Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Washing machine temperatures

32 replies

StaticSockMonster · 30/01/2013 16:35

Am new to the forum and have a question that may seem simple to you good folk.
After always having a washing machine that does a 50 degree wash, we have just purchased one without this setting.
I have always used this wash for jeans, hoodies, everyday wear etc. what do I use now?! My mum is telling me that a 60 will shrink/colours will run and a 40 won't get them clean.
Am now majorly paranoid that we will all be wearing clothes that are either too small or not properly clean. Confused
Can you tell me what you guys do this sort if washing on?
Thank you.

OP posts:
TheMightyLois · 30/01/2013 16:37

40℃ will be fine. You can probably do a longer wash if your machine has the right setting.

TheMightyLois · 30/01/2013 16:37

Sorry, that should be 40C.

Naoko · 30/01/2013 16:38

40, sometimes 30 for anything delicate. With modern detergents those lower temperatures are fine. I only use 60 for towels, bedding and underwear.

anklebitersmum · 30/01/2013 16:40

40 for day to day as you described as advances in washing liquid/powder gets them plenty clean.

60 for whites and sheets (at least once weekly as it keeps the growth of yukky stuff down in the machine too).

never fill the washer more than 2/3 to the top of the drum & it'll always be clean and well rinsed.

HomeEcoGnomist · 30/01/2013 16:40

I do colours on 40 and whites on 60
Sometimes I'll do towels & bedding on 90 - I am the only female so sometimes things need a more...ah, robust wash Wink

No problems so far and my mum predicted similar laundry Armageddon

OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly · 30/01/2013 16:41

I've never had a machine with a 50 degree wash. I've used 60 degrees for cottons, for a polyester 'duvet' style coat (yesterday!) and all is fine, I use 40 degrees for my reds, blacks and blues washes (I don't mix colours!) and they don't run and ARE clean.

My machine has an A Class 40 wash though (longer than a 60 degree wash but only heats to 40 degrees so no shrinkage/running of colours) - I use that for new clothes where I'm not sure if there is still loose dye in them, or for stained older clothes (I sometimes spray them with a prewash treatment too).

derekthehamster · 30/01/2013 16:42

I use 30 for everything except towels and bedding which I use 60

Original poster
StaticSockMonster · 30/01/2013 16:47

Thank you all very much.
I'll give the 40 degree a whirl.
I washed our whites on my usual 60 the other day and it took three and a half hours! Have since read the instructions so I know how to set it manually. Good grief, I don't care if its AAA rated wash, that was ridiculous. Shock

OP posts:
craftynclothy · 30/01/2013 16:49

I use 40 for almost everything. 60 for sheets and also for towels. I use 30 for towels/swimming cossie/gym stuff as it's the only temp you can use on the quick wash setting.

nextphase · 30/01/2013 17:05

30 for pretty much everything here. 40 if things are mucky.

Occasional 60 wash if I think the pipework could do with a clean.

Pretty much annual empty 90 wash...

Oblomov · 30/01/2013 17:08

40 for everything.
60 for white school shirts etc.

Oblomov · 30/01/2013 17:10

How long do your cycles take then?
"usual 60 the other day and it took three and a half hours" Shock

My 40 takes 40 minutes, my 60 takes 60.

ethelb · 30/01/2013 17:11

I have a sodding awful machine that does 90C, 60C and 35C.

Who thought that woudl be a good idea?!

GreenShadow · 30/01/2013 17:13

I do just all coloureds on 30C. Whites tend to be 60C.

No problems getting them clean

ouryve · 30/01/2013 17:15

I always use 40 except for small amounts of more delicate clothes, or stuff that is miraculously not too dirty (stale, rather than stained)

I never used the 50C cycle when I had one because it took forever. Towels go in at 60 or 70.

GreenShadow · 30/01/2013 17:22

For some odd reason our 40C cycle takes loads longer than the 30 or the 60C!

Very odd, so needless to say, I don't use it.

ouryve · 30/01/2013 18:46

I have a fancypants Siemens washer with about 15 programs within which you can vary the temperature, spin speed, cycle length etc. It's even got additions to the cycle for 5 different types of stain!

It even weighs the washing when I put it in!

specialsubject · 30/01/2013 18:53

quite a lot of the civilised world washes in cold and laughs at our obsession with hot washes...

30 for most, 60 for really smelly towels. Maybe 40 for bedding. Occasional hot wash to keep machine clean, and use half the amount of detergent that is recommended.

no-one will die and your bill will be lower if you use 30.

Original poster
StaticSockMonster · 30/01/2013 20:09

Oblomov - the old washer did a quick wash thing which took about 58 minutes, I just thought the new one would be the same. I found a function today that lets me set the temperature and spin manually which is a 59 minute cycle, needless to say, I'll be using that for everything! (Think that's the equivalent of a quick wash on the new machine).
I'm going to blame my other half. He was "helping" me the first time I used it. He was telling me that that length wash was normal. Last time he gets involved in the washing, he can do the ironing Wink

This one does the whole "weighing" thing too. Although it didn't reduce the three odd hours wash the other day!

Thank you to everyone for your help. Hopefully me and my new washer will get along just fine Grin

OP posts:
Facebaffle · 30/01/2013 20:16

Everyday clothes, bedding and towels on a 40° - 1 hour

Dirty clothes 60° - 1 hour 35 mins

Quick wash for coats, sleeping bags 30° - 30 mins

Facebaffle · 30/01/2013 20:18

I forgot - 90° wash with soda crystals to clean the machine - every month or so - 2 hours

orangeandlemons · 30/01/2013 20:20

I never find anything gets properly clean at 30 degrees. Also that temperature is not high enough to kill any bacteria that may be lingering in clothing

orangeandlemons · 30/01/2013 20:21

I never find anything gets properly clean at 30 degrees. Also that temperature is not high enough to kill any bacteria that may be lingering in clothing

ilovepowerhoop · 30/01/2013 20:22

I use 40°C for most things with the odd 60°C wash for bedding and towels. My normal 40 wash takes about 1½-2 hours but I have a Time Saver button I can press that takes about an hour off that. It also has a 29 minute, 45 minute and 60 minute wash but you have to put less clothes in those washes as they use less water.

GreenShadow · 30/01/2013 20:32

Perhaps you need to change your washing powder orangeandlemons. We don't have a problem getting things clean at 30C.