30 or 40 degrees washing?

[teaandtoastwithmarmite]

Hi there I was just wondering how much different washing at 30c is compared to 40. I have washed a sweater my DD bought from Zara on 40 and it appears to have shrunk slightly. Enough for me to have to replace it. Tbf the label says 30 but I usually wash anything that says 30 on 40. DH says he’s noticed a couple of his things shrunk as well now. I’ve never had an issue before. Can washing 10c higher cause this issue?

It can and that's because too much is made from fabric that is not pre-washed/ tested, with some mass fashion sellers covering their backsides with low temp washing instructions, that fail to clean items.

Tbh 30 degrees would probably have shrunk them too!

Ok so that would make sense why I didn’t have the issue in the past. I just feel like 30 is not enough but I will have to start doing it now. Also I want to try to return this but she bought it with her own cash and doesn’t have the receipt. I won’t be able to will I?

Tbh 30 degrees would probably have shrunk them too!

just saw this. Gosh I don’t know what to say!

I’ve had this as well, I wash everything at 40c and have shrunk two pairs of tracksuit (like?) trousers. Daughter got a replacement from them for the first pair and now the second pair are also smaller…expensive rubbish IMO

I have changed to cooler, but longer washes. It has made a big difference, especially stain removal. I was always having to re-wash stuff before, now I don't. Nothing shrinks either.

I tend to do knitwear at 30 but for things like t shirts that get sweatier or underwear I'm never happy with them when I try a 30 wash.

I find that washing at 40 definitely gets things cleaner and fresher smelling- so I do most kids clothes, underwear, towels etc at 40 then some of mine and DDs more delicate stuff at 30. Viscose and wool definitely need a 30 wash.

Did you think they just put 30 instead of 40 on the label for no reason then?

So they put 30 on the label and you washed at 40? I mean it's quite obvious isn't it

You can’t return an item you shrunk in the wash by failing to follow the correct washing instructions even if you do have the receipt.

Sympathy OP, ALL my clothes mysterious shrank over Christmas...

Obviously I understand I washed incorrectly but my point is everything says 30 and this is the only real thing that’s shrunk and it’s not shrunk dramatically at that. Just the arms are a bit shorter.

And I won’t be returning it but it’s bloody annoying

Stuff that needs 30 is pretty delicate IMO. The sweater, depending on fabric, could be delicate. I do usually wash stuff like that on 30. TBH though, stuff like that pisses me off. I need clothes to function - get into a normal 40 wash, get dried in the tumble dryer and worn again. Not to be a project to look after.

It’s really not. The only reason I would think it’s because there’s a print on it but I can’t think why it would shrink. It’s 40 not 60 lol. Her prized white fox hoody said hand wash only!

I hate those White Fox clothes, those have been in the machine at 40 and are fine but takes days to dry. Think I tumble dried one by accident and is still fine.

So it says polyester and cotton but most of it is in another language. It’s from Zara.

I did wash that at 40 and there was a stain and had to wash it again but didn’t put in dryer. I didn’t put this in dryer either. That’s what I don’t understand. I do all our washing and apart from washing DH’s wool jumper by accident on a 40 (I bought him a new one straightaway) this hasn’t really happened before. That was a noticeable shrinkage. This seems to have just got a little bit smaller.

Not very obvious really is it. And half the time she cuts the labels out straightaway as they irritate her.

I tend to wash / dry everything according to the label but after a few months, put it on a 40 wash and finish drying it off on a low heat in the dryer.

I hate how so many clothes now come with a max 30 wash label. It's impossible to guess if it is because they use cheap fabric that hasn't been prewashed, or if they are on some kind of eco crusade. Normally I avoid buying clothes that are marked as needing dry cleaning or washing on low temperatures.

I bought some lovely bamboo bed linen last autumn without noticing that the instructions warn against washing them at higher temperatures than 30 degrees. I normally wash bed clothes on 60, with Daz powder and didn't fancy sleeping in sheets that hadn't been properly cleaned. Remembering the mumsnet advice I got a bottle of the Halo Sports stuff from Sainsbury's and can report that it does seem to wash properly on low temperatures, it claims to be antifungal & antibacterial too. Which may explain how it gets the pong out of old gym kit.

Perhaps now I can start buying those fancy knickers that have a max 30 degree wash label, and throw them in with the bedclothes. I've been wearing Sloggi maxi briefs for decades just because they can be washed at 60.

I’ll have to try that. I just tried washing in 30 and it didn’t seem to smell clean and I don’t even like heavily scented washing. I think I’m going to have to have another basket in the garage now for 30 degrees!

Incorrect. The majority of clothes say 40. They only say 30 if they actually need to be washed at 30.

If it’s just a recommendation for ~environmental reasons or some shit then they say that’s a recommendation, not a necessity.

ok so her Zara jeans also say 30 and thinking about it they have gone a bit shorter 🙈

I wash everything at 30. I feel we're sort of conditioned to think 40 is the norm. In Australia it's really common to wash everything on a cold wash!