Cleaning filter socks

[hardcorn77]

I’m looking for suggestions on cleaning filter socks. I am originally from Vegas and would bleach them and then let them bake in the sun but I now live on planet Hoth lol. We get days that hit negative 50 so the sun thing is a no go for me. Would it be safe to soak them in a bucket with bleach and maybe run a second rinse in the wash?

 

[Sean Clark]

You don't even need to soak them. Simply toss them in the wash with some bleach and an extra rinse. Done.

 

[hardcorn77]

You don't even need to soak them. Simply toss them in the wash with some bleach and an extra rinse. Done.

Word… thanks for the response I appreciate that

 

[Jasonak]

You don't even need to soak them. Simply toss them in the wash with some bleach and an extra rinse. Done.

I do the same, 1/4-1/2 cup of bleach run them through the washing machine with the extra rinse. Wife hates it :P

 

[Sean Clark]

She'll get over it.

 

[Fish Fan]

Baking in the sun is like a double-whammy for bleach; the sun degrades it, and it's neutralized when it's dry. But if you bleach your socks and simply let them air dry indoors, it should be just as safe in the end, it's just going to take longer than in the hot desert sun. Have a few extra socks on hand and rotate them.

 

[BryanM]

Word… thanks for the response I appreciate that

Thats what I do, wash, bleach, extra rinse.

 

[hardcorn77]

Baking in the sun is like a double-whammy for bleach; the sun degrades it, and it's neutralized when it's dry. But if you bleach your socks and simply let them air dry indoors, it should be just as safe in the end, it's just going to take longer than in the hot desert sun. Have a few extra socks on hand and rotate them.

So air dry them instead of putting them in the dryer you say?

 

[Fish Fan]

So air dry them instead of putting them in the dryer you say?

You could dry them in a dryer! As long as they are dry, the bread is deactivated.

 

[bushdoc]

I switched recently to disposable filter socks as "Happy wife is happy life" and my wife was not very happy with filter socks being washed in "her" washing machine.

 

[bushdoc]

I switched recently to disposable filter socks as "Happy wife is happy life" and my wife was not very happy with filter socks being washed in "her" washing machine.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’m looking for suggestions on cleaning filter socks. I am originally from Vegas and would bleach them and then let them bake in the sun but I now live on planet Hoth lol. We get days that hit negative 50 so the sun thing is a no go for me. Would it be safe to soak them in a bucket with bleach and maybe run a second rinse in the wash?

Before I got rid of the socks, I bought a camping washing machine and chucked them in there with a 1/4 cup of bleach. Rinse and then air dry ..

Before that I used the normal washer until the wife found out and went nuts.

 

[backbayreef]

I’ve been sock-less for almost a decade and couldn’t the happier. I use filter floss for 2 tanks and no socks on the others — no issues.

 

[mcarroll]

I’m looking for suggestions on cleaning filter socks. I am originally from Vegas and would bleach them and then let them bake in the sun but I now live on planet Hoth lol. We get days that hit negative 50 so the sun thing is a no go for me. Would it be safe to soak them in a bucket with bleach and maybe run a second rinse in the wash?

I can't believe everyone saved this answer and let me have it – has to be the late hour.

Best answer possible:

Freeze dry those socks, man! Hang them out at -50º and they will dry (quickly) via sublimation. I bet that sterilizes the **** out of them too.

And don't put them in your clothes washer – that's gross. A soak in bleach and a good rinse, then outside to dry in the c-c-c-cool breeze! Simple.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Freeze dry those socks, man! Hang them out at -50º and they will dry (quickly) via sublimation. I bet that sterilizes the **** out of them too.

I can't imagine living anyplace where it gets cold enough for water to freeze outside :-)

Only happens on TV.

 

[Amstar]

I take an old salt bucket -- as I take out my old socks throw them in there and then when I have more than a couple (I have a rotation of socks) I fill the bucket with hot water and bleach -- every hour or so I stir it --- I then throw them into the washer and run the rinse/spin cycle a few times -- then let them air dry

interested in those that use filter floss (I do have some larger filter cups that I don't use that I can put floss into) what floss do you use? How do you keep it from getting into your sump - or is it minimal?

 

[TLO45]

Home - Reef Diaper

Never wash another nasty filter sock again! Filter socks are arguably the worst part of aquarium maintenance and are the equivalent

reefdiaper.com

This was mentioned above but I, like you, wanted an option that didn’t require frequent maintenance on socks. I ran the disposable ones for a few years. It’s an additional cost (but what isn’t in this hobby)!
I found them to work well.

 

[twentyleagues]

I stopped using mechanical filtration on my reef tanks years ago except for very special occasions. Everything you are removing is food for corals. Keep flow in areas of settling and its all stirred back up into suspension. Longer it stays suspended the more corals will take it in. I do believe in skimmers which remove particulate matter as well. I hate socks, floss, or filter rollers. I still use floss and socks on my FW tanks but those are a different beast altogether and I hate them for it. A few years ago I started messing around with bog filters on my fw tanks with bottom drains to remove sediment occasionally. This works well but can be a pain to make it work properly.

 

[hardcorn77]

This was my plan this round with

I take an old salt bucket -- as I take out my old socks throw them in there and then when I have more than a couple (I have a rotation of socks) I fill the bucket with hot water and bleach -- every hour or so I stir it --- I then throw them into the washer and run the rinse/spin cycle a few times -- then let them air dry

interested in those that use filter floss (I do have some larger filter cups that I don't use that I can put floss into) what floss do you use? How do you keep it from getting into your sump - or is it minimal?

a 2 gallon bucket and bleach then washing them every couple of weeks. I was running floss in my setup but when it got dirty it would overflow and I was getting too much garbage in my sump. I just rebuilt my overflow to take socks with a drawstring.

 

[Tangdora]

Steps I follow.

1) Wash on large load no bleach to remove most dirt. My machine does not have a prewash or id just use that

2) wash on large load with bleach. About a cup

3) remove sock and let air dry

4) run wash again with no sock and small amount of detergent and bleach to clean the machine after for clothes uses.

Have enough socks to last 2 weeks a 3 day intervals so I store all the dirty ones in a read sea salt bucket till it’s time to clean them all collectivist.