ok am trying to limit my electicity useage (due to high bills) have stopped washing on 60 degrees long wash,

[SparklyGothKat]

Am now doing 40 degree shorter wash, but this still takes an hour, if I use the 30 degree half hour wash will my clothes wash ok?

[GrapefruitMoon]

I would only do it for adults clothes or kids clothes that were stain free. I think the 30 degree cycle on my machine does a slower spin so you might want to check that - would take longer to dry if wetter coming out.

[needmorecoffee]

probably lightly soiled will be ok on 30. Or dark colours. I always use 40 for everything but then stinky teenage boys have filthy uniforms by the end of the week.

[CaptainFabioHiltsTheCoolerCat]

I would give it a go with something not v dirty and work my way up from there.

But I think your clothes would be ok - one thing to know is that some capsules of detergent don't melt at 30 and some tablets don't disintegrate, but it's ok if you use liquid or powder.

I wash nearly everything on my short cool wash - but then I use a lot of vanish etc and I never fill the drum...

[Divvy]

You are only going to save 2p per wash!

[marmadukescarlet]

I only use 60 for bedding, towels and DHs rancid gym kit.

If washing at 30 you need to make sure that you use a powder/tablet/liquid that will be effective at that temperature.

[SparklyGothKat]

I have to still use the 60 degree wash on Callum's nappies, but I am trying so hard now, and want my bills to come down. Fish tank has gone (shocking how much electicity they use) everything gets switched off at the switch.
Could i do a 30 degree wash and then spin them out, or would that use just as much electicity as the 40 degree??

[CaptainFabioHiltsTheCoolerCat]

I don't do an extra spin - I just hang on hangers or bung in tumble dryer.

[SparklyGothKat]

have been putting the washing out on the line, but its really cold today so will have to use the tumble dryer gah!!

[grouchyoscar]

A scoop of washing soda 60p a kilo) into the wash gets things cleaner and you use less powder (1 tab and 1 scoop)

I wash at 30 and don't seem to have a problem

I'd also suggest you invest in a clothes horse/airer, let most of the drying happen on that and just use the dryer for the lat 20 mins.

It does work. We've whittled the 3 figure debit to the energy bods down too a 2 fig credit

[DaisySteiner]

If you're using biological detergent then it should still work well at 30C.

I only use half the recommended amount of detergent and wash at 30C and everything comes out fine, although I sometimes spot treat really bad stains with Vanish or similar.

[JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump]

But you'll still need to do the odd wash at 60 or higher, or your machine might start to smell a bit.

[Anna8888]

You can soak dirty clothes in a bucket of water and some detergent overnight before washing at a lower temperature.

[PsychoAxeMurdererMum]

I do the 40 degree wash. I tried the 30, but I found that it did not seem as tho the detergent had washed out properly......clothes felt as tho they had a slight 'film' on them.

there was no difference in the spin I have to say. nor the time it took either, altho the 60 wash takes almost 2hrs whereas the 40 and 30 both take an hour.

as an aside, does a fishtank really use up tht much electric?? our electric bill is huge and DH keeps saying it is the girls straighteners.........would be MOST gratifying if it turns out to be his fish!

[CarGirl]

You don't need to wash nappies at 60. My dds had stinky amonia nappies but a cold rinse followed by a 40 degree wash was fine, occasionally I would do them at 60 but certainly not every wash. It is probably more economical and gets them cleaner & lasting longer if you cold soak them and then wash at 40.

I also stopped ironing, saved loads of electricty that way.

[Divvy]

..plus you will all be complaining of smelly washing machines in a few months time! its really not worth it!

[CarGirl]

Psycho thinking about it a fish tank that is permanently heated, lit up and has a pump would eat electricity - like having your immersion on all day!