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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think towels need a hot wash?

325 replies

FirstOfHerName · 09/08/2017 13:11

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...)

OP posts:
FreshsatsumaforDd · 09/08/2017 13:52

A 60 degree wash kills house dust mites, so for us, and anyone prone to eczema or allergies caused by house dust mite, washing all bedding at 60 degrees is a must. It removes soap buildup from towels and flannels as well.

AuroraFloyd · 09/08/2017 13:52

I was everything together at 40. Towels, clothes, bedlinen, tea towels, you name it. sometimes I don't even sort by colour

No one has died or come down with a horrible skin disease because of my slatternly ways.

fovefovid · 09/08/2017 13:53

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Rossigigi · 09/08/2017 13:53

White on 90, beds linen and towels on 60, everything else 40

saveforthat · 09/08/2017 13:53

For those people who use a towel once. A family of four would use 28 towels a week!

Hapaxlegomenon · 09/08/2017 13:54

I just put everything on at 40. 90 and 95 Shock

WhatHaveIFound · 09/08/2017 13:55

I use 90 wash to clean the machine. Everything else is on 30-40 and i don't seperate towels from clothes though they are sorted into mixed & white washes.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 09/08/2017 13:55

We do towels and sheets weekly at 40 and then every so often at 60. I've never used the 90 programme on my machine.

Is it possible to put some Zoflora into the wash? If so, how much and does it just go into the drawer with the powder?

hellsbellsmelons · 09/08/2017 13:55

towels and bed linen on 60
Work clothes that I wear once and don't get dirty - fast half hour wash.
Everything else 30

Skittlesss · 09/08/2017 13:55

I don't count how many towels I just stick a load in the washer every day :)

Flowersandfootballs · 09/08/2017 13:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maddiemookins16mum · 09/08/2017 13:57

I wash everything at 30 and a 20 min wash only. None of our clothes are filthy. Todays detergents do the work for you. I haven't done a hot wash since circa 1980 when we still had a twin tub and those washing tongs you used to take the washing out of the main drum into the spinner bit.

RiverTam · 09/08/2017 13:58

What an utter waste of the world's resources.

Hapaxlegomenon · 09/08/2017 13:58

Does washing towels at 90 make them super soft?

rightwhine · 09/08/2017 13:58

Everything on 30 here. We are alive and not smelly. That's enough for me.

ppeatfruit · 09/08/2017 13:58

saveforthat let alone the amount of water that is used if you wash ALL the time, it's crazy . There's been a water shortage here and everyone should be aware of that. Let alone the state of our waterways, rivers etc.

lemonzest123 · 09/08/2017 13:59

I didn't know it went up to 90!

beedybeedybumbum · 09/08/2017 14:00

I use Dettol stuff and wash at 30

If I didn't have that it would be a 60 wash

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth · 09/08/2017 14:01

Towels, bathmats, cleaning cloths and kitchen stuff all get a 90 wash here.

ticketytock1 · 09/08/2017 14:01

My mum does this also. It grosses me out, I wish I didn't know she did it!
I was towels and bedding at 90, most other things at 60 and lightly soiled stuff / delicates at 30/40

TonicAndTonic · 09/08/2017 14:01

I've seen normal average washing liquid that says it works in cold temperatures. Also, doesn't washing above about 40 C defeat the object of biological washing detergent if that's what you use

Yep - biological detergent has enzymes in that start being deactivated at temperatures above 40.

I generally wash towels (and pretty much everything else) at 40 unless they smell funny, in which case I might do a 60 wash. Agree with PPs that I only use a 90 wash to clean the machine. Most germs are either killed or dislodged by ordinary detergent.

PoppyPopcorn · 09/08/2017 14:02

Everything goes in the wash at 40C. There really is no need to wash at 90C or even 60C unless someone in the house has norovorus or you're dealing with some other condition which requires a hot wash. Modern detergents really are very good.

Never ceases to amaze me how much time, energy and water some MN members seem to spend washing.

TheViceOfReason · 09/08/2017 14:03

Normal clothing at 30, usually do towels and bedding at 60 out of habit (bath towels and bath mats go in together - why on earth not???) and all using Tesco own brand non-bio liquid (septic tank).

Elderly FILs bedding and towels (which all gets done in our machine as he can't manage himself) all get done on 90 with biological liquid as he has leg ulcers and has a lot of toilet related accidents. Even doing a 90 with non-bio was no use as things still smelt slightly.

Oldraver · 09/08/2017 14:03

I wouldn't use a 90 d wash to do bed linen but 60. I was shocked when I saw the recommended (by the manufacturers) was 40 degree wash...I sweat a lot so dont think 40 would cut it

Natsku · 09/08/2017 14:03

I do towels and bedding at 60 and everything else 30 or 40. I only use the 90 setting to clean the machine or, when DD was still not quite dry at night, the mattress protector on her bed.