Does washing at 30 degrees clean the clothes?

[krisskross]

Just wondering really. I normally wash colours and darks at 40 and whites at 60.

If I change all except whites to 30 will it make any difference?

boring thread if the day winner

That Mail article is a complete joke.

It quotes from two so-called Drs who claim to be a 'hygiene expert' and a 'laundry expert'. Without saying what sort of doctor they are and where they got their qualifications. Really pathetic example of journalism and scare-mongering.

Thanks for the Norwegian link.

Good lord there's an awful lot of offence being taken in this thread! To each their own and those in glass houses really shouldn't be chucking stones. We're all doing the best we can with our laundry! End of.

When I had my kids, I used real nappies and introduced napisan and various other anti bac nappy washing powders into my laundry.
I found that my whole washing machine, including the powder dispenser seemed to stay clean. No more black mould in the powder tray and no more funny smells.
My kids are close to 10 years old now and I haven't washed nappies for a long time. I still use Vanish antibac (green lid) in the kids washes, the underwear, towels, bedding, flannels, tea towels and bath mat washes though. I can't find Napisan where I live now in NL, but when I go back to the UK I buy a few packs of napisan.
I'll wash on 20 for some washes, especially dark delicate t-shirts (hubby has alot of geek t-shirts) only using 60 or 90 for bedding, flannels, cloths, tea towels and towels - no fabric softener either as that mucks up their absorbency.
Thanks for the tip on using white vinegar - I use that for other household things, including the loo and it had never occurred to me to use in the washing machine.
My washing machine never gets smelly now, and other than the fabric softener residue to clean off, no black mould at the back of the dispenser. I will always use some form of anti bac powder along side the non-bio and the bio.

I wash everything at 30 except for towels or bedding which I wash at 60. I use nonbio liquid and to most washes add dettol anti-bacterial powder. No stains (and I have a very messy toddler) and no smelly exercise clothes either (as the dettol kills the bacteria that makes them smell).

@Belaroomum - like you I've been using Napisan for almost 10 years. It rocks! Gets out all stains and odours at low temperatures and my washing machine stays pin clean too.

I wash all "normal" clothes (adult and child) at 30. Pants and socks go on at 40. Towels go on at 60.

Every month or so I run through a service wash with delimescaler.

I do soak in vanish and now I've read this thread, I'm off to run the washer through with that on 90.

I don't know what to think anymore ...

I'm going to buy some soda crystals because PigletJohn says so and do a maintenance wash.

could someone talk me through it?

Please!

Jeez.

Put a scoop of soda crystals in powder drawer.

Put machine on longest hottest wash (usually 90).

Done.

I thInk it's only sanitary to wash at 60 for bedding and towels.
Other stuff is ok in 30 as king as it's not really soiled.

Thenlaterwhenitgotdark : He further icked me out

Totally misread this post about the washing machine man!

That really would have been service beyond my 12 month guarantee!

I'm in Australia, we do most of our washing on 30 degrees or cold (towels and bed linens get washed at 60 degrees). All of my washing gets dried in the sun which has natural antibacterial qualities, so I don't get stressed about washing in hot water. This thread has been quite eye opening for me!

Oh, and re hand washing, I thought antibacterial soap had gone out of fashion. Around these parts, word on the street is that we're trying to be too clean and that we need to experience immune challenges every day to build and maintain a healthy immune system. My dr recommends using normal soap for handwashing, she says antibacterial soap doesn't have a place in homes. I use warm water in our washing to relax the fibres in our clothes/linen so that dirt and stains can be washed out, not to sterilise the washing. The washing powder should sufficiently 'clean' everything, if not it's time for a new brand!

Separate taps is just historical because the hot water feeder tank was potentially contaminated in the past as it wasn't intended for drinking.

White vinegar in a wash is surprisingly lovely! It makes everything smell really fresh, much nicer than fabric softener. I can't explain how it works but it does.

Am a bit confused now though about quality of washing powder. I thought it was all the same. I just buy whatever brand has a gigantic 100-wash box on offer.

washing powder is (usually) not anti bac. but it removes the food (sweat and grease) of the bacteria.

Mintyy - sod off with your sarcasm which is in several of your posts these days.

Tarzanlovesgaby that's not entirely true. Biological and non bio powders contain oxygen based bleaching agents, so it does have some antibacterial qualities. All Liquids and colour powders don't contain this, hence these are notorious for making washing machines go mouldy

Oh my goodness. After reading this I have today bought washing powder and soda crystals!

My ex used to keep the washing machine door firmly closed between uses ie without letting it dry after each use.

Led to a vile build up of mould on the seal which used to stink.

His clothes smelled fine though and he was clean in most other aspects hence I didn't notice til I actually moved in. I'd thought the smell coming from the laundry area was a dodgy flavour of fabric conditioner or something.

Refused to wash my clothes until seal was replaced!

Look, we're not going to save the fucking planet by washing at 30. I like a nice, hot boil wash myself! Clean towels, clean machine, happy RidingCrop!

I quick wash everything at 30. All the boys stuff and socks, bedding etc. With the exception of my husbands armpits on his T-shirts, nothing smells and everything looks clean. My husband wears his ancient t shirts three days and despite showering, sprays tons of crap in pits.

I do a quick wash as I usually have 20 million loads to do, what with having so many children.

I might experiment with an extremely hot wash tomorrow. Just wash every one of his t shirts to see if that resolves things

Threads like these really make me .

Here in Japan, 99.9% of washing machines use cold mains water. In winter this is ICY. So apparently my clothes are filthy, huh?

jpgirl- I am the same. I live in Scotland, I wash all my clothes in mains cold water, which in winter can be only 3 or 4 degrees.

My clothes small fresh and clean, look clean and my family are rarely ill.

I don't know what all the pearl clutching is about on this thread.

By rights we should be dead by now washing laundry in cold water.

Many clothes are supposed to be washed at 30 according to the label.