At what temperature do you wash towels?

Margaret_

I'm just wondering what temperature everyone uses to wash their towels? I've always washed them at 60 but I've just read an article that suggests washing them at 40 or below. Apparently The Dorchester Hotel washes them at 30 which I am not sure about at all! I don't want to be throwing money down the drain if a lower temperature would be fine, so I'd be interested to know what everyone else does.

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Living_proof

I do them at 60 too but would be interested to hear if all the bacteria was removed at a lower temperature.

yellowbear

I wash mine at 60. Always have. Doesn't seem 'right' to wash them any lower.

wort

Laundry
Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
To prevent the spread of germs, all underwear, towels and household linen should be washed at 60C (140F) or at 40C (104F) with a bleach-based laundry product.
Run the washing machine on empty once a week, either at a high temperature or with a chemical disinfectant to prevent the growth of germs.
Don't leave laundry in the washing machine, as any remaining germs can multiply rapidly. This is from NHS site, I personally always wash towels and sheets at 60 !

Ilona

I wash everything at 30 on a 30 minute cycle. Have been doing for years, still alive, hardly ever ill. Single person household.
Ilona

[Deleted User]

My towels just go in with whatever else needs washing, when you live alone there's never enough to make a full load if you separate everything out the way you're supposed to. (My machine washes cottons at 40, and synthetics at 50. :huh:)

FairyPrincessk

I wash towels at 60. Almost everything else goes on 40, it would be 30, but I can't get a fast spin on that setting on my machine and the spin does cut down significantly on drying time.

lily117

I wash them at 40, that's the lowest temperature I can get a good spin on. Don't think I've ever used 60.

PenniesMake£s

Towels and bedding at 60 with a splash of vinegar instead of fabric conditioner. Everything gets an extra spin after cycle finished for 10 mins to cut drying time x

CathA

Always done mine on 60, along with sheets and undies. 30 degrees -yuk!

Dill

My towels go on at least a 60 degree wash. They will also stand up to a boil wash.


You can wash them on a 30 or 40, in fact biological powder works best at body temperature in terms of activating the enzymes, but I like the idea of blasting the germs out of towels and bedding by using hot water!