Cleaning bathroom cloths

[localbunny]

A while back I switched from disposable cleaning wipes to washable cloths in the bathroom, as I felt guilty about the single use element. I use 'pink for the sink/blue for the loo' and wash them at 90C. DH thinks that it would be okay to clean other household cloths (kitchen, general cleaning etc) with these in the washing machine, and says the hot temperature kills the germs. I see what he means but I just don't feel quite right about it somehow. Am I being ridiculous? How do other people handle their bathroom cloth washing please?!

@AnastasiaRomanov

You’re right, they aren’t - and that’s something I’ve only realised recently. I’ve got a Planetcare filter attached to my machine which helps, but am currently saving up to buy an overlocker so that I can make my own cloths.

I put them in a colours wash or dark wash because that's what colour my cloths are. With clothes (being careful if they have had bleach on them).

If I have a few "hygiene" things to wash at once (including any ordinary clothes which retain a smell after a normal wash) then I'll do a 60 degree wash. Rarely do 90, only to clean the machine or if something comes out of the 60 wash still stinky. Heating water is the most energy guzzling thing your washing machine does, so the difference between a 60 and 90 wash is quite significant and most bacteria is killed at 60. I also worry about the effect on clothing from washing at 90 so unless it's only cloths and towels, I would hesitate to run a 90 wash.

You could also rinse them with a kettle full of hot water before washing which would do a similar job and heat less water so be more eco friendly.

Interesting, was just wondering about this. Currently I do a weekly wash at 60 for hand towels, tea towels, kitchen and bathroom cloths. Not sure what to do about sponges used for the loo. Maybe I'll throw these in with the rest as 60 should kill the germs. Does that sound right?

I certainly wouldn't clean anything like this at 40 as it won't kill germs. All our clothes go in at 30. Clean for clothes is not the same as hygienic ally clean that you need for cleaning equipment.

I use loo paper to clean the loo. Flushable with no guilt! Probably better for my purse & the environment than washing separately!

I use sponges, so they don't get washed at all! Different ones for toilet and basins etc. Just get dried in-between cleans. Changed when they start to deteriorate, and get passed down the line to utility cloths for cat or garden cleaning up.

I wash them at 60 with all other cloths/ towels.
Ds had washable nappies for two years and his nappies and clothes from butt we’re obviously poopy/ wee and washed at 60 degrees fine. No stains. And I use the same cheeky wipes now on his face/ hands/ butt once washed.

I chuck mine in with a colour wash at 30 degrees.
Never been ill. Cloths are dried on outside line. Always smell ok.

IF I think any cloth could do with more attention which is rare because I have loads of kitchen/bathroom cloths so ditch regularly if one gets too stained, I boil wash in a pan on the stove like Granny used to. Dry in line outside. Perfect.

My machine has a steam setting that gives everything a super hot germ killing blast but not as expensive to run as a hot wash. I’d put something vile in at that temp bathroom clothes get done at 60. Mines are mainly dusty from cleaning down sides of the loo/ round the back where it connects to waste pipe and you can’t fit a mop in. Toilet seat etc just gets a sanitising wipe.