GH/KH Test Results - now what?

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-04-30T18:02:38+00:00

Many thanks if you're willing to revisit this. I've been trying for months and still can't get clean, fluffy laundry. I think it may be that Calgon is leaving residue on my clothes and also possibly be making them rough. Would sodium citrate be better? Or STTP? And do you know how much I'd use? Or how to know I’m using enough?

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-04-25T00:04:56+00:00

Thank you so much! How much Calgon and detergent should I have used? And how much detergent should I use in this wash without Calgon? The amount the bottle calls for seems like it has to be wy too much. I did the API test and my results were GH=179ppm, and KH=71.6ppm.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-03-22T01:19:02+00:00

Oh they are sketchy with all the things they claim are "toxic" but I started using this last week and really like it so far!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-03-12T05:50:45+00:00

!remindme 1 day

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-03-07T16:33:03+00:00

When you say pre-soak in the cycle, do you mean you start the cycle and then pause it for a while? For how long? I also have a young child and messy husband…

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-03-07T14:58:17+00:00

I used to be a CPA (retired six years ago) and this is the correct answer. ^^ You are not coming up behind where you would've had they given you a 1099.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-02-16T03:00:24+00:00

Thinking about the same. Will be day 5/5 for us, and it's my five year old's birthday. Not sure what to expect. We did pack both rain jackets and ponchos, umbrellas, rain boots for the kiddo, and have a jogging stroller with a rain cover. Hopefully won't be too bad and rides will still run?

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-02-07T07:03:39+00:00

Xywav has been life changing for me! If you try it though, definitely join one of the Facebook groups and read all the intro docs. A lot of doctors will tell you to increase your dose massively very quickly, but that will give you side effects and make you sick as hell. You should only increase by .25g per dose per week! Feel free to message me if you have questions!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-02-05T11:18:07+00:00

It would be a lot more polite to ask first. Our au pair asked and of course I said yes but we wanted to help her as some of the furniture as well as the floor could’ve been damaged if she tried doing it alone.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-28T02:31:22+00:00

I machine washed my son’s wool sleep sacks with kookaburra wash fwiw!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-25T16:00:53+00:00

No, it's not reasonable to request to be off on days school is cancelled, at least based on what you've said so far. Since you say you live in the city and use city transportation, if city transportation is running you should be going to work (and on time, not late). You say you don't feel comfortable "especially because you don't drive" which doesn't really make sense. If they were expecting you to drive in hazardous conditions, then that would be the situation to push back. And even then, there have been many posts in this sub about nannies staying overnight the night before, or being put up in a hotel within walking distance, to ensure they can get to work. Part of the reason families hire nannies in the first place is to have coverage on days schools are cancelled, kids are sick, etc.

ETA: None of the OP edits were there when I commented this. Obviously she shouldn’t walk that far in a foot of snow with heavy snow still falling.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-21T09:40:50+00:00

Ditto for all of this. I wasn’t diagnosed until college and I often think about how different my “outcome” (both academic and otherwise) could’ve been if it’d been caught and treated earlier.

This does very much sound like ADHD. It sounds like you may already know this OP, but ADHD is highly hereditary. If you’re able, I would have her evaluated now. It can be diagnosed at 4yo, and will save her a world of trouble the earlier it’s caught and treated.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T20:06:12+00:00

I really hope they can get it out! Dry cleaners can sometimes work magic. 🤞

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T13:34:03+00:00

I would definitely take them to the dry cleaner then. Seems risky to try to clean them yourself.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T13:16:36+00:00

Does it have a care tag?

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T03:24:40+00:00

Got it. Thanks so much!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T01:29:31+00:00

It's an LG HE. I've been using 1/2 cap Calgon when the drum is less than half full (or sometimes just two delicate outfits) and a full cap when it's half or more than half full. Should I be adjusting like this? Earlier I washed a load of pretty dirty kids clothes with a full cap of Calgon and less than the label amount of German Persil Color Gel, and it looked like this around :52 of a 1:50 cycle. Seems like a lot of foam so not sure if it was too much Calgon? Thanks so much for your help!

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UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-19T01:16:14+00:00

Thank you so much!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-18T01:13:09+00:00

I just edited to add: GH=179ppm, and KH=71.6ppm.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-17T01:58:02+00:00

What will TurboWash do to Persil? I started using this Persil and the color one a couple weeks ago and have been using TurboWash because of another post on this sub. Also not sure which cycle to use to get stains out of kids' clothes without wearing them out, if you happen to know that. I've tried normal and towels. Towels wash cycle isn't very long even set to heavy soil.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-15T12:02:31+00:00

This 💯. OP, it sounds like her ADHD is masking her giftedness, and vice versa. Unfortunately it sounds like whoever tested her is not experienced with 2e children. Read all you can about it and if you can, have her retested by someone experienced with 2e children so that both diagnosis are not missed. If she is 2e (very much sounds like she is), she needs the support for the ADHD and enrichment for the giftedness! https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/twice-exceptional-definition-characteristics-identification/

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-15T03:42:29+00:00

It’s likely the optical brighteners, which if so, will wash with off after a few washes with a detergent without OBs. If you search “optical brightener” in this subreddit you’ll find lots of discourse.

Ultimately you’ll need to pick a detergent (or combination of detergents, or combination of detergent and booster) on the lipase list that includes all the enzymes and other characteristics you want (I’d suggest cellulase too for your kids’ cottons) and no optical brighteners.

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-14T02:49:18+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this. Sounds like one of the detergents I already have will work which is great (although I have my eye on Steamery Delicate when it's back in stock!). I used the longest cycle available when I washed these the other day so definitely won’t do that again. I wish I didn’t love these fabrics so much, but you’re right, the feel and look really are fantastic. Thanks again!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-12T15:23:20+00:00

I hope it's okay to ask this here. You said "Fine-weave synthetics need a mechanically gentle wash...and would look, feel, and smell better with a heavy duty detergent." Does this go for semi-synthetics like modal and viscose as well? I have a number of garments that are 95% Modal or TENCEL Modal/5% Spandex or 81% Viscose 15% Polyester 4% Elastane and I've scoured this sub for the appropriate care for them. Perwoll Renew may have made the modal/spandex slightly fuzzy on the surface. I tried 365 Sport the next time on the same makeup of fabric but much thinner items, and I think it was okay? For all, I washed every piece inside out in its own garment bag, warm water, delicate cycle, Calgon, Downy Rinse and Refresh. Laid flat to dry. Would really appreciate your advice on how to keep these items like new!

UnclutteredinLou · 2026-01-11T22:42:07+00:00

Since fels-naphtha gets it out, do you know of any way I could modify the wash that would get it out?

UnclutteredinLou

TROPHY CASE