To think towels need a hot wash?

[FirstOfHerName]

Recently I was staying with my parents on holiday and I noticed that my mum washes everything (including towels and bedding) on a cold half-hour wash. I told her that towels probably need a warm wash at the least and she got annoyed with me, saying that she used a special washing detergent formulated to work in cold water. They're her towels so I left it at that and said no more.

However, whenever she's stayed with me, she's told me it's grim that I wash towels and bathmats together. Well it would be if I did them on a cold wash, but I wash them (and bedding) at 90 and then tumble dry after, so don't see the problem with it. Any bathmat germs would be killed off at that temperature, I would've thought.

Who is more in the right here, her or me??

(someone telling me we're both disgusting in 3...2...1...)

I'm with you!

Bathmats and towels on a 90 for me too.

Not sure what I would use a cold half hour wash for. Bleurgh.

I wash them separately at 60. No idea why separately as they're getting hot enough!

If you think they need a 90 degree wash, you should be able to say exactly why that is?

I'm with you. All bedding, towels and bath mats need a hot wash imo.
My DD washes her bedding on a quick wash and I have to bit my lip so not to comment.

Oh, and btw ; www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-bother-using-hot-water-to-wash-your-laundry/

60 is enough.

Generally our go in with everything else at 30, every month or so they get a hot wash at 60. No problems so far with smelling!

Everything goes in the same wash at 30° here, never been ill from a washed towel! never washed my bathmat

I just wash everything at 40.

I wash them at 30 - we have managed to survive so far!

I do everything at 40, pretty much.

Why would a towel, that has been used to dry my body once, need a 90 degree wash? Any more than, say, pants, which are surely much more deserving of being boiled to pieces?

Everything at 30-40.

Whats the 90 degree wash for if not towels and bed linen?

Everything else goes on a 40.

I have never even seen a machine with temperature settings apart from hot warm cold. I don't even know anyone who uses hot.

Clothes are always 30°
Towels and bedding 60°

I only ever use 90° for cleaning my machine

60 for the whites.
30 or 40 for everything else.
the special programmes are used now and again.
All healthy here!

I think it depends on how often towels and mats are being used. If -as an above poster claims- it's just once then I'd think a cold was would be fine, same with bedding if it's just a night or two. Personally I don't have a tumble dryer and the luxury of having multiple sets of towels and bedding (much less the time when working 14 hrs a day!!) so all towels and bed lining get washed once a week at 60. With a 40 ' was in between if needed.If the towels do not dry fully between uses they are bound to smell in which case they are washed more frequently. In summer bed sheets are changed more frequently. So imo she's not unreasonable if they are being washed daily but I wouldn't. I have a friend who washes everything on a cold quick cycle. She thinks her clothes are clean but to me they look a bit grubby and the towels and matts definitely smell of damp dog!! Yuck

Deanna personally I would prefer to see independent research , the bias in that link is pretty amusing

Towels and bedding on 60. Everything else 30 or 40.

My mum used to wash everything together on a quick wash. My dad has followed her example. When I stay I 'help out' by doing some washing and I always do towels etc on 60. I tell my dad why. Next time he just does what he has always done!

Ice cold water,providing you use the new laundry disinfectant liquid.

Such a winner ...no more damp smelly towels in rainy weather.
Nice scent too!

Things today do not need a boil wash which is basically what 90 is unless medically filthy e.g. older person, bedridden and open sores etc.

Detergent works better at lower temps than it ever did, clothing and materials last longer if washed at lower temps as well

95 for towels and tea towels and cloths.

I find the idea of using a towel once and then washing it utterly mind-boggling. But then I find the laundry habits of most MNers mind-boggling.