…… Getting iron in the water off the dishes

[kua]

We have a fairly new water softener, a rather good one, and since we had a small trembler, have not been able to completely filter the iron out of our well water. I do use a dishwasher and use name brand dishwashing pillow packs and alternate them. I am still getting an iron colored buildup that is very visible on our white corelle dishes. I can get it off by using Comet on the dishes but that is unhandy to do very often. Is there any product I can use on our dishes and glasses that would take the iron off more easily than scrubbing with Comet? DH changes the second filter on the softener monthly and the first filter about every 3 months. This is getting expensive. Any recommendations would be welcome.

In addition our t-shirts, undies, towels, dish towels, all are getting a yellow cast to them. Not sure how to handle them as bleach doesn't touch the stuff. This is our 3rd water softener since we have been in this house, about 10 years. We did have to have well repair after the trembler and that stopped the grit we were getting in the water line. But oh help, this is a bad situation!

 

[bluetick]

There is a product called Iron Out that should help. Check Amazon, although it may be available locally in your grocery store or Home Depot.

 

[Josie]

I have used Whink rust stain remover to remove rust stains from clothes. It says it would work on white sinks and toilets, so I would guess it would work on your dishes.
http://www.amazon.com/Whink-Stain-R...4352&sr=1-3&keywords=whink+rust+stain+remover

 

[Publius]

There is a product called Iron-Out and found in many of the department and hardware store's including Lowes and Home Depot.
You put this in the water Softener (read the instructions) and set it to cycle and expect to get a major rust plume when its done doing a back wash, Best to use the cloths washer and do any dark clothing to help with flushing it out of the system. I have this same problem with my water and you may need to repeat the process a day or two later if its bad enough.

The Iron Out can also be used in a kitchen sink full of water to soak the rust off of anything as well as putting a little in the dishwasher (a cap or two full) until you get a handle on this.

 

[kua]

Thanks for your replies. I am going to town tomorrow to find the Iron-Out. Hope it will work before my Sister-In-Law comes to visit early in April. She is Mrs. Clean-em-up! and I hate having her 'help' me clean anything!

 

[Sacajawea]

I used to just add a small amount of iron out right into the washer, to keep whites white. Old fashioned bluing might help too. For hard surfaces, iron out was far less effective than Zud. I don't know if it's still made; our Ace Hardware still had some, so I bought a couple from them, and rescued the ones I left behind at a house we were selling.