Cold wash, washing powder?

waqasahmed

Hey

So I'm buying a house and I'm thinking of buying this washing machine 

https://ao.com/product/nm111065wcaukn-hotpoint-washing-machine-white-93381-1.aspx

It has a 20C option, which apparently works very well at removing stains, and uses 66% less energy than 40c

I'm not sure if there are any decent washing powders that also work at 20c? I can't imagine the bio washing powder would work given the low temperature too? I normally use non bio FWIW. Washing powder does tend to be cheaper than the alternative detergents, hence asking the question. I'm also buying in a soft water area if that means anything 

I'm also thinking of buying this one instead of a 1400rpm option despite potential further savings there as I'm also buying a tumble dryer and the drier the clothes straight out of the washing machine , the less energy I need to dry the clothes in the tumble dryer 

Grumpysally

In my experience powders do not dissolve properly at 20degrees. Biological laundry detergent is designed to work at 40degrees or less. 

If you have the space to hang clothes to dry, you would save more energy not using a tumble dryer. I'm trying very hard not to use mine.

The faster the spin the more creased your clothes are likely to be. Also I've found that if the load is too heavy or unbalanced in some way the machine automatically choses a slower spin. 

Hope this helps

waqasahmed

Grumpysally said:

In my experience powders do not dissolve properly at 20degrees. Biological laundry detergent is designed to work at 40degrees or less. 

If you have the space to hang clothes to dry, you would save more energy not using a tumble dryer. I'm trying very hard not to use mine.

The faster the spin the more creased your clothes are likely to be. Also I've found that if the load is too heavy or unbalanced in some way the machine automatically choses a slower spin. 

Hope this helps

Thanks. FWIW, I wouldn't want to use my dryer in the summer, but during winter, it'd be nice to use it. Do powders that "work at low temperatures" not work?

I've seen this:
On Method F+C Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent: Review (2010) - Earth Notes

It's a bit of a terrible website, but it does say that the Formil works well with that too

On Method F+C Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent: Review (2010) - Earth Notes

Though they do appear to be talking about the liquid detergents vs powder

Here's one that they've linked on their site:
browse method laundry detergents | method uk (methodproducts.co.uk)

wondercollie

Here in Canada, we aren't obsessed with water temperature for our washing machines.   It seems to be a British thing.

Most of us use cold water and short cycles and whatever detergent is on sale.   Powders are few and far between.  Most use liquids.

The only problems I've encountered are with Persil pods.   They don't always dissolve fully and you get a scummy, gooey mess on one or two items in a load and that's been in HOT water (work whites).

Emmia

I'd use a liquid rather than a powder which won't need to dissolve - and you can still use a smaller amount to save the pennies.

comeandgo

wondercollie a cold cycle said:

Here in Canada, we aren't obsessed with water temperature for our washing machines.   It seems to be a British thing.

Most of us use cold water and short cycles and whatever detergent is on sale.   Powders are few and far between.  Most use liquids.

The only problems I've encountered are with Persil pods.   They don't always dissolve fully and you get a scummy, gooey mess on one or two items in a load and that's been in HOT water (work whites).

When we were in New Zealand we found the same.  Many machines just washed on a cold cycle.  I could never get used to it.

YoungBlueEyes

Interesting.... Is there evidence that heat is truly unnecessary, and it's the chemicals that do the work?
Or is it more of a cultural difference?  

PipneyJane

I use cold water for most of my washes.  (My machine has that option.)    FWIW, we use Fairy Non-bio, which I buy when it's on offer, and only ever use one scoop.  The one I use holds about 50g - I measured it - which is 10g less than the recommended dose and we rarely fill it, even when washing a full load. 

The only time I've had a real problem is when I've used C0stc0's "Kirk£and" brand of washing powder.  It wouldn't dissolve at 40c, let alone in cold water, so I gave it away.

Also, if you do find yourself having issues with powdery streaks on dark clothes, you can always dissolve the powder in hot water, and pour it into the washing machine drawer at the start of a wash.  I seem to recall that being recommended for some washing powders, when I was growing up in Australia.

I dislike using liquids on principle.  Why pay for added water?  For the same amount of space and weight, you get an awful lot more powder, which can be used for several more washes than the equivalent volume of liquid.  Powder has a lower carbon footprint, comes in a cardboard box, and keeps for years. 

And, yes, I have had liquid laundry detergent "go bad" on me, but not powdered. It keeps for years. There is a tub of Value biological powder - decanted from a box - under my sink, which I bought in 2012.  I wrote the date on it.  I used it yesterday to soak and wash some towels that were particularly mucky.  It did a good job.  (The only reason I haven't used it up is that my DH suffers from eczema, so I try to avoid anything that might trigger it.)  

- Pip

waqasahmed

PipneyJane said:

I use cold water for most of my washes.  (My machine has that option.)    FWIW, we use Fairy Non-bio, which I buy when it's on offer, and only ever use one scoop.  The one I use holds about 50g - I measured it - which is 10g less than the recommended dose and we rarely fill it, even when washing a full load. 

The only time I've had a real problem is when I've used C0stc0's "Kirk£and" brand of washing powder.  It wouldn't dissolve at 40c, let alone in cold water, so I gave it away.

Also, if you do find yourself having issues with powdery streaks on dark clothes, you can always dissolve the powder in hot water, and pour it into the washing machine drawer at the start of a wash.  I seem to recall that being recommended for some washing powders, when I was growing up in Australia.

I dislike using liquids on principle.  Why pay for added water?  For the same amount of space and weight, you get an awful lot more powder, which can be used for several more washes than the equivalent volume of liquid.  Powder has a lower carbon footprint, comes in a cardboard box, and keeps for years. 

And, yes, I have had liquid laundry detergent "go bad" on me, but not powdered. It keeps for years. There is a tub of Value biological powder - decanted from a box - under my sink, which I bought in 2012.  I wrote the date on it.  I used it yesterday to soak and wash some towels that were particularly mucky.  It did a good job.  (The only reason I haven't used it up is that my DH suffers from eczema, so I try to avoid anything that might trigger it.)  

- Pip

I've personally grown up with my mum using washing powder, and tbh it does seem like both the greener AND cheaper option. There are those laundry strips which appear to basically be expensive washing powder in strip form.. The other alternatives are great if you live in a small place I guess. The smallest powders are quite pricey for what they are 

The liquids often cost a bit more but I guess if they save on the leccy, it might be worth doing then

skogar

The ony thing I would say with using liquids at low temperatures is that you can get residue building up in the washing machine. If you do an occasional hot wash without detergent it is supposed to clear it. We went back to using powder for this reason after having issues and do do an occasional hot wash (with powder) with sheets or similar perhaps once a month or so. Not had any issue since. We are in a very hard water area - not sure if this makes the problem more likely or not.

waqasahmed

skogar said:

The ony thing I would say with using liquids at low temperatures is that you can get residue building up in the washing machine. If you do an occasional hot wash without detergent it is supposed to clear it. We went back to using powder for this reason after having issues and do do an occasional hot wash (with powder) with sheets or similar perhaps once a month or so. Not had any issue since. We are in a very hard water area - not sure if this makes the problem more likely or not.

Apparently you should put it on 90C once a month just "as is"? Though I'd personally at least want to put washing clothes in there