Best way to clean your filter socks??

[kamakazian]

I use 3 felt filter socks with a plastic ring in my sump and they catch so much crap that I don't know how to get it out and having it look like new again. I've read of people soaking them in bleach solution; this left my socks as brown as when I pulled them. I used to turn them inside-out and throw them in the washing machine with bleach. This seemed to work pretty well, but I'm not sure if that would work with the ringed ones.

Does anyone have any experience with effective/safe ways of cleaning their plastic ring felt filter socks??

 

[SPR1968]

I used to clean them outside with a hosepipe which I didn’t enjoy one bit!

I know wait until I have a few dirty ones, put them in the washing machine with a squirt of bleach, wash for about 1.30 hours. When done I put them back in again for the same time without bleach.

Probably overkill but they come out as good as new.

 

[Hemmdog]

Use a washer and dryer that isn’t yours, on super hot with bleach, then another wash after that just hot water, (clean dryer lint guard) dry socks on super hot. Clean every time. Still good practice to replace every 6 months or so though.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Rinse a bit depending on how filthy they are, throw in the washing machine with cup of bleach.

Run an extended cycle and extra rinse. Put them outside to air dry. They'll look like new.

 

[Jerett83]

I hose off the heavy junk in my laundry tub when I pull them from the sump and keep them in a old salt pail with the lid on until Im down to my last couple clean ones. As far as washing goes I run a empty cycle to was out any soap in the washing machine and then was them in hot water with a splash of bleach and they come out looking brand new. I let them air dry for 3-4 days until they dont smell like bleach anymore.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I use 3 felt filter socks with a plastic ring in my sump and they catch so much crap that I don't know how to get it out and having it look like new again. I've read of people soaking them in bleach solution; this left my socks as brown as when I pulled them. I used to turn them inside-out and throw them in the washing machine with bleach. This seemed to work pretty well, but I'm not sure if that would work with the ringed ones.

Does anyone have any experience with effective/safe ways of cleaning their plastic ring felt filter socks??

If me, first when I've used these socks I had 4-6 of them. Two in use, two as reserve. I would clean mine in sodium hydroxide, soak for two or more days. Then hose off. Use long sleeve gloves/googles.

 

[ccurnick]

Honestly, I was having the same issue. I switched to the mesh filter socks (cheap on BRS) and they work just as well, and the clean to good as new with just a rinse in the sink.

 

[TexasTodd]

Hydrogen peroxide for a couple of days then rinse in sink.

 

[andrewkw]

The washing machine with bleach is the easiest way. If you are worried about soap residue then you can run an empty cycle first, but most find this not to be needed. All you have to do is pour some bleach in the bleach compartment, start the machine, and come back and retrieve them when the cycle is complete. It can't get easier then that.

 

[EddieJ]

Best way to clean them ?? Throw them in the garbage !! Get a filter cup that fits and fill with filter floss. Takes a minute to throw away used floss and put fresh in. I have much better things to do in life than clean a filter sock lol!

 

[DaneGer21]

I rinse in my utility sink, then into the washing machine(no soap), then I run a second wash cycle(again, no soap).

 

[Brew12]

I'm with the washer group. I have 15 socks so I have 5 groups of 3 for my sump. When I pull them I turn them inside out and rinse them out in a utility sink or outside with a hose depending on weather. When I have 4 sets dirty I put them in the washing machine with a 1/2 cup or so of bleach and run it on the sanitary cycle with an extra rinse. Socks do have the plastic ring and still look pretty good. Not brand new, but not too bad.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have a lot of filter socks because I used to run 4 tanks (600g+ of saltwater). Now I have a 40g cube and use one sock at a time. I save up dirty socks in a flip top container (any covered container will due) to hold down the smell and I keep them in the garage. When I get to 20 or more I soak them for a few hours by just filling up the container. This softens up all the dried 'gunk'. After that a wash cycle in the washing machine with some oxy clean (hydrogen peroxide), then a rinse cycle, then a 2nd wash with a cup of bleach. You can use more bleach if you want as it rinses out in one cycle and evaporates out after just 48 hours of air drying. I do a final rinse cycle and air dry them. They come out pretty clean and still work very well. The down side is every once and a while a plastic ring will get broken. But that only happens to me about 1 out of every 60 to 80 socks (3 or 4 full wash cycles of 20+ socks).

 

[Retro Reefer]

I let mine completely dry out, turn them inside out take them outside and beat them against my shed.. clouds of particulates and dust come off them during this process. then I thoroughly rinse them in a 5 gallon bucket, add a splash of bleach and let them soak a couple days followed by another thorough rinse and another couple day soak with prime followed by another rinse in RO water.. I’ll do 4-5 at a time and this method seems to work well. Mrs Retro would kill me, chop me up in little pieces and feed me to my fish if I used her washing machine ;)

 

[DaneGer21]

I let mine completely dry out, turn them inside out take them outside and beat them against my shed.. clouds of particulates and dust come off them during this process. then I thoroughly rinse them in a 5 gallon bucket, add a splash of bleach and let them soak a couple days followed by another thorough rinse and another couple day soak with prime followed by another rinse in RO water.. I’ll do 4-5 at a time and this method seems to work well. Mrs Retro would kill me, chop me up in little pieces and feed me to my fish if I used her washing machine ;)

Tip: Tell her your washing socks, not filter “socks”!!!

Bahahaha

 

[BestMomEver]

Turn inside out, drop in the washer with hot water and extra rinse. Bleach, no soap. Done!

 

[andrewkw]

For all the people that say their significant others will complain about washing filter socks in the washing machine, what happens when your clothes get dirty? What if a bird poops on you? A baby throws up? Or a grown up for that matter. The way a washing machine works for those unaware is it completely cleans the machine as well as the items when the cycle is complete. The worst possible thing you are going to leave behind is a tiny shell or astrena starfish which you can remove with 5 seconds of checking after you remove the socks.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I blast mine in the sink with hot water and just let them dry out before using again.

 

[RichReef]

I only use 1 sock with a new spare.

I pull it and blast it with a hose outside and put it right back. Cleans white every time.

This has been going on for almost a year now.

It's when you let them sit that they become a problem.

I will add: I will never, ever, never, ever use 4 inch socks again. There is nothing in this hobby I despise more than cleaning a 4 inch sock. Whenever I see these "high end" sumps with 4 inch socks all I do is laugh. Nope with a giggle snort. I'll stick to my 7 inch at any cost.

 

[Ento-Reefer]

I wash my socks once a month with bleach in the washing machine. It is super easy and only takes a few minutes. I usually turn them inside out and rinse them in the sink first. Let them air dry for 2-3 days before using.