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08-08-2010, 07:14 PM
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#41
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pharr,TX, on the road all summer tho
Posts: 42
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Vasalene markets a product that was right beside the Calgon powder at Walmart. Said it was to soften the water in your hot tub(bath beads). Was less then $3 for 1 1/2lb box. I bought a box to try. Any comments?
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Sagebrush & Special K
2011 Rockwood 8285WS
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500HD
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08-08-2010, 07:24 PM
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#42
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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If you hear on the news that there has been a run on Calgon, the members here are responsible. 
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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08-09-2010, 01:06 PM
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#43
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The Old Man
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 330
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Having had no luck finding Calgon or any other water softening laundry product I got to thinking what its actual purpose was supposed to be? (Yeah, thinking might be dangerous!  )
Isn't the purpose to make the water "wetter" so to speak. I always thought that was what water "softening" is actually doing.
So with that premise I bought some dishwasher wetting agent...the kind designed to keep spots from forming on the dishes and glassware. That product is easy to find and our regular supermarket had a generic house brand. Only question now is how much to use? I tried 1/8 cup to start with and will see how it goes.
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2010 Flagstaff 829RGSS
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08-09-2010, 01:38 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 134
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If you have trouble finding Calgon, 20-Mule Team Borax also works as a water softener and I use it regualrly in my tanks. Calgon is hard to find out in here in SoCal but most stores do carry Borax.
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Do What You Like - Like What You Do!
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08-09-2010, 01:54 PM
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#45
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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The purpose of the Calgon is to make the probes and the sides of the black tank "slick" so that no solids will stick. I am not sure if other products will produce the same results.
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Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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08-09-2010, 03:15 PM
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#46
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnguy
If you hear on the news that there has been a run on Calgon, the members here are responsible. |
Actually I was thinking of the Hunt brothers trying to corner the silver market back around '80/'81.
Here's the email for Carl Bruni the fellow that developed the Geo Method:
cbruni@gmail.com
Maybe if a few of email him explaining that Calgon isn't an easily found item like toothpaste or bananas, he'll have some ideas of brands to substitute for the Calgon.
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08-09-2010, 03:50 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Where We Hook Up
Posts: 220
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pondlady
Powdered Calgon box $4.00 a box at Big Lots in Sidell LA. But it's a crap shoot if they will ever have it again.
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Nothing at Big Lots in Grand Rapids. [sigh]
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2015 Ford F-350 6.7 CC 4x4
B&W RVK3300
Full-timing since 5/2/2016. Roam Sweet Home.
FROG Int'l Rallies: 2012-2017
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08-09-2010, 03:56 PM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Where We Hook Up
Posts: 220
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willis
Having had no luck finding Calgon or any other water softening laundry product I got to thinking what its actual purpose was supposed to be? (Yeah, thinking might be dangerous! )
Isn't the purpose to make the water "wetter" so to speak. I always thought that was what water "softening" is actually doing.
So with that premise I bought some dishwasher wetting agent...the kind designed to keep spots from forming on the dishes and glassware. That product is easy to find and our regular supermarket had a generic house brand. Only question now is how much to use? I tried 1/8 cup to start with and will see how it goes. |
Willis, I was pondering that same thing. I was at Sam's Club yesterday and noted that (for example) the Cascade dishwashing detergent packets seem to include some kind of "sheeting agent" in the mix. So--perhaps the whole idea of getting some low-suds soap and a wetting agent into the tank could be accomplished with these. I didn't make the purchase, pending what others might think about the idea. I did not yet try to find the MSDS sheets to see what the product is made up of.
Any chemistry buffs on the forum?
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B&W RVK3300
Full-timing since 5/2/2016. Roam Sweet Home.
FROG Int'l Rallies: 2012-2017
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08-09-2010, 04:05 PM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769
<sigh>
The word is out. DW went to Wal-Mart to buy some for the camper and they were out of stock. Also out of stock at our normal grocery store.
The FBI is going to find some RV'er with seven thousand cases of the stuff in a shipping container in his back yard.  |
Don't tell the FBI where I live!!! LOL 
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Kirk, KN1B
2013 Cardinal 3800FL
2009 GMC 3500HD CC LB SRW
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08-09-2010, 04:07 PM
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#50
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Jan Goldfield
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Slidell, La
Posts: 534
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I wonder what is in Calgon that makes it work. If it is a surfactant, then there are many others out there. Does anyone know?
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Jan Goldfield and Donna Morse
Slidell LA
2009 Cherokee Grey Wolf 28BH
2009 Ford 150
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08-09-2010, 04:16 PM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pondlady
I wonder what is in Calgon that makes it work. If it is a surfactant, then there are many others out there. Does anyone know?
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Looking on the bottle, it does not list the ingredients. The only thing it says is "contains no phosphate". That should narrow it down! 
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Kirk, KN1B
2013 Cardinal 3800FL
2009 GMC 3500HD CC LB SRW
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08-09-2010, 05:08 PM
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#52
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by revrnd
the active ingredients are: sodium sesquicarbonate & sodium tripolyphosphate.
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This is the powdered formulation
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08-09-2010, 05:16 PM
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#53
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 149
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Also was thinking...what about liquid fabric softeners? They must share some of the same type of ingredients as Calgon, as fabric softner can be pretty slimey..
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08-09-2010, 05:50 PM
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#55
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Jan Goldfield
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Slidell, La
Posts: 534
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Sounds like it will make the black water color saturated. Maybe it can be turned into art.
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Jan Goldfield and Donna Morse
Slidell LA
2009 Cherokee Grey Wolf 28BH
2009 Ford 150
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08-09-2010, 06:08 PM
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#56
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Willis, I am not sure about the website you listed. I know it says Calgon Water Softener, but that is not the same thing that we have in here in the USA.
Here is the ingredients for the USA version of Calgon Water Softener, along with a picture of the bottle for those looking for it:
Product Page
Ah ha, I just figured it out. There is a separate Reckitt Benckiser (apparently the makers of Calgon) site for the US, and hopefully for our Canadian friends also.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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08-09-2010, 06:34 PM
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#57
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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I clicked on the contact page & it's good for us Canadians to use as well. I sent the following email:
Quote:
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am having a difficult time finding stores that carry Calgon. I live in XXXXX. I have checked several stores in the XXXXX area and have been unable to find it.
If there was a way for your company to convince Wal-Mart Canada or the Loblaws Group to carry your product, it would make it a lot easier for consumers to purchase it.
Thank you,
Kris
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If all of you were to contact R-B w/ a similiar email, maybe some pressure will be exerted to stock the product.
The site even gives the ingredients of the powder in Canada.
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08-09-2010, 06:46 PM
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#58
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The Old Man
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 330
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I couldn't find that website for the US version. Good catch.
The ingredients listed don't seem to match any of the previously mentioned chemicals. But still, the description of what sodium hexametaphosphate mixed with sodium carbonate does to water seems to be the effect we are looking for in the black water tank.
Not sure it's worth the trouble though ...
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2010 Flagstaff 829RGSS
Still to go: AK, NL, NT, NU, YT
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08-09-2010, 07:48 PM
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#59
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 40
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I just bought it tonight at Walmart. It was in the washing machine soap area.
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08-09-2010, 08:04 PM
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#60
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 800
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buccello
I just bought it tonight at Walmart. It was in the washing machine soap area.
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What city or town? Inquiring minds want to know  .
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