Scale Down the Price (Tesco Limescale Prevention Tablets)

Member Name: luckyarchers

Product:	Tesco Limescale Prevention Tablets
Date:	16/06/09 (526 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I believe it prevents limescale as well as Calgon, but costs a lot less.

Disadvantages: None.

*** Advantages of Using Any Limescale Protection ***

Preventing limescale has the following advantages for washing machines.

You will need to use less detergent.

The heating element will be more efficient, so will use less electricity, and be less likely to break down.

Helps delay rubber pipes deteriorating.

Encrusted limescale can break off and stain clothes worse than before you tried to clean them. My experience is that this may be impossible to get off without harming the fabric.


*** Manufacturer's Claims ***

Calgon is the big brand that I most associate with limescale prevention.

Calgon say that their brand is, "Up to 3 X Better Than the Rest." I think the important words here are "up to". I have no reason to believe that it is any better than the Tesco own brand product.

Both manufacturers say that it contains 15-30% polycarboxylates, it is suitable for cool (30 degrees) to hot (95 degrees) washes, place one tablet in main wash dispenser drawer, use amount of detergent recommended for soft water, produced in EU, keep away from children, keep away from eyes and do not ingest.

So is there any difference in benefits?


*** My Experience ***

To explain why I recommend Tesco Limescale Tablets, I need to tell you of my washing machine history.

I have had my own home (and washing machine) for many years now, and have always lived in the same hard water part of Essex.

I have had various brands of washing machines during that time. When I have needed a new one, I have bought the cheapest one that does an 8 lb wash, has a fast spin speed and it available immediately. The brands have been Hoover, Electra (which was our local electricity board's own brand), Servis and Indesit.

The first washing machine started giving me trouble just after the year's guarantee was up, leaving more stains on my clothes than before the wash. With hindsight, this was caused by the build-up of lime scale. I had not used a water softener during that time.

With my second new machine I used Calgon, it was expensive but not as expensive as replacing my machine annually. Without spending extra money on insurance or maintenance, this started to have mechanical problems after 6 years. I didn't think it was worthwhile repairing a machine of this age, so I got a new one.

The third and fourth machines also served me well for about 6 years.

After that I discovered, and started using, Tesco's Limescale PreventionTablets, which are considerably cheaper than Calgon. I have had 2 more washing machines since then, also lasting approximately six years.

The last machine never had any operating faults, but after the usual 6 years I still had a problem. It was called my husband. The plastic door handle snapped off when he helped with the washing. He said it wasn't him being heavy handed, and if that plastic had become fragile over time, he had better buy a new machine, because the other plastic parts would probably wear out soon as well.


*** Conclusion ***

My conclusion is that it is important for me to use limescale prevention tablets when using my washing machine in my hard water area.

As I have had the same results with using Tesco's Limescale Prevention Tablets as with Calgon, I prefer to buy the cheaper of the two versions.

I have always used one tablet per wash. I prefer the convenience of using the pre-measured amount in the separately sealed tablets, as that way, even if I am clumsy, I don't make a mess. (Tesco and Calgon also sell their own brand powder, which works slightly cheaper per wash than the corresponding brand's tablet.)

15 Calgon Tablets currently cost £4.22 in both Tesco and Asda.
40 Tesco Limescale Prevention Tablets cost £3.41.

I will continue using Tesco Limescale Prevention Tablets.

Summary: Great value for money limescale prevention.