To think one 90 degree washes a month is fine?

[LauraAshleyDuvetCover]

I usually do one full wash on 90 degrees every month. Sometimes it's my towels, flannels, bath mat etc, other times it's the kitchen towels, cleaning cloths etc.

This morning, a friend whose washing machine has broken (filled with water) dropped off the towels that were in there when it broke. My flatmate said he hoped I wasn't going to wash them on 90 because it's inefficient and unnecessary. I said I was because it's better for the machine ("bollocks") because it dissolves any powder or conditioner left in the pipes ("it'll dissolve anyway") and kills any bacteria ("the powder will do that"). I said I was, because they've been left damp and smell a bit grim.

I've just been into the kitchen and he's put them on a daily quick wash at 40, and I've no idea what detergent he's used (I was going to put vinegar in because they smell musty and damp).

AIBU to think he's being an arse making his point, and doing the odd wash at 90 (especially to help a friend) really isn't a huge issue?

His problem if his towels stink. I wouldn’t be arguing with him about it.

They're not his towels — they're my friends. I offered to wash them for her after her machine broke.

I never wash anything at 90! I have no idea what it costs in terms of energy bills, which is potentially his concern, but I doubt it is that much once a month.

Oh ok apologies I misread.

What does your friend want them washed at? Just wash them again.

Our machine runs a cleaning cycle at 70 degrees every-so-many cycles.

Towels here get washed in with the 40 degrees unless there are enough then I'll run them through a 60 with a bit less powder and more vinegar.

I couldn't see myself bothering about how someone else chooses to wash their towels unless I had to use them and they still smelled dirty after being in the machine.

Your flat are took over the washing of your friends towels? That's really weird. Have a word about boundaries.

As for the wash, it's personal preference of course, but has nothing to do with your flat mate.

Weird that he brought them round and said ‘I hope you’re not going to wash them on 90’. Why would he think you were anyway?

Oh I also misread who's towels they are. Put them back in, your flatmate isn't the boss of you.

Who pays the electric bill?

I do most loads at 30 or 40. I occasionally do a 60 wash for benefit of machine but I’ve never do a 90 ever so. Stop bothering your friend and leave him to it.

Why is everything described as "grim" on here?

It's almost as annoying as "hobby"

Ah sorry just saw he’s your flatmate. Does he usually comment on what temperature you wash at?

They'll need boil wash if they were left damp.
I never wash towels or anything at 90 degrees, they're washed regularly.
I usually put a few drops of zoflora on a 40 wash, they're never stinking.
My WM has an eco drum clean cycle.

So it's not his towels, and it's not his washing machine? He can fuck off.

Although in most cases, I'd put towels on at 60 degrees as it's plenty hot enough. If they've gone musty, I'd add vinegar.

I think it’s fine, and in fact sensible, to do a hot wash sometimes.

I do a hot wash at regular intervals for the benefit of the machine and very occasionally if I think the items need it for hygiene reasons.

Your flat mate is being controlling and overstepping the mark. Even if there was something off with what you are doing he is behaving badly.

They sat in lukewarm water slowly cooling down for hours and then have been left damp since — they smell sour and a bit mildewy I suppose. I wanted to return them to her (friend) smelling nice and clean, and properly dry, that was all.

We split the electricity bill (flatmate earns a lot more than I do — he has an actual job, I'm finishing my PhD).

We usually get on very well, I just find it bizarre that he's apparently had such an issue with this and has never said before! And has now decided to make an issue of it with a set I'm doing as a favour.

60 would be fine. I accidentally washed my towels at 90 and they went a bit weird.

I guess if you split the leccy bills 50/50 he does get to have an opinion, although I think he's wrong. You're effectively doing your friend a favour with (very small quantities of) his money. Give him a cheque for a pound to cover the extra cost and give them a proper rewash.

Is the electricity bill split between you and flatmate? If so, he's maybe got a point, especially if he's been trying to keep the bill down, then I imagine seeing an (imo unnecessary) 90° wash cancil out weeks worth of energy saving would be annoying.

He shouldn't have put the wash in, that was crossing a boundary, and even more annoying as you'll probably have to re-wash with vinegar, but he did try to talk to you about it first, and only became petty after you brushed him off.

I wash my towels and bedding on a 60 wash. It was recommended on one of those programs, How Clean is Your House type thing, ages ago. I’m not even sure my machine has a 90 wash.

You're going to have to wash them again, aren't you?

If the bill is split 50/50 he may have a point, but that’s something to be discussed like the adults you are, instead of passive-aggressively selecting each other’s washing programmes without asking. Which is what he’s just done, from your post.

I never do a 90 degrees load. Twice a year or so I’ll do one on 60. I use the self-cleaning programme every few months for the benefit of the machine itself.

Dry them first before re washing. Years of poor effort has taught me that much. The smell is more likely to go.

Flat mate relations are tricky! You live there and can wash your stuff however you see fit but it’s not your stuff and it is half his washing machine. Yes he is being petty but I do totally get why he’s annoyed. He’s probably worried it’ll become a more regular occurrence, if your friend doesn’t get a new machine straight away for instance, and he’ll end up paying 50% of the electricity and water costs. And also the machine now isn’t available for him to use, because it’s washing stuff belonging to someone who doesn’t live there. He was definitely wrong to just bung them on at 40 but he did try to talk to you about it and it sounds like you brushed him off. I know you meant well but given you flat share I think you were also in the wrong to offer laundrette services to a friend when it’s not just your use of the machine and bills that are impacted.

He's wrong about the powder killing the bacteria. If they are smelly, 40C isn't hot enough to kill the bacteria but you don't need 90C, 60C should be fine.

I suppose he has a point if he pays half the electricity bill that he doesn't want to be subsidising your friend but that's pretty tight. You certainly don't need to be washing your towels etc at 90C all the time. It's expensive, bad for the environment and bad for your towels.