On 2004-03-01 00:44:58 -0600, "Murgi" <srindler@da2.so-net.ne.jp> said:

> I am still looking for a lime scale remover to clean my washing machine. The
> Foreign Buyer's Club offered me something, but this was something to get
> stains off a bathtub or bathroom tiles (12 bottles for 7000+ yen)...
> In Japanese drug stores or home centers I could get these useless tablets to
> dissolve 90% of lime scales in hot water heaters.
> I can't be the only person who has this problem. Or do you guys buy a new
> washing machine every year???
> Is there a place where such things can be asked? The Japan Times used to
> have a column by Jean Pierce who was dedicated to find those odd things.
> She has gone by now. Is anybody else doing it?
> 
> Sigi

Here are some cheap ideas and some descaling products that maybe you 
could find there. One page says that washing with cold water reduces 
scale buildup.

http://www.homedoctor.net/tipsfaq/8.3.html

http://www.virtuowl.com/household2.htm

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jjewilson/wmr/know.html

http://www.oxyboost.com/products/mineral_magic.html

http://www.simplegreen.com/products/consumer/household2info.html

http://www.dishwashermagic.com/washermagic/faq.html


Ace