Frequently Asked Questions

SHIPPING POLICY

Within Australia - Shipping is charged at our cost price and calculated at checkout based on parcel weight and your postcode. Unfortunately, due to increases in freight costs, we are no longer able to offer free shipping on orders $100 or more.

International Shipping - We do not ship Sonett Internationally.

DISHWASHER

What is the cause if there are white spots or a white film on the dishes in the dishwasher?

White spots or a white coating on the dishes that can only be removed by scrubbing indicate limescale deposits. Either the salt hasn't been refilled (the salt indicator may be faulty) or the ion exchanger is set too low.

Remedy:

1. Increase the water softener setting by approximately 8° German hardness.

2. Rinse cycle with 1 liter of limescale remover (see description on the limescale remover label).

3. Refill the salt early, not just when the indicator light comes on.

What should I do if streaks appear on the dishes in the dishwasher?

If these are greasy and can be removed with dishwashing liquid (especially on cutlery), this indicates too much rinse aid.

Remedy: Gradually reduce the rinse aid dosage; the setting is usually between 2 and 3.

What causes glasses in the dishwasher to have rainbow-coloured discolourations or cloudy rings?

Then the glasses are usually not dishwasher safe. 

 

LAUNDRY

Can the Laundry liquids/Laundry powders be used in a Top or Front Loader?

Yes they can both be used in Top and Front Loaders.

 

The Laundry Powder does not dissolve. What can I do?

Fill the powder straight into the drum instead of filling it into the detergent compartment. Perhaps the water pressure is too low and therefore the powder is not completely dissolving.

 

Are there any Laundry Liquids/Powders that are suitable to use in cold water? 

The liquids are suitable for cold water, although 30 degrees and above is recommended.

Laundry Powder is recommended for use at 40 degrees and above. I have detergent residue in my laundry, what did I do wrong? How can I avoid this?

Probably residues from detergent powder or water softener: The washing machine is likely too full. The laundry can't move around enough, it's not being washed properly, and residues remain in the clothes.

Remedy: Only fill the washing machine loosely; you should still be able to move a hand's width of space above the laundry in the drum.

The detergent is not being properly dispensed from the detergent drawer. Detergent residue remains, which is then transferred to the laundry during the cold rinse cycles.

Remedy: Place the detergent in a washing ball directly into the drum with the laundry.

White stripes on dark dresses

The washing machine is probably too full, the detergent can't dissolve properly, or it was dosed incorrectly; this leads to the formation of limescale deposits. These deposits then appear as "streaks" during the spin cycle.

Remedy: Check the dosage and only fill the washing machine loosely.

Grey, greasy clumps in the laundry and/or a greasy residue in the drum.

"Grease lice", lime soap and grease

This occurs when detergent is underdosed – usually for reasons of economy. In addition, the washing machine is often overloaded, and the laundry is also more heavily soiled with greasy substances (e.g., special ointments for skin eczema, frequent oiling, etc.). Due to underdosing, insufficiently dissolved grease, precipitated limescale, and dirt combine to form greasy deposits on the laundry and in the washing drum (called "grease lice").

Remedy: To dissolve the residue, we recommend, as a first step, washing at the highest possible temperature and increasing the detergent dosage by 20% above the correct dosage for heavily soiled laundry. The drum should first be thoroughly cleaned of any buildup with dish soap or orange-based heavy-duty cleaner. Then select the dosage for heavily soiled laundry and only loosely fill the washing machine.

What do I use Wool Care for, and what do I use Olive Laundry Liquid for Wool & Silk for?

Olive oil detergent for wool and silk is a delicate detergent specifically for protein fibers that should only be washed at low temperatures and with very gentle agitation. The conditioning olive oil soap keeps the fibers supple and beautiful. 

Wool conditioner is not a detergent, but a lanolin treatment, meaning it replenishes the wool grease (lanolin) in the wool. This is only necessary for heavily worn and frequently washed wool garments, and especially for wool wrap pants that often get wet and have therefore become worn out and stiff.

Always follow the application and dosage instructions on the label.

The laundry in the closet smells unpleasant. What could be the cause?

Especially after prolonged storage in a cupboard, laundry can develop a rancid odor. This indicates detergent residue in the laundry, which can result from using too much or too little detergent.

1. Insufficient detergent dosage:

The lime soaps that form due to insufficient dosage are deposited on the laundry because of the weak washing solution and can decompose due to air and moisture.

2. Excessive detergent dosage:

Overdosing, i.e., using too much detergent in relation to the laundry and therefore the amount of water, can also lead to residues in the laundry if these are not rinsed out properly.

Remedy: Never overfill the washing machine and dose correctly according to the local water hardness.

You may want to add an extra rinse cycle. This is possible with all washing machines, as the advertised low water consumption is achieved at the expense of fewer rinse cycles.

Use Sonett laundry rinse. This helps rinse away residues, neutralises the laundry and refreshes colours (especially red and yellow tones).

Our dosage calculator will help you determine the correct dosage.

My washing machine is overflowing with foam. What should I do?

The detergent dosage is too high. This can easily happen with very soft water or a partially filled washing drum.

Remedy: The dosage can be reduced to the point where only a light foam is visible in the viewing window.

With our dosage calculator you can calculate the amount of detergent for half loads:

 

My white laundry has turned grey. What's causing this? What can I do?

The modular system means that the detergent does not contain bleach, which must be added separately. If no bleach is used, the laundry will inevitably turn gray over time. This can be remedied by using Sonett Bleach Complex. 

Remedy: Add bleach, suitable for use in the washing machine at temperatures above 50°C. Several wash cycles may be necessary until the laundry is beautifully white again. It is important to use the correct dosage of bleach, otherwise it will not be effective.

Bleaching below 50 °C is possible by soaking.

 

What do I need a Laundry Rinse for?

Laundry Rinse contains approximately 20% citric acid, which helps to dissolve and rinse away detergent residues, neutralises the laundry (from acidic to alkaline) and refreshes the colors (especially red and yellow). 

 

How do the different Sonett laundry detergents differ?

Powdered laundry detergent compared to liquid laundry detergent

  • Powdered laundry detergent is more powerful than laundry liquid.

  • Generally, all powder detergents are more powerful than liquid detergents because they contain washing-enhancing ingredients such as soda and silicates.

  • Sonett Laundry Powder concentrate contains a high proportion of organic soap. This is ecologically valuable, but it means that a water softener must be added even with medium water hardness (8-14 °dH), while with liquid detergent and liquid sensitive detergent, a water softener is only required for hard water (from 14 °dH).

  • Sonett washing powder concentrate is fragrance-free, the liquid washing detergent has a light lavender scent, and the liquid sensitive washing detergent is also fragrance-free.

 

Liquid Laundry compared to Colour Laundry detergent

  • Colour detergent from cold to 60 °C, liquid detergent and liquid sensitive detergent from cold to 95 °C.

  • Colour detergent can be used without water softener. Dosage is determined according to water hardness and degree of soiling, as indicated on the packaging.

  • Colour detergent is very gentle on laundry and colours (less fatty alcohol sulfate, more soap content – ​​but therefore also less powerful).

  • The laundry becomes very soft.

  • Citrus and mint scent in colour detergent, lavender in liquid detergent, no scent in sensitive liquid detergent.

 

Wash in cold water! How does lukewarm water get laundry clean?

The following factors influence the cleanliness of our laundry:

  • Washing temperature

  • Washing time

  • Washing mechanism

  • Detergent

At temperatures as low as 20° or 30°C, the effectiveness of the detergent logically needs to be increased. In conventional laundry products, genetic engineering offers a solution here, with enzymes now almost 100% derived from genetically modified microorganisms. However, even after washing, these enzymes remain active in the laundry. In warm, moist environments, they may detrimentally affect the skin, making it more permeable and contributing significantly to detergent allergies.

Can bacteria survive a 40°C wash?

As early as 2005, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment pointed out that at temperatures below 60°C, germs are partially rinsed out of laundry but not killed. Washing machines are suspected of acting as germ spreaders in the transmission of multi-resistant germs, intestinal infections, skin diseases, and fungal infections.

What washing habits make sense – without genetic engineering and without chlorine chemicals?

Lightly soiled outerwear can easily be washed at 20°, 30° or 40°C using Sonett Colour detergent.

Textiles that are naturally more prone to bacterial growth, such as underwear, kitchen linens, and towels, should be washed at 60°C. Sonett powder or liquid detergents are particularly suitable for this purpose; both can be combined with bleach.

Do not leave washed laundry sitting in the machine. After washing, leave the drum door and detergent drawer open.

 

LAUNDRY - BLEACH, STAINS, TIPS & TRICKS, MODULAR SYSTEM

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Has your liquid laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner turned solid and white?

At low temperatures, these products can become white and solid, but they dissolve very quickly and become clear and liquid when warmed up.

How should Sonett products be stored?

The storage temperature should not fall below 0 °C and should not exceed 25 °C. Brief fluctuations above or below these temperatures during transport will not damage the products. 

 

My child swallowed a Sonett product. What should I do?

  • For all foaming products : Do not induce vomiting! Reason: The foam could enter the windpipe. You can give small sips of water. The products are broken down in the body, but diarrhea may occur.

  • If more than a small sip was consumed : Call the relevant national poison control center.

  • There are medications that can break down the foam that forms, suitable for small children, e.g. Sab Simplex drops.

  • For non-foaming, irritating, alkaline products such as bleach, dishwasher detergent, and tablets: Again, do not induce vomiting to prevent the irritating substance from passing through the mouth and esophagus a second time. Drink plenty of water. Consult a doctor and have the packaging/label available.

 

Do Sonett products have a best-before date?

  • All Sonett products have a shelf life of more than 36 months.

  • Washing and cleaning products therefore do not need a best-before date.

  • All Sonett products have a batch date. For most products, the manufacturing date can be determined from this number: e.g., manufactured on April 15, 2016, first batch = 16041501.

  • Personal care products – such as our liquid hand soaps and Sonett castile soap – are subject to cosmetic regulations and, in addition to the batch number, also bear a best-before date. The shelf life is 3 years.

  • However, our products can usually be used beyond these periods.

Plenty of helpful information is to be found on our blog.