This is a special shock / disinfecting procedure
for the machine that we developed. It is as good as or better than any other shock treatment. In some ways it is a combination
of the best features of a few of them.
After you shock the machine you use Nu Fresh to finish off the disinfecting
and then to keep control.
See the Gasket Mold and Odor Control Ideas link about for
specific info regarding gasket mold
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The
odor problem is always caused by the same thing:
Soap stuck on the plumbing lets nasties grow on it.
You need to get the soap and crud build-up off first.
Period.
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Phase One:
Run a special, extra strong vinegar shock treatment first.
Add two tablespoonful of DISHWASHER detergent to the detergent dispenser.
You don't need much. It adds
ions and helps the plumbing rinse sparkling clean ...
Add two tablespoonful of regular salt on top of the
Dishwasher soap.
This adds extra ions to help lift off the scum.
Do not add Nu Fresh for the shock treatment.
It doesn't work that way.
Add one or two gallons of cheap, white vinegar to the drum and run the hottest water
setting.
If you have rags or old towels you can wash, a really large load will increase the amount of water used
resulting in a higher water line in the drum and it will also increase the wash time.
This could result in
better cleaning of the all wetted surfaces inside the machine. In other words, fill the tank to the top so you get at all
the nasties.
Repeat 2 or 3 times in a row if you have a really tough problem.
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Remember, you are trying to dissolve the soap and scum off of the tank and plumbing.
If you
have been using excessive amounts of detergent and softener,there will be a large build-up.
As this is removed,
you will find that the smell could even be increasing.
The aerobic mildew/fungus
is being removed along with some of the detergent film.
This exposes the anaerobic bacteria slime in the underlying
detergent film.
It can start to smell like a dirty swimming pool or a fish aquarium that needs cleaning.
If the smell increases, this shows that you have been using way too much soap.
Do a chlorine shock
(1 cup in hot water load, absolutely no vinegar) to knock out the fishy odor if it arises. Just like with a swimming
pool.
You may also see flecks of black mold that has been loosened and is floating around the machine.
Some machines are really gross I have been told. Some actually have had the drain lines plug with thick black goo.
Keep running the flush until the odor is gone both from the rags and the machine.
Always
run a load of rags with a few old towels in the first load after any flush.
This way you can tell if there
is still a problem before you run a load of good laundry
and get the loosened gunk and increased smell on it.
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OK, now you have minimized
the amount of film on the plumbing
This is the level where Nu Fresh works best.
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BTW: You can never get rid of all of the film because of the chemistry of the detergent
Curses!
Foiled Again!
(Nerds Google: Surface Tension, Wetting Angle)
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Phase One is basically a shock like the other shock methods explained on the Directions page.
Except,
in our opinion, it is a lot more aggressive and more likely to work.
Phase Two and Three are to disinfect
and control odor continuously with Nu Fresh.
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Phase Two:
Add two capfuls
(roughly) of Nu Fresh directly into the tub.
Do this for every load you wash for the next week or two until
you feel confident the odor is really controlled.
During this time, rewash all of the clothes and other
laundry that have been smelling.
Use a minimum of detergent and the hottest water the laundry can stand for this
period of time.
It will accelerate the effect of Nu Fresh.
Cold water works but hotter water is faster.
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Phase
Three:
After the odor has been controlled and the laundry re-washed to reduce recontamination,
you can move to the maintenance mode of using one capful (or less). Place
the Nu Fresh on top of the detergent in the dispenser as your use pattern and experience dictate..
No matter which detergent you use, the Nu Fresh will mix with it and create a barrier to suppress
the growth of the nasties.
From now on, only use one tablespoon
of detergent or softener in any load. Or roughly enough to just cover the bottom of the measuring cap. No kidding...
Increase only if experience actually indicates you need more.
You will be supprissed how little you
need.
Do not believe the recommended amount on the machine dispenser !
Do not fill up to
the first mark of the detergent measuring cap !
Remember: The
build up of the material is the food source for the biofilm. Starve the nasties.
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These machines concentrate the detergent/softener at the surface of the laundry so very little is actually
required.
A real savings if you play it right ...
Tip: Pick an article of clothing
that gets consistently dirty like t-shirts or kid's socks. Try to use the smallest amount of detergent that will still
get these clean. If these are clean, then the rest of the laundry is probably clean too. If not increase the amount until
the articles get clean. In the end, you will get an idea of how little you really need to use. Any reduction will help your
problem. This experiment is pretty much required to find out how much your family needs to use in its machine. This is the
maximum amount to use in the future to control the odor.
Tip: If you stop using liquid softener
to help with the odor problem, the softener sheets used in the dryer will tend to put a thin coating on the "dryness"
sensor. It is a pair of metal strips inside the drum just under the door opening. Wipe these down with a little rubbing alcohol
every month or two to keep the sensor contact with the damp laundry working correctly.
Tip: If you have a
machine that is smelling because it has been contaminated by washing clothes with gasoline, turpentine or any other oil based
material on them you could use the above procedure to cut though the oil. You should increase the dishwasher detergent to
a quarter cup.
This is also a good way to clean a machine that has fragrance oils contaminating it. This can be
an issue with some people who are sensitive to fragrances and have difficulty getting their machine clean (because the
fragrance oils are so tenacious).
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These directions seem to have worked for a lot of people over the years so they will probably
work for you. However, there may be instances where the problem is so tough the machine must be disassembled and scrubbed
to remove the build up. Thankfully this level seems to be very rare.
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More Information
Those who have septic systems should add Rid-X (or equivalent enzyme helper)
to the system 7-10 days after the end of the "shock treatment" process. Nu Fresh and the other chemicals will have
significantly flushed out of the system by this time.
Over the years, we have never received any negative
feedback regarding the use of Nu Fresh with septic systems.
Our customers are smart and vocal so we would have
heard.
However, some suppression of the digester flora and fauna will not doubt occur. So, we suggest the Rid-X
(or equivalent) treatment on the theory of "it couldn't hurt".
While not endorsing the product, here
is a link to Rid-x for everything you need to know about septic systems
http://www.rid-x.com/about.shtml
Hard or soft water does not have any effect on the performance of Nu Fresh
Loads using Nu Fresh will
also have a reduced need for detergent.
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