Update: another set of improvements to the bleach calculator

Hot on the heels of our last update we’re dropping another set of improvements to the bleach calculator. 

Some of these changes are small, and you may not notice them if you only use the calculator occasionally. However, the layout improvements should mean that our most popular tool on the website is even easier to understand and more intuitive to use now than before.

A better layout

The calculator now displays more input fields when you open it. This lets you know at first glance all the information you need to enter to generate your custom set of sanitise instructions. 

A change to the bleach-to-water ratio

We’ve adjusted the bleach-to-water ratio for front loaders. Instead of a flat 2:1 ratio, the calculator now adjusts for stronger bleach concentrations. 

Members in North America often use 7.5% bleach and some of our Australian members can buy pool chlorine in higher concentrations than we previously factored in. The water ratio now dilutes the bleach mixture to around 2.5%.

The most common bleach concentration in Australia is 4.2%. If you use this concentration for a front loader sanitise, you’ll notice a slight difference in the recommended amount of water to dilute with. If you want to keep using the previously recommended amount, there won’t be any issues either. 😊

Showing the suggested front loader cycle before you enter your water consumption

The calculator asks front loader users for their machine’s estimated water consumption. It now shows the suggested cycle length before asking if you know the water consumption. This gives you a better indication of what to look for in your machine manual and helps the dilution be more precise. 

Keep in mind that water consumption varies between different cycles. First washes usually use less water than a full-length Cottons cycle. We want to mitigate any risk to you, so the estimated water consumption is calibrated lower for first wash cycle options.

For this reason, if the machine manual does not list the specific cycle’s water use, use the machine’s WELS rating when running a full sanitise cycle and our estimated water consumption if you are using bleach in your first wash.

Now live ✨

We hope these changes make your life and laundry a little easier. Let us know what you think about them!

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