Is it okay to wash laundry with bio washing powder at 40C where there are incontinence issues?

[IAmFlyingThisPlane]

Hi,

I've found from experience that bio washing liquid (persil) takes the smell out of laundry much better then non-bio at 60C (ecover).

I just wondered - if dealing with eldely care and incontinence issues, is bio laundry liquid at 40C good enough to also kill bacteria, or does that require a 60C wash?

I googled and I can't find anything about it.

I kind of wish I could do the pre-wash at 40C with bio, and the main wash at 60C with non-bio, or vice versa, but I'm not sure that that's possible.

I would be glad to know if anybody has found an authoritative source on this.

Thanks!

It's the temperature that kills bacteria not the biological detergent. If you wash at 40c I would use laundry sanitiser.

Thanks that's useful to know.

I use a laundry sanitiser as mentioned above for my son's things, who is in continent, never had any problems at 40.

Enzymes denature over 40 degrees C. So bio wash powder doesn't work bilogically so same as non bio.

Reusable nappies can be washed at 60 but are usually recommended to be washed at 40 so I think 40 is fine.

We use reusable nappies and find bio at 60 best but bio at 40 is also ok. I'd use non bio at 60 always, but ecover in particular is not very good so avoid that one,

I've heard a recommendation for using Napisan. I guess if it works on nappies then it's fine for adults too. Don't know how the price compares with mainstream laundry sanitiser.

Thanks, I just had a read online and a lot of people seem to recommend Dettol laundry sanitiser so I have ordered some.

Came to say this, we've just started using reusable nappies and the washing recommendation from the manufacturer is 40 degrees, and that they can be washed in with a normal load (although if they're very soiled I put them in only with other nappies).

Bleach in powder or eco bleach is what kills bugs, you could add to Ecover liquid ( their powders contain eco bleach).
i personally favour 60 as a temp

Just a capful of normal dettol would work.
The lavender and orange oil one is gorgeous.

Might be worth adding some napisan too.

Halo Sports Laundry Liquid removes sweat and odours at 30 degrees.It's also antifungal.and antibacterial. Horribly expensive to use as an everyday wash for everything though.

Sanitiser should not be needed!
I use bio d laundry eco bleach, like napisan, which I have anyway

Napisan - great for getting rid of smells

Don't forget to occasionally strip wash continence related stuff. That is washing it with no detergent to get rid of any residue. This helps get rid of the smell.

Years ago when my DD was a baby she had Terry nappies and I washed using Persil biological washing powder at 90 degrees and they had a soak in Napisan first.

Don't mix the two. One or the other.

Bloody brilliant stuff though. Works so well even at 30. I would use that. You can buy it in packs of 2 double size bottles on Amazon.

@Geneticsbunny a strip wash still requires detergent https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a33588329/laundry-stripping/#:~:text=Add%20borax%2C%20washing%20soda%20(sodium,all%20three%20ingredients%20dissolve%20completely.

@IAmFlyingThisPlane should you have yellow stains left after washing, they will disappear in sunshine. FWIW, I always washed nappies in 30-40 degrees and they came up fine. This whole wash at almost boiling point and antibac whatever is in many ways a product of advertising. Plain soap and water did a perfectly good job for years and years.

From experience, washing at 40 degrees minimum with a biological detergent works for removing urine smells. Lower temperatures may not be effective. For heavily soiled laundry (urine) I go to 60 degrees, always with bio powder (whites) or colour powder (non-whites).