years ago
Good job George, you know exactly how to use chlorine bleach, I know some people that don't...my x daughter in law tipped the jug at the start of the wash and just dumped, than she complained her kids all had eczema. .she would not accept good advice, the kids didn't have aczema..they had chlorine burns..bed sheets and PJ's reeked of chlorine and she wondered why the kids skin was so inflamed.
georgect
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Oh, Mama that's messed up. Like we've said before, READ THE FREAK'N INSTRUCTIONS!
miami mami
10 years ago
I admit I love lcb as well. But I double rinse when using it. I only use on bath towels and wash cloths occasionally.
Cavimum
10 years ago
This is interesting, that Miele now says to *not* put LCB in their machines. My W4842 owners manual says to use it with the Machine Cleaning cycle. I don't use it any other time, and many times I just put in oxy bleach for a machine cleaning cycle, instead of LCB. Perhaps I will stop using the LCB altogether and stick with oxy bleach for a machine cleaning cycle.
Joel H.
10 years ago
I think Miele states that because: 1. Bleach can damage the heating elements, and 2. The fact that Miele can heat the water itself, with or without oxygen bleach, can potentially clean better than a dose of chlorine bleach. I am talking laundry, though, not a machine cleaning cycle. As we all know, most people do not follow the directions on the bleach bottle. I think it is a preventative measure to prevent washer or clothing damage, and then have the customer blame the company.

The Bosch FL I had a few years back said absolutely no chlorine bleach was to be used, or it would void the warranty.
aljjr
5 years ago
This is what can happen if you use too much chlorine bleach. Miele W3033 after 8 years.

Catastrophic failure.
UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
5 years ago
This is what can happen if you use too much chlorine bleach. Miele W3033 after 8 years.

Catastrophic failure.

What was catastrophic about it?