can you use tsp in laundry

TSP (TriSodium Phosphate

) is not the correct additive. It produces a precipitate, which is not a good thing for laundry and washing machines. TSP is typically used as an outdoor cleaner, such as for driveways/parking lots or prepping walls for painting, where a precipitate isn't objectionable.

Full Answer

What is TSP in cleaning products?

TSP, or Trisodium Phosphate, is one of the most powerful cleaning agents still in regular use. It's especially good at cleaning greasy buildup off tough surfaces, like flooring or siding, but it can be dangerous to work with, and can damage sensitive materials. Safety Note: TSP can cause injuries if it comes in contact with eyes or skin.

Is TSP laundry commercially viable?

Not "commercially viable" means that governments will no longer permit laundries to clean your shirts. You can add TSP at home — government hasn't restricted that yet — but commercial houses cannot. However, the Laundry Institute did say that "there are other ways to achieve a clean shirt." What are they? He didn't say.

Is it safe to use TSP in soap?

However, it is still sometimes used in commercial items Today, it is not usually used in soaps or cleansers that are designed for home use because Phosphates as a whole, TSP is very damaging to natural waterways and even ground water. It is considered unsafe to flush even gray water containing phosphates into septic or sewer systems.

Should laundry regulators regulate TSP?

The goal of the regulators who regulate the laundry is not to improve your life. It is to wreck your life a bit at a time by pressing increasing numbers of restrictions and mandates upon private producers. One of these mandates has removed TSP from detergent — and with catastrophic results.

What is the correct additive for laundry?

Can I use TSP on laundry?

Can STPP decompose into TSP?

Is TSP a good additive?

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What is the correct additive for laundry?

The correct additive for laundry (or dishwashing) is STPP (Sodium TriPoly Phosphate), which does not produce a precipitate.

Can I use TSP on laundry?

I wouldn't want to use TSP on my laundry. It is great on the walls and ceilings, really cuts into the grease and grime. But for my delicate clothes no, I don't think so.

Can STPP decompose into TSP?

Be aware that STPP will decompose into TSP if you're not careful.

Is TSP a good additive?

TSP (TriSodium Phosphate) is not the correct additive. It produces a precipitate, which is not a good thing for laundry and washing machines. TSP is typically used as an outdoor cleaner, such as for driveways/parking lots or prepping walls for painting, where a precipitate isn't objectionable.

What are STPP and TSP used for?

According to Wikipedia, both STPP and TSP were used in detergents.

Is TSP a good surfactant?

TSP is good shit for basically everything, it's a powerful surfactant, which is the action that makes soap clean stuff, it gets between the material and the dirt/ grime/ whatever. Unfortunately, the phosphate especially is what drives the environmentalists bonkers.

Can you use Cascade fryer powder in dishwasher?

For the dishwasher just use Cascade fryer boil out powder. I add a tsp along with a normal dishwasher tablet. It is supposedly not great for septics so thats why I just use a little. It boosts the cleaning power.

Can you use TSP and TSPP in laundry soap?

TSP and TSPP are two things no longer found in your laundry soap, you can use them both safely.

Why is trisodium phosphate not used in laundry detergent?

This is a misconception. Trisodium phosphate was never used in laundry detergent, because it’s too alkaline. Various “higher” phosphates — i.e. composed of salts of phosphate ions esterified together — were used. When legislation limiting phosphates in detergents, for reasons given by other answerers, required a label statement of their phosphate content, because what was significant was the amount of phosphorus in the product, but products used different polyphosphates, their equivalent phosphate content was expressed in terms of trisodium phosphate and of elemental phosphorus.

Why is TSP being phased out?

Phosphates in laundry detergents have largely been phased out because of problems with algae blooms. But TSP as a single ingredient is still sold, and an be bought on Amazon and hardware stores. It remains an excellent product for washing surfaces to be painted as part of the preparation.

What detergents loosen dirt?

3. Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (NaDDBS). This is the detergent that loosens dirt and emuls

Why is phosphate in laundry detergent phased out?

Its use in laundry detergent has been phased out mostly due to its impact on the environment. If used as a laundry detergent, the phosphate will end up in the wastewater. It is difficult and expensive to treat and remove phosphate in wastewater. So the phosphate in the wastewater ends up in lakes and rivers. This will cause algal bloom, deplete oxygen levels and kill fish.

What color specks are used to correct yellowing?

10. Optional blue colour specks. Just for show, although they do indicate what the powder is for. Blue violet dyes used to be used to correct yellowing. In this case, green is not produced even though the colours are subtractive because the violet part masks the yellow.

Can you let a TSP drain run down the drain?

You can’t just let it run down the sewer drain without care. In fact, depending on where you live, it may be against local, county, or even state environmental regulations and law for you to even use TSP in the first place. Using TSP without appropriate precautions could put you in the position of, even unknowingly, breaking the law and facing big fines and penalties if you are caught.

Is TSP safe?

One thing you may not realize about TSP, which is widely rumored to be very safe and even benign, is that it is in f

What is TSP used for?

Photo: amazon.com. It wasn’t so long ago that trisodium phosphate (TSP) was a go-to choice for tough cleaning jobs , especially on exteriors. Diluted in water and applied often with a stiff scrub brush, it can remove stubborn grease stains and mold and mildew growth. In recent years, however, the popularity of TSP has waned.

What is a good substitute for TSP?

If the cons give you pause and you wish to use another cleanser, consider this TSP substitute: borax. Also known as sodium borate, borax is a naturally-occurring mineral compound that will clean many of the same surfaces TSP has been used on for years, including mold- and mildew-stained areas—all without causing damage nearby plants. (See it in use in our tutorial for homemade deck cleaner .) Plus, you can pick up this powerful antimicrobial cleaning agent right in your grocery store’s cleaning aisle.

What is TSP paint?

Paint-stripping capabilities: So strong that it will peel old paint from a surface along with the stains, TSP is often used for cleaning surfaces in the course of preparation for painting, particularly for exteriors. It removes splintered or flaking leftover paint that may impede the bond of the new coat. Mold and mildew treatment: One benefit of ...

Can TSP be used on painted surfaces?

Damage to certain surfaces: Avoid cleaning with TSP in the bathroom; it can damage metal, ceramic tile, grout, and glass. And as discussed above, it’s not suitable for painted surfaces.

Can you use TSP instead of TSP?

Before starting your cleaning project, be sure to check local regulations. Also note that on the shelves of your local home center you may not find TSP, but TSP substitute instead. The latter is much safer to use, but most agree that it doesn’t clean as well as the real stuff.

Is TSP toxic to cleaning?

Cons of Cleaning with TSP. Toxicity: Being toxic, TSP must be handled with care. That means wearing the appropriate protective gear. T-shirts and shorts are a no-no. Instead, wear full-sleeve clothing in addition to gloves, glasses, and a respiratory mask.

Can you use TSP to clean siding?

Pro tip: If you’re using TSP to clean siding, speed up the job with a power washer.

When was TSP banned in laundry soap?

Getting even less attention was this ban on TSP in laundry soap that took place in the early 1990s, apparently codified in a 1993 law. The idea, or the excuse, was to stop the increased growth of algae in rivers and lakes (phosphate is a fertilizer too), even though there are other ways to filter phosphate, home use contributes virtually nothing to the alleged problem, and there is no solid evidence that plant growth in rivers and lakes is a harm at all.

Why did dishwashing soaps eliminate phosphate?

Dish-washing soaps, with no big announcement, eliminated phosphate from their formulas under pressure from the EPA and laws from state governments that banned them. The idea was to help the fish in their oxygen competition with algae (even though the household contribution to algae creation is negligible, and the scientific evidence on the issue of algae's effect on fish runs in all directions).

What is the main ingredient in dry cleaning?

One final note on my conversation with my dry cleaner. He gave me the heads-up that the main ingredient used for dry cleaning, perchloroethylene, is not long for this world. California and New York are considering bans, and the rest of the country comes later. After that, it's all over, and the last one to leave civilization will have to remember to shut off the fluorescent light.

Is TSP removed from detergent?

One of these mandates has removed TSP from detergent — and with catastrophic results. No one wants to talk about this. There is a major hush-hush culture here because business, understandably, doesn't want to face a consumer backlash, and government doesn't want to acquire the reputation for being the civilization wrecker that it truly is.

Is TSP commercially viable?

Yes, true, he said, but, again, TSP is not "commercially viable.". He politely deferred all further questions to the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute, whose website provides no information at all to nonmembers. However, the Laundry Institute did answer my email:

Is an empty box of detergent better than a detergent?

An empty box that claims to be detergent stands a better chance of gain ing the government seal of approval than a detergent that actually works. Then we get to the end of the interview, in which he is actually candid about the goal: the elimination of detergents (meaning the elimination of clean).

Is TSP a natural element?

He was not shocked. He completely agreed, though sheepishly. I pointed out that TSP, which is a natural element, is amazing not because it cleans — it needs soap to do its thing — but rather because it rinses, whooshing away all dirt, oil, stains, as well as all leftover detergent.

What is TSP used for?

Properly applied with a brush or spray, TSP can help you prepare tough surfaces for repainting or refinishing, and can clean off mold, mildew and fungal growth when combined with household bleach.

Can TSP cause skin irritation?

Safety Note: TSP can cause injuries if it comes in contact with eyes or skin. Always wear protective gloves and goggles when working with this substance and never ingest it. Wash any areas of accidental skin contact thoroughly with soap and water, and flush any eyes it contacts with water for at least 15 minutes.

Can TSP be used on glass showers?

TSP can also harm the items you're trying to clean. It's not a good match for delicate fixtures, as it can stain the metals of your faucets and pipes, and damage glass showers and ceramic tiles. Its high alkalinity can react with aluminum, causing corrosion and releasing hydrogen gas.

Does TSP remove grout?

As it does with paints, TSP can even attack and remove grout, and in fact it's often used in products that help take off old grout and glazing.

Can you use TSP on stone?

Because it's so corrosive, you should only use TSP on resilient materials like stone or brick, or on surfaces you're planning to repaint after cleaning. It makes an effective substitute for muriatic acid, another potentially hazardous substance.

Is TSP bad for the environment?

Disadvantages of TSP. TSP is also dangerous for plants and wildlife, and environmental campaigners have raised concerns about introducing phosphates into ecological systems through runoff into local water sources.

Is TSP safe to use on siding?

on May 13, 2020. TSP, or Trisodium Phosphate, is one of the most powerful cleaning agents still in regular use. It's especially good at cleaning greasy buildup off tough surfaces, like flooring or siding, but it can be dangerous to work with, and can damage sensitive materials. Safety Note: TSP can cause injuries if it comes in contact with eyes ...

What is the correct additive for laundry?

The correct additive for laundry (or dishwashing) is STPP (Sodium TriPoly Phosphate), which does not produce a precipitate.

Can I use TSP on laundry?

I wouldn't want to use TSP on my laundry. It is great on the walls and ceilings, really cuts into the grease and grime. But for my delicate clothes no, I don't think so.

Can STPP decompose into TSP?

Be aware that STPP will decompose into TSP if you're not careful.

Is TSP a good additive?

TSP (TriSodium Phosphate) is not the correct additive. It produces a precipitate, which is not a good thing for laundry and washing machines. TSP is typically used as an outdoor cleaner, such as for driveways/parking lots or prepping walls for painting, where a precipitate isn't objectionable.