Cleaning filter socks

bkhunt · 04/30/2012, 07:48 AM

Is there an easier way than a bucket with hot water? No matter how much i clean them they are still brown and seem to be clogging faster. How long do filters last before they need replaced?

reefsurfing · 04/30/2012, 08:09 AM

My routine; washing machine with some bleach, then soak in Ro water and then air dry them. Never had an issue

ReefWreak · 04/30/2012, 08:26 AM

I had heard of a number of people hosing them off to get the rough stuff out, then putting them through a wash in the washing machine (on cold) with just some bleach.

bkhunt · 04/30/2012, 08:27 AM

do you worry about laundry soap residue in the washer?

SPSFiend · 04/30/2012, 09:56 AM

I've always machine washed in the past. Never had issues.

falconut · 04/30/2012, 10:48 AM

I just place the socks at the bottom of a bucket then pour in some RO & Bleach. Let it sit for a day or too, then rinse under the sink. Then let them dry. It's been working for me. They never get as white as new, but work like new.

I tried the washing machine, but mine don't seam to get any cleaner and I've only got (4) of the 4" ones, so it's kind of a waste to run for that.

ek9vboi · 04/30/2012, 11:00 AM

I have about 10-15 of them and cycle them. Still working on the new ones before I do a full wash. What I do and it sounds like a lot of work but works for me is flip them inside out and the hose them off. It gets most of the poo off but like others have said, it's never white again.

Once I'm done with all of them I'll probably use bleach and tap water to clean them and disinfect them. Then after they dry off and all the chlorine is evaporated I'll rinse them with RO/Di water.

fastrd400 · 04/30/2012, 11:19 AM

I turn mine inside out when I replace them. After I put in my last pair (I think I have 6 or 7 pair) I throw them all in the washing machine on hot, and use vinegar. Let them air dry and re-use.

jeffesaurusrex · 04/30/2012, 01:22 PM

I bleach them with a spray bottle and then machine wash, a full cycle with no soap. Most of the bleach comes out with the wash, but then I air dry for a few days and that brings the rest out. Don't put it in until you can no longer smell the bleach though.

DamonG · 04/30/2012, 05:47 PM

Another for washing machine. I run a cycle before I was them, then do a speed was with hot water. Works every time.

cloak · 04/30/2012, 07:30 PM

I just throw them in with my whites. No problem.

cloak · 04/30/2012, 07:31 PM

Woops... DP

bkhunt · 04/30/2012, 09:14 PM

do you think these socks would be safe for aquarium use? Since I have 2 and it sounds like most of you have multi to rotate that I should get a few more.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-5-x-1...item35b941a8d3

RebelReef · 04/30/2012, 09:58 PM

Plus one on the washing machine. I have 30 something socks and just throw them in inside out with some bleach and let air dry. Takes about 5 minutes of work to clean them once a month and they are as white as the day I got them.

jack.lai.83 · 04/30/2012, 10:21 PM

I just throw mine in the washing machine. No soap or bleach, just hot water and they come out almost white.

souperman · 04/30/2012, 10:24 PM

Maybe it's because I use mesh type socks but I just rinse in hot water and let dry. They don't seem to clog or anything...

stickyhops · 05/01/2012, 04:18 AM

I put mine inside out in a half gallon bucket. Fill w hot water and dump about 1/2 cup bleach. Put lid on bucket. Come back 3-4 days later to rotate back to sump and Whamo!!!! Almost just like new after rinsing in sink.

04/30/2012, 07:48 AM	#1
bkhunt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 133	Cleaning filter socks Is there an easier way than a bucket with hot water? No matter how much i clean them they are still brown and seem to be clogging faster. How long do filters last before they need replaced?

04/30/2012, 09:56 AM	#5
SPSFiend Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South Bay / Los Angeles Posts: 1,018	I've always machine washed in the past. Never had issues. __________________ Thanks, Gerry Current Tank Info: Custom 32x32x24 Rimless. Previous tanks: 180G Reef and 120G Reef

04/30/2012, 10:48 AM	#6
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I just place the socks at the bottom of a bucket then pour in some RO & Bleach. Let it sit for a day or too, then rinse under the sink. Then let them dry. It's been working for me. They never get as white as new, but work like new. I tried the washing machine, but mine don't seam to get any cleaner and I've only got (4) of the 4" ones, so it's kind of a waste to run for that. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

04/30/2012, 01:22 PM	#9
jeffesaurusrex Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 322	I bleach them with a spray bottle and then machine wash, a full cycle with no soap. Most of the bleach comes out with the wash, but then I air dry for a few days and that brings the rest out. Don't put it in until you can no longer smell the bleach though. __________________ -Jeff Current Tank Info: 29g Biocube - StevesLEDs - MP10 - Apex - Tunze

04/30/2012, 10:24 PM	#16
souperman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 262	Maybe it's because I use mesh type socks but I just rinse in hot water and let dry. They don't seem to clog or anything... __________________ No.

04/30/2012, 08:09 AM	#2
reefsurfing Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 499	My routine; washing machine with some bleach, then soak in Ro water and then air dry them. Never had an issue

04/30/2012, 08:26 AM	#3
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I had heard of a number of people hosing them off to get the rough stuff out, then putting them through a wash in the washing machine (on cold) with just some bleach.

04/30/2012, 08:27 AM	#4
bkhunt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 133	do you worry about laundry soap residue in the washer?

04/30/2012, 11:00 AM	#7
ek9vboi Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 3,027	I have about 10-15 of them and cycle them. Still working on the new ones before I do a full wash. What I do and it sounds like a lot of work but works for me is flip them inside out and the hose them off. It gets most of the poo off but like others have said, it's never white again. Once I'm done with all of them I'll probably use bleach and tap water to clean them and disinfect them. Then after they dry off and all the chlorine is evaporated I'll rinse them with RO/Di water.

04/30/2012, 11:19 AM	#8
fastrd400 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Walnut Creek Posts: 1,898	I turn mine inside out when I replace them. After I put in my last pair (I think I have 6 or 7 pair) I throw them all in the washing machine on hot, and use vinegar. Let them air dry and re-use.

04/30/2012, 05:47 PM	#10
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	Another for washing machine. I run a cycle before I was them, then do a speed was with hot water. Works every time.

04/30/2012, 07:30 PM	#11
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I just throw them in with my whites. No problem.

04/30/2012, 07:31 PM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Woops... DP

04/30/2012, 09:14 PM	#13
bkhunt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 133	do you think these socks would be safe for aquarium use? Since I have 2 and it sounds like most of you have multi to rotate that I should get a few more. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-5-x-1...item35b941a8d3

04/30/2012, 09:58 PM	#14
RebelReef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jax, Fl Posts: 154	Plus one on the washing machine. I have 30 something socks and just throw them in inside out with some bleach and let air dry. Takes about 5 minutes of work to clean them once a month and they are as white as the day I got them.

04/30/2012, 10:21 PM	#15
jack.lai.83 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Eastvale, CA Posts: 67	I just throw mine in the washing machine. No soap or bleach, just hot water and they come out almost white.

05/01/2012, 04:18 AM	#17
stickyhops Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sandusky, Ohio Posts: 47	I put mine inside out in a half gallon bucket. Fill w hot water and dump about 1/2 cup bleach. Put lid on bucket. Come back 3-4 days later to rotate back to sump and Whamo!!!! Almost just like new after rinsing in sink.