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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 09/08/2017 15:20

I still have my mother's old washing tongs - they're very useful for when you've done a pre-soak and don't want to get that stuff on your hands.

Natsku · 09/08/2017 15:22

Towels get used for at least a week, if not longer, before they are washed, and also get used to soak up water on the floor when the air conditioning unit leaks or after I give the cat a bath (and water inevitably gets everywhere!)

Forgot about OH's work clothes, they get washed at 60, especially if he's been working in the poo factory.

AuntyElle · 09/08/2017 15:39

Natsku, what's a 'poo factory'??

MrMessy · 09/08/2017 16:26

I still have my mother's old washing tongs - they're very useful for when you've done a pre-soak and don't want to get that stuff on your hands.

As children we used to chase each other around trying to nip each other with them. They are useful for that too!

Natsku · 09/08/2017 16:30

The sewage works AuntyElle OH likes to call it the poo factory

mirime · 09/08/2017 16:33

We just had to buy a new washing machine, so now have the option of a 20 or cold wash.

Clothes mostly go in on those now. Bedding and towels, maybe a 40. Only thing that goes in on a hot wash are tea cloths, and even those could be on a 60 rather than the 90.

Everything is clean and doesn't smell, so I seem to be doing ok.

Eolian · 09/08/2017 16:36

I wash everything at 40. If you do a hot wash with biological washing powder it destroys the enzymes in the detergent which are there to get your washing clean.

The clean-freakishness on MN boggles my brain tbh. What on earth do you think people did before automatic washing machines? Bet my immune system is healthier than that of the 95 degree daily towel washing anti-bac brigade.

Ceic · 09/08/2017 16:38

Everything at 30C, no fabric conditioner. I agree with previous PP about how the detergent is more important that the heat. I'd also heard about how most machines barely get to 60 for any decent time anyway.

Once a month, I run the machine at 90 - empty except for some laundry bleach and detergent - to clean it.

My towels and linen all come out lovely and soft and beautifully scented. I line dry - no tumble drier. Changing towels daily really is excessive when there is no actual medical need (eg for an ill person or the uniform of their carers)

brightlightceiling · 09/08/2017 16:47

I do 60 for towels and DH uses 90.
But
Her house, her rules. Your house, your rules. Your mum is still alive so the towels probably aren't killing her.

Ollivander84 · 09/08/2017 16:47

40 for everything for me; and it all gets chucked in together. Towels after maybe 4-5 uses. I use napisan or dettol laundry liquid for sweaty smelly gym or riding clothes or pre soak in napisan

woodhill · 09/08/2017 16:58

Towels at 60 with cloths and would do bath mat with a towel wash.

Bedding at 40

FruitCider · 09/08/2017 17:01

The only thing that gets washed on a boil wash in my house is my nurse uniform that has been in a cockroach and rat infested building for 13 hours!

daddyorscience · 09/08/2017 17:04

Most things here go on "push and wash" (30). Love my big indesit for that feature, ideal for the parents. 90 is used by auto-clean, and I use it for my labcoats and work shirts (science tech, so chemicals, blood, eyeballs, rat etc). 9/15 minute cold wash I use for swim kit, and very light soil items.

Mummybear0812 · 09/08/2017 17:11

I wash all my bedding together at 60... towels pants socks at 60 then put in the dryer... all clothes washed at 40 on quick load all Are clothes etc smell good...

Mummybear0812 · 09/08/2017 17:13

Also we use Are towels few times find it daft to use a towel once then straight in wash I do enough washing

crazypenguinlady · 09/08/2017 17:17

Towels and bedding are always done at 60. Cloth nappies are mostly at 40 with the occasional 60 wash. Clothes are done at 40.

LakieLady · 09/08/2017 17:17

I do everything at 30, most of it on a 15-minute wash except for whites.

I wouldn't put the bath mat in with the towels because the dog likes to sleep on it. It goes in with the door mats.

We don't look grubby and we don't smell.

LittleWingSoul · 09/08/2017 18:20

I was wondering about the thread the other day asking how often people change their towels... I thought it was weird because why would have to (unless you were a home hair dyer or one just happened to get totally ruined). I've had the same set of towels coming up to a decade and they look, feel and function absolutely fine.
I only wash them once a week at best, not fabric conditioner, 60 or 40 wash depending on whether dishcloths and tea towels are getting lobbed in as well.
Washing towels every day after single use is hugely wasteful and so unnecessary, I can't believe people are doing this! What about hand towels? Do they get washed and replaced after every use too? Hopefully this thread will make the every day towel washers have a little think about why they do it and whether it is really necessary.

Oh yeah my original point was going to be that if you wash and tumble dry your towels daily you will end up having to replace them a lot more often - so double environmental impact

Original poster

FirstofherName · 09/08/2017 18:31

I certainly don't wash towels after every use - I can't believe people actually do that! Its more like once a fortnight. If it's just towels I do them at 60 but if I'm throwing in the bathmats then it's 90 as they can get quite grubby.

Unfortunately I do end up using the tumble dryer a few times a week as we have no outside line and I hate having wet clothes hanging in our small flat. Perhaps I'll invest in one of those heated clothes airers that Lakeland sell.

OP posts:

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 09/08/2017 18:49

Most of my washing goes in at 40, but bedding, towels and underwear go in at 60.

BabsGanoush · 09/08/2017 19:11

Are the people who use 60oc+ washes, and only use towels once, the same people who object to other folk using bleach down their loos?

MN is bonkers sometimes.

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 09/08/2017 19:14

When DH lived alone he had a fungal infection, which the doctor told him could come from towels. I suggested he wash them on a boil wash and he never had any more problems. So you can harbour germs by washing at low temperatures.

I use 40 for most things, but always 95 for towels and tea towels.

augustusglupe · 09/08/2017 19:15

Towels on 60 and Bedding on 60, sometimes 90 if I've not stripped the bed for a month Everything else 30 or 40

Neoflex · 09/08/2017 19:18

Do everything at 30.
However. If one of us is sick then the stuff they wore, towels and bedding go in a separate wash at 60.

Firesuit · 09/08/2017 19:23

Wait, what? You're supposed to wash towels?

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