Washing Underwear

Anoneemoose

Good afternoon!

I’ve recently changed my method of doing laundry. In that I now wash it person by person, with the exception of towels, whites and bedding. It’s made a HUGE difference for me.

The only thing is, I used to put underwear in altogether on a 60 degree wash. Now I put one person’s in at a time, there’s a mix of clothes and underwear but I don’t like to put them on at 60. Is it ok to wash underwear at 40? Bearing in mind said underwear is not soiled or anything..just normal use for adults and older kids.

Thank you.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

I always wash my white Y fronts with bio powder at 90. Socks at 60. 40 or thirty does not kill the bacteria on my soiled socks!

I have enough underwear for a fortnightly wash.

PipneyJane

I wash virtually everything in cold water, including underwear, and have never had any issues.

It's a fallacy that soapy hot water will kill bugs. It will kill some, but unless you raise the temperature to 122C and steam at 15PSI for 15 minutes, not everything will die. (Those are the parameters for a hospital standard steam-pressure steriliser, aka an autoclave.)

- Pip

Anoneemoose

PipneyJane wrote: »

I wash virtually everything in cold water, including underwear, and have never had any issues.

It's a fallacy that soapy hot water will kill bugs. It will kill some, but unless you raise the temperature to 122C and steam at 15PSI for 15 minutes, not everything will die. (Those are the parameters for a hospital standard steam-pressure steriliser, aka an autoclave.)

- Pip

Thank you. I’ve just put a load in at 40 (daren’t go lower yet :rotfl:). I used to tumble dry it but I’m finding it easier just to hang it up now.

maman

A lot will depend on the fabric the underwear is made from. A mixed wash on a low temperature will be fine for almost anything but a hot wash for delicates isn't a good idea at all.

I wash DH's white cotton in with the towels and bedding. I wouldn't dream of putting my bras in with that.

I'd be interested to know how you've arrived at the per person method. What about different colours and fabrics? How does it work?

Linda32

I wash everything at 40. Or 90 for oily overalls.

Anoneemoose

maman wrote: »

A lot will depend on the fabric the underwear is made from. A mixed wash on a low temperature will be fine for almost anything but a hot wash for delicates isn't a good idea at all.

I wash DH's white cotton in with the towels and bedding. I wouldn't dream of putting my bras in with that.

I'd be interested to know how you've arrived at the per person method. What about different colours and fabrics? How does it work?

I use a colour catcher (Dr Beckmann do a reusable one that I use as a cleaning cloth after it’s finished its colour catching life). As I say, any whites are done separately but also with the colour catcher for those items that are mixed white with another colour.

Someone suggested the method on a FB group and it’s made things so much easier for me. No more sorting big piles. I have a small basket on the landing that gets decanted into the Ikea Sortera stackable boxes in the utility (one per person and one for whites - towels and bedding go straight in). Then roughly once a week I do each person’s load. Usually on separate days unless it’s really hot and I can get more than one load dry!

I also find it easier to iron as I just do the things that need it and it takes roughly 10 mins each load.

As for undies..bras I hand wash when new and then do on their own in a wash bag when they’re a bit older. Pants aren’t delicate anymore :rotfl:. Usually cotton or M&S modal ones!

kazwookie

I just open the door of the machine, shuve in the whites first load, then coloured stuff 2nd load, all at 40, one scoop of power, dry on line, unless chucking it down with rain, then tumbler, or wait till rain stops.

maman

Anoneemoose wrote: »

I use a colour catcher (Dr Beckmann do a reusable one that I use as a cleaning cloth after it’s finished its cycle). As I say, any whites are done separately, also with the colour catcher for those items that are mixed white with another colour.

Someone suggested the method on a FB group and it’s made things so much easier for me. No more sorting big piles. I have a small basket on the landing that gets decanted into the Ikea Sortera stackable boxes (one per person and one for whites, towels and bedding go straight in). Then roughly once a week I do each person’s load. Usually on separate days unless it’s really hot and I can get more than one done!

I also find it easier to iron as I just do the things that need it and it takes roughly 10 mins each load.

As for undies..bras I hand wash when new and then do on their own in a wash bag when they’re a bit older. Pants aren’t delicate anymore :rotfl:. Usually cotton or M&S modal ones!

That's interesting. A friend brought colour catchers to use in her holiday apartment as she knew she wouldn't have a full load of any one colour. Glad to know it works.

oystercatcher

I wash most things together on 40 deg , jeans and similar and 'special whites' (as in stuff I don't want to go a bit grey! ) are done separately. Underwear, T shirts sox etc all in together . Sometimes I chuck in a small amount of Napisan to kill off bugs or help with stains.I believe it cleans the machine too.

Bedding and towels are washed separately on 60 deg.

I would only do a 90 degree wash on nappies or similarly yucky laundry.

-taff

I do everything at 40 except heavily soiled whites or towels which go in at 50 or 60 depending. On a quick wash and high spin.