Cold Washing your Laundry

hollydays

thought i had read that dustmites are only killed off at 60 degrees,so usually wash bedding on this one.

piglet6

Yep, since reading the OS board, I wash clothes at a cooler temperature and haven't noticed any difference (i.e. dodgy smells/stains not coming out) since I started this.

The only exceptions to the rule are bedding (like hollydays, I worry about any "bugs" which might be lurking) and sometimes Mr Piglet's undies (pants and socks) which I might put on a 50/60 degree wash, depending on circumstance;).

Everything seems to be OK so far...:p

Piglet

pom_2

Our machine won't allow us to do this - it will heat the water itself if the water it receives is cold. I wash everything at 40, but occasionally give the nappies a quick blast at 60

ManAtHome

I've been using cool for many years, and even worse I have a TWIN TUB machine (phew, had to finally admit it...). Must admit I also subscribe to the theory that low-level exposure to bugs tends to make you immune - working so far anyway..

mossstar

I wash EVERYTHING in cold water - whites and bedding included!

We're all still standing and very healthy!

:rotfl:

AussieLass

I've always washed in cold water. It's the done thing over here. The only time I might wash in warm water is with greasy work clothes but usually not as I would soak them first in hot water & washing soda. The sun works wonders with whites here.

DeniseNZ

Wash in cold water, too. Only thing I don't is tea towels and dish cloths, and then it's only in warm.

I think things wash just as well and it saves oodles of money

Eels100

Many machines have an 'Economy' button on the front - push this and your washing machine doesn't heat the water at all!

tru

I bought my washer from B Grade Domestics - there's a couple of them in Gloucester, I don't know if they're a chain They sell appliances that have been slighty damaged, mine has a scratch but it's on the side so you can't see it I was looking for a machine with a cold wash but they didn't have any in at the time so I bought one with the coolest wash - 20 degrees. I don't think the economy button on mine uses cold water, just less water but I'll check that today - thanks Eels :T

Most things are washed at 20 degrees on a quick wash, 30 mins.

trigger2

The last time I was in Tesco I noticed a small box of their own brand Cold Water Washing Powder. It was in the section with handwashes & stain removers, although its not on the website. Has anybody tried it & is it any good, or just for the gullible ?