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?

I dry clean dishes with a teatowel so how is it going to be a high risk item?

I dry clean dishes with a teatowel so how is it going to be a high risk item?

Me too

I think I might have confused you, @TheKeatingFive. I was using the epidemiological definition of outbreak, ie a small epidemic. I'm not saying that you can't catch diseases from towels and tea towels nor that it is uncommon.

Towels and tea towels are higher risk items than other household items because they come into contact with things that are more likely to have pathogens on them and the places that you don't want the pathogens to get!

Clean chopping boards and clean hands that come into contact with your tea towel aren't as clean as you think. Just google if you don't believe me.

Vinegar is good if you're in a hard water area, for removing limescale.

In answer to your original question, OP, I wash my towels and bath mats at 90C about once a fortnight. The bath mats are all white and they don't stay white if I wash them on lower temperatures.

Mouseonmychair. The past 35 years in the UK,my washing machines have been cold fill only

Clean chopping boards and clean hands that come into contact with your tea towel aren't as clean as you think. Just google if you don't believe me.

It's not that I don't believe there are germs.

I wanted to see if anyone could evidence that washing at low temperatures actually caused harm. And so far, it's clear they can't

@TheKeatingFive If we're talking personal experiences - here's mine. Every single time we'd visit my PIL and stay the night I'd get a serious UTI. Those are also the ONLY times I got UTI's as an adult. I then learned that MIL subscribes to 'wash everything together on 30-40 degrees' including guest towels.

I never do either, I wash them at 40

@TheKeatingFive

Clean chopping boards and clean hands that come into contact with your tea towel aren't as clean as you think. Just google if you don't believe me.

It's not that I don't believe there are germs.

I wanted to see if anyone could evidence that washing at low temperatures actually caused harm. And so far, it's clear they can't

I already posted a link to a study that found 25% of kitchen towels tested had E.coli. You actually need about 70C to kill E.coli, which is why I either iron my tea towels or add Dettol to the wash usually the latter as I am too lazy to iron.

abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/washing-machines-loaded-bacteria-dirty-clothes/story?id=10751420
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11304439

I wonder how many men spend their free time debating the best way to wash towels with other men on an Internet forum 😏.

Are people getting ill from their teatowels though?
It might be present but is it in sufficient amounts to cause harm?

I'm not about to start bleaching all my clothes or boil washing them. I haven't got ill from the way our clothes are washed so I'll continue the way I am without the paranoia some are showing on this thread.

The infective dose of E. coli is between 10 and 100 cells, depending on the strain. There will be around a million E.coli bacteria in a washing load of underwear, a lot more in a load of nappies. Most clothes have traces of faeces on them, from washing machine water rather than direct transfer

I wouldn't start boiling or bleaching my clothes either, dementedpixie. On the other hand, I do wash my towels at 60C or tumble dry them for 5 mins also because I like the extra fluffiness, add Dettol to tea towels, wash my washing up sponge in the dishwasher and change it regularly etc The hot washes will help kill off all the bacteria living in the washing machine too.

I'd tell him to shove off and you wash tne towels at whatever temperature you want!

Although I wash pretty much everything at 30 but I might just be skanky!

The infective dose of E. coli is between 10 and 100 cells, depending on the strain.

But wouldn't that be an ingested dose? No one's eating their tea towels (I hope).

Bacteria is all around us, constantly. That doesn't mean it's making us sick.

I wonder how many men spend their free time debating the best way to wash towels with other men on an Internet forum

Ah, they're doing all kinds of other pointless shit, doesn't worry

We rarely get ill with tummy bugs etc. Can't even remember the last time. Because we regularly wash our hands. I don't use 90 degrees and chuck stuff in together.

I wash either 30 or 40 degrees. I wash all bedding though at 90 (thought that made sure dust mites were killed?) Anyway at least the machine gets a hot run through every couple of weeks.

As a general rule, even the NHS says 60C is sufficient for washing badly soiled items, together with good soap or detergent or laundry bleach:
www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/infections/can-clothes-and-towels-spread-germs/

The detergent or soap destroys the bacteria and viruses:
www.foursquaregroupltd.com/how-soap-fights-coronavirus/

'WHICH?' explains a lot more :
www.which.co.uk/reviews/washing-machines/article/washing-machine-temperature-guide-aLiyf2p96y4d

Rinsing - even in cold water - is very important. It gets rid of soap/detergent residues in clothes that can harbour bacteria and viruses, and the physical agitation of the rinse cycle washes the germs away. Quick drying - sunshine is a disinfectant - helps too.

The tea towel thing,is because if they are left damp,of encourages bacteria.

The tea towel thing,is because if they are left damp,of encourages bacteria.

Which is not making anyone sick, so what's the issue? Bacteria is everywhere.

Why do towels need a 90 degree wash? Surely they are used to dry your clean body?

I can see why bedding would need a hotter wash, although I think 60 is sufficient.

@Eltonsglasses

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.

Did you not read the post?

@yourestandingonmyneck

Why do towels need a 90 degree wash? Surely they are used to dry your clean body?

I can see why bedding would need a hotter wash, although I think 60 is sufficient.

These particular towels had been sitting in water and left damp so were mildewy and smelly.

My own towels, just because they can cope with a 90 degree wash, and it's good for the machine. Sometimes I do the tea towels or cleaning cloths as the monthly 90 wash instead. So it's not really that I choose to wash my towels at 90, it's that I'm running my machine on 90 and put my towels in.

Does anyone know if the Dettol or own brand laundry cleanser you add to the fabric conditioner drawer is worth it? Says it kills bacteria but I'm not sure if it's just another item to waste money on!

I like the fabulosa laundry sanitiser. I use it on smelly gym/football kit