Bleach v temperature

[Dilbertian]

We're being told to wash our clothes at 30 instead of 40 to save energy and £££s. I find that the occasional wash at 30 isn't a problem, but, with skanky teens, regularly washing at 30 results eventually in a manky, smelly washing machine. So I end up having to do a 95 wash more frequently.

I'm thinking that adding bleach to all or most 30 degree washes should counteract this problem. Chlorine bleach in whites and oxygen bleach in colours.

Does this sound sensible?

Due to allergies, I'm very limited in what laundry products I can use.

I thought one of the problems with bleach is the long term impact on rubber, such as the door seal and pipe work etc. doesn't it make the rubber brittle and degraded?

White vinegar might be the answer. Add a couple of cups to a hot cycle. You'll pay for the hot cycle but it should be offset by the savings for the cooler default temp.

I also have a family of allergy-people, we wash everything at 40. Biological powder seems to work at 30, but with allergies we are really limited to which powders we can use here, so stick to nonbio at 40. I figure that it's a need rather than a want, especially as we only wash when things are actually dirty/ need it rather than wearing a tshirt for 3 hours and putting it in the machine.

I use bio d laundry bleach powdered and stain remover as needed, does help, tho bedding/ towels 60.
most other things 30

Wish I could find a fragrance-free bio powder!

I was at 30 but always add a big spoon of napisan, seems to work.

I’m very sad and dry my door seal with a tea towel after every wash (there’s always a little puddle of water in mine), and then leave the door open.

www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Washing-Machine-with-Vinegar

I haven't needed to do most of this - but have used white vinegar on a few occasions plus occasional hot wash - usually bedding at least at 60 though that's not every week.

How much does it really save, money wise? I wash all normal clothes at 40, I would be suprised if the cost saving was worth the labour time you are spending trying to find a solution to washing at 30.

acecleanuk.co.uk/30-vs-40-washing-lower-temperature-make-difference/

According to the Energy Saving Trust, washing clothes at 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity over the course of a year compared to higher temperatures. This would mean that the saving made on an average household’s energy bill is £13. As the average household electricity bill for a medium sized house in 2014 was £487, this £13 saving isn’t a radical reduction in cost.

Might be more £ with energy price rises.

I have to say my default is often 40 -depending on what's in the wash especially in winter with less line drying and airing - as it's not unheard of for teen clothes - under arm pits - or stained clothes to need rewashing when washed at 30.

Like OP due to allergies and washing powders being an eczema trigger I'm limited in what I can use in washing machines.

Ok but you risk some bleach stains. I'd use dettol fabric sanitiser. You can get cheaper own brands now. Powder is much better than liquid for cleaning and not clogging the machine

Not quite what you're asking but Surcare do a fragrance-free powder. I agree with others that using powder usually means no smells even at low temps.

I wash everything at twenty with non bio powder and nothing else. Never had any issues and nothing smells. Never need to clean the washing machine. Do you use fabric conditioner? Occasionally if I use it I notice the drawer goes mouldy so that might be the culprit?

I'm stuck on the skanky teens, What do you mean? They don't wash regularly? At all? I've had 3 teens (the last almost 20) and none have been skanky.

Vinegar in the prewash drawer
No fabric conditioner unless absolutely necessary, and then plant based one like Ecover.
Fairy Liquid on stains.
Remove washing as soon as the cycle finishes to prevent a nice warm atmosphere for mould to grow.

It is never, ever necessary to wash anything above 30 degrees. Your washing machine shouldn't smell, there must be an issue with your machine.

I'd use oxygen bleach like Ace or Vanish in both whites and coloureds for a good clean. Chlorine bleach isn't nice to use and seems to make whites yellow over time.

My machine doesn't smell when my regular wash is 40. When my regular wash is 30 then eventually the machine starts smelling. That's what I'm trying to avoid.

Some teens are skankier than others. Some families are sweatier than others. We use soap and deodorants, we air-dry laundry immediately, we air rooms. There is no Lynx, no Zoflora, no Halo, nothing fragranced at all in this house because of allergies. (Apart from dishwasher tablets. But then I'm neither wearing nor inhaling the dishes, so it's not a problem.) This means there's absolutely nothing to mask the natural smells of puberty and sport.

I live in the US and use powdered detergent and 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide from the drug store or dollar store to a cold wash...sanitizes everything with no harm to colors and removed stains.

I wash in cold (not 30, cold) and use cold water powder detergent. More common in Nz where electricity prices have always been high so I’ve grown up with this approach. Add napisan if stained and dry outside on clothesline so natural sunlight to help lift stains and whiten naturally.

I use soda crystals and stopped the odd smell.

DH has taken to washing at 30, I pulled the wash out the other day and it still stank of teenage girl BO.

We have gone back to 40...

My running kit would not be washed at 30C! It would stink.

I did the maths on washing at 40 vs 60 a while ago and the difference over the year wasn't massive, have a look at the manual and see if you can get the energy use then multiply by the cost of electricity.

I was nappies a lot atm and adding more stain remover (oxygen bleach) doesn't really touch the stinks but does well with most staining. Adding chlorine bleach will wear clothes faster so maybe more costly in the end.

Sounds like it may be a false economy. Much better to make sure we always do full loads.