Q. Alcojet is not dispensing/dissolving in my lab washer. Do you know why this would happen?
A. When this happens to clients, the most common cause is putting Alcojet® Low Foaming Powdered Detergent into an already wet dispenser cup. The caking effect is made worse if the Alcojet powder does not immediately dispense before running the washer. This causes the wet Alcojet powder to sit in the wet detergent dispenser cup, cake up solidly, and form a “cement” pack. When the wash cycle finally pops the dispenser door, the detergent will not dissolve.
To fix this, scrape and wash out caked detergent (existing “cake” catalyzes making new cement, so it helps to be thorough with this), and then dry the cup off and keep the dispenser door closed when loading the washer. This will ensure that the cup stays dry during loading. Before you want to run the washer, open the cup, pour in Alcojet powder, close the cup door and immediately start the washer. This will typically solve the problem
In very unusual cases, the washer may actually be malfunctioning and opening the cup at the wrong time. At the start of the wash cycle (usually the 2nd cycle after the prewash), you can usually hear the door pop open. If it is opening at some other time, then possibly the washer needs maintenance or any programmed cleaning cycle may need to be reviewed and fixed.
You can review our lab washer guide anytime for further recommendations and guidance on lab washer use.
To request an Alconox Inc. detergent for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox, Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s Safety Data Sheets.
Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox Inc.? Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.
Contact us any time: cleaning@alconox.com
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