Washing clothes at 40C

[broadway]

Mainly wash at 30 including work polo shirts, a quick sniff and I can confirm no cheesey wet dog smell.

 

[Kestevan]

I'd say 90% of our stuff gets washed at 40, bedding is probably the only thing to get the 60 treatment.
But then we have to use Persil Non-bio as that's the only stuff that doesn't trigger Mrs Kes' eczema... and that includes the new persil non-bio small and mighty, which appears to be a new formula. As it's almost impossible to find the old non-bio in supermarkets we have resorted to buying commercial Persil in lots of 20 litres (which actually saves us a fortune).

 

[tyred]

Plebs. Just buy new clothes...

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It could also be the fact that the washing machine needs a wash, especially if you close the door after washing everything and don't open it again until the next wash. The smell could be coming from it, not the clothes and simply being transferred to the clothes on the cold wash.

We wash most things on a 30 or 40 degree wash, except for my bedding because of my asthma. I need to stick with Persil Non-Bio washing powder or gel, and the bedding needs to have a really hot wash to kill off all the dust mites that could be living in it.

Every now and again our washing machine goes through on a 90 degree wash with nothing in it, simply to wash the washing machine clean and kill anything that is living in it.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Glad to know that no more nasty pongs will be heading this way from the SW, I was glad when the farmers were spreading slurry to kill the smell....

 

[ianrauk]

Every now and again our washing machine goes through on a 90 degree wash with nothing in it, simply to wash the washing machine clean and kill anything that is living in it.

We do this at least once a month as per the manufacturers instructions.

 

[Flying Dodo]

What annoys me is the fact that modern washing machines are all cold fill, so you end up with the machine expensively heating up the cold water. Being able to use the hot water feed from the gas boiler would be more economical, especially if you're doing a really hot wash at 60°.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Our default wash is 40 but I'm contemplating moving to 30. Even when we used cloth nappies it was a 40 degree wash for them with the very occasional 60. No smells.
We use Ecover or Faith in Nature or (new favourite because of ethical credentials) http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/c-991-lavender-breeze-laundry-liquid.aspx?firstproductid=13477 (cheaper if bought in bulk, they do a large bottle to refill @ home)

 

[SavageHoutkop]

PS - I keep our used cleaning cloths aside in a wetbag and shove them in on the 90 wash - I know it's not strictly empty but it's close enough.

 

[seraphina]

It's mostly the perfumes that people react to. In many EU markets non-bio is non existent and they don't seem to have masses more skin issues. I don't like my Bosch machine - it's so miserly with water to the point of not actually getting clothes clean. My cheapo Not point was much better.

Everything here gets washed at at least 40 in bio detergent with a slug of soda crystals. We use cloth nappies and wipes so they are done at 60 with occasional 90 maintenance washes.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Nappy digression - Seraphina which ones are you using? Most now recommend only 40 deg washes tops esp if there is a waterproof layer.

 

[Globalti]

What annoys me is the fact that modern washing machines are all cold fill, so you end up with the machine expensively heating up the cold water. Being able to use the hot water feed from the gas boiler would be more economical, especially if you're doing a really hot wash at 60°.

I suppose the reason for this trend is that it's cheaper to manufacture a machine with just one inlet and a heater than to manufacture with two inlets and some kind of temperature and flow regulator on the inlets.

We recently bought a hot fill dishwasher, they are rare but can be found so I'm sure somebody still makes a hot fill clothes washer.

 

[broadway]

I suppose the reason for this trend is that it's cheaper to manufacture a machine with just one inlet and a heater than to manufacture with two inlets and some kind of temperature and flow regulator on the inlets.

We recently bought a hot fill dishwasher, they are rare but can be found so I'm sure somebody still makes a hot fill clothes washer.

When we had the kitchen done I was told that dishwashers were cold fill as they take in very water for a wash. That meant in a typical house with an upstairs hot water cylinder very little hot water would actually get into the machine meaning that the water still had to be heated.

The same applies to washing machines apart from hot washes where only the hot fill is used. Additionally when using biological washing powder it is supposed to be better to start off cold to ensure the enzymes to work.

 

[Davidc]

I use the Persil non-bio as it gives the least irritation problems. Seems to work OK at 40 for most stuff.

Fabric conditioners are out with my skin, not sure what they're supposed to achieve anyway and they stink..

Ecover products are a disaster, especially their washing up liquid which makes my skin go bright red and burn, once with a visit to A&E.

I agree with the regime some others are following. 40 degrees most of the time, 60 for towels, bedding and cotton handkerchiefs, and a 90 degree wash once a month or so to sterilise the machine. I'm another who uses this for cleaning cloths (not the oily bike ones though) and also the ubiquitous yellow dusters. It's still 90 degrees so will kill all the bugs just as well.

 

[seraphina]

@SavageHoutkop - we use TotsBots Bamboozle and Charlie Banana pockets, with a variety of wraps for the Bamboozles. The TotsBots should be fine at 60, but I think the Charlie Bananas are technically wash at 40 because of the waterproof layer. It hasn't done them too much harm as they are currently on their third year and second baby One of our better baby investments!