Poll: Laundry - scientific data required

[Minstadave]

30 degrees and bung in some washing disinfectant.

 

[pinkpound]

I tend to wash most items at 20c , Jeans cold wash with no softener as it damages the stretch (wifes) . Towels @ 40c with powder helps clean then tumble dry no softener same with bedding

 

[bigmike20vt]

towels 60 everything else 30. we all have very sensitive skin (delicate souls that we are) so can only use none bio and nowt much else.

since doing 1 X weekly 60 degree towel wash it has kept the washer much cleaner. we no longer battle black mould on the rubber near the door.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

towels 60 everything else 30. we all have very sensitive skin (delicate souls that we are) so can only use none bio and nowt much else.

since doing 1 X weekly 60 degree towel wash it has kept the washer much cleaner. we no longer battle black mould on the rubber near the door.

Our daughter is starting to show signs of allergy, which is why we're discussing what temperature the towels should be washed at.

General question to all: if you're washing at a lower temperature than 60 and relying on a product to kill the germs, then what product is it?

It is recommended to wash towels and bed linen at 60° to kill bacteria, but another method if you want to use a cooler wash is use white vinegar.

You can put it in the fabric softener compartment ,or directly in the drum (don't use fabric softener in either case) and that will help sanitize the towels on a cooler wash.

Wouldn't the vinegar stink?

 

[Chris Wilson]

On washing day I tell her to keep washing until her hands are raw. Water as hot as a human can bear. Reminding her not to do a granny with the mangle...

 

[Blackjack Davy]

60c minimum to kill bacteria lower temps will get clothes clean but nothing more. Not sure if thats related to allergies though

 

[pinkpound]

60c minimum to kill bacteria lower temps will get clothes clean but nothing more. Not sure if thats related to allergies though

We all have allergies why I got a heat pump dryer as putting clothes on the line spring/summer is a no no

@ Dick Digglar the vinegar smells goes with in an hour or so , its also great from removing the smell of weed which my eldest used to smoke and it stunk on his clothes

 

[Freakbro]

Wouldn't the vinegar stink?

Not at all with white vinegar, in fact it is a deodoriser too. Obviously don't use brown/malt or balsamic!

I've used it for years on my towels (passed down tips from mum ) and it keeps the towels soft as well.

White vinegar is a ubiquitous cleaner, mix with a bit of lemon juice and it makes a great surface cleaner too.

https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/blog/how-to/the-ultimate-guide-to-washing-your-towels/#:~:text=Towels%20that%20still%20smell%20unpleasant,dry%20immediately%20after%20washing%20them.

Towels that still smell unpleasant after washing may contain stubborn bacteria that need removing. Rewash your towel using a cup of white vinegar instead of detergent. This should kill the bacteria and neutralise any odours

I usually use a washing tab, vinegar in the drum and no fabric softener (as for towels ironically this can make them stiff)

 

[Freefaller]

60c but I also iron them as that's a very effective way of killing bacteria.

 

[builder22]

white vinegar smells too, my parents flush it through the washing machine every so often and it smells like a chippy

 

[Freakbro]

white vinegar smells too, my parents flush it through the washing machine every so often and it smells like a chippy

Yea, it's great for descaling too and so much cheaper than products

 

[NVP]

I do my towels and linen at 90, everything else I just let the washing machine decide lol

 

[Murphy]

1200°C super heated steam from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

 

[Semple]

I think it was @bigmike20vt who tested the eco setting on the dishwasher (low temp for a few hrs) to the fast wash (high temp 1 hr) and confirmed the eco setting used less energy, even though it was a long cycle

I measured the same on our washing machine. Normal cycle vs eco cycle and eco is definitely cheaper despite being on much longer. It's not like double the price, so if you're in a rush I wouldn't hesitate to use a quick cycle. But if you did a year of eco vs quick you'd probably save quite a bit.

 

[pastymuncher]

I always set the washing machine to Eco mode (only 0.256 kw/h per load even though it takes 2 hours 32 mins) and leave everything on Auto so it washes at 30 degrees and spins at 1400rpm.

 

[DanTheMan]

I put ours on the cotton wash, which is 60c apparently.

 

[Hagar]

I will have to ask the maid.

 

[Chris Wilson]

I will have to ask the maid.

Whilst giving her a dickie back ride around the bed chamber...

 

[A2Z]

40 for clothes, 60 for towels and bedding.

I ALWAYS select fast wash though so it's always done within 1hr. I really don't see the need/point/benefit for clothes to be spinning for 2 hours instead of 1, as if it will make any difference apart from costing more time and money.

 

[drakulton]

Our daughter is starting to show signs of allergy, which is why we're discussing what temperature the towels should be washed at.

General question to all: if you're washing at a lower temperature than 60 and relying on a product to kill the germs, then what product is it?



Wouldn't the vinegar stink?

Aren't allergies caused by a bored immune system that's not been exposed to enough germs and dirt?