Do you follow the 30°C label for cotton, or go warmer at 40°C?

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I’m having an issue where my clothes smell damp or musty if they’re left in the washing machine overnight. I’ve already cleaned the machine thoroughly, including all components, and I’ve run a very hot maintenance wash with Dr Beckmann. After this I ran the clothes through a 2.5‑hour cotton cycle at 30°C using liquid detergent in a dosing ball placed in the drum, but they still came out with the same musty, damp smell.

After reading around, it seems many people swear by washing cottons at 40°C and towels at 60°C. The problem is that all my cotton clothing labels say 30°C, and my Supima cotton towels say 40°C.

Should I ignore the label instructions if my priority is making sure the clothes are properly clean and not harbouring anything that could cause smells? Isn't there a risk of shrinking or damaging the items if I were to do this?

I’ve also seen people recommend separating underwear and socks and washing them at 60°C. Is this something you would suggest, or is there a risk of shrinking or damaging them?

If sportswear labels state 30°C is it safe to wash them at 40°C?

Lastly, should liquid detergent be used exclusively for cycles at 40°C and below, with powder reserved for temperatures above that?

I usually do towels at 60 degrees (or hotter if there's been d&v). No idea if some towels need more care but mine don't.

Clothes that say 30 are tricky - are they ones that would have said 40 up until recently and now say 30 because that's better for the environment? I'm not knocking that as a goal but it makes a difference. If they are they'll probably be absolutely fine done at 40 degrees.

Sportswear might actually need 30 but I don't know. Fancy socks might not work at 60 but bog standard stinky sports socks could survive it and if someone's got stinky feet that might be essential.

We use pods or pods topped up with a bit of extra liquid for everything, just habit though, not something particularly planned.

The main thing I'd avoid is leaving things in the machine overnight at all, or you'll be going backwards for every step forwards you take. It's not good to run the machine after everyone's gone to bed anyway (fire risk). The single best thing you can do is probably to start doing washing at times when you can empty the machine promptly.

it's your stuff to wear out as fast as you like.
Washing hotter will use more energy (cost you more money) & wear the items out faster. Your choice.
I only wash at 30.
I don't leave anything damp in the machine before or after washing.

Why do you leave clothes in the washing machine overnight? That seems to be the easiest thing to fix first? Most machines have a delay timer, so you could set it to wash so that it finishes as you get up if necessary.

I was all my cottons on 40deg as my washing machine doesn't have a 30deg setting. They are fine, really these are the clothes that used to say 40deg but now say 30deg as its more eco friendly.

I avoid washing anything as low as 30, it's simply not warm enough to wash properly/remove stains and will result in a smelly washing machine. I wash most things as hot as they can stand for as long as possible. Unless specifically delicate, your cotton will survive 40° cycle.

Anything really delicate gets hand washed.

I’d say it’s the detergent you are using.
I wash everything at 30 unless except for white sheets.

I buy all my laundry and cleaning here, it’s very economical and works. I use the laundry flakes.

www.frenchsoaps.co.uk

It’s the liquid detergent. Stop using that and switch to powder. Put the powder straight into the drum. Also use the delay timer so the washing isn’t sitting in the drum for too long.

Everything white in this house gets washed at 60, as do towels and bedding. Everything else at 40. No matter what fabric it is (other than wool!) it all survives well, and almost everything goes in the tumble dryer too.

Same here - unless it is a delicate fabric

try running a cycle with some old dirty cleaning cloths and some bleach at 90degree. It will damage the old cloth but the smell should be gone!

Bicarbonate of soda is a deodoriser. Please don’t ruin a machine with bleach.

Agree with PP it's because you are washing with a liquid at low temperatures.

I use bio powder - in the drum not the drawer - for whites/lights. Most at 40. Towels/Bedding at 60.
Manufacturers are pushing consumers towards pods. Buy bio powder from Aldi/Lidl (Which? Best Buy).
Non-bio liquid for darks at 40.
Sportswear is done on the 40 wash.
I have given up trying to get the stains out of the sole of DCs white socks. They have been washed so they are clean. Underwear does not need to be nuked on a 60 unless D&V.

I don't read the labels, most washes are the 2.5 hr economy wash. If I'm in a hurry a mixed load for 1hr. Bed linen goes on the bed linen wash. Sicky things go on the hottest wash. If its all gym / pe kit it can go on the synthetic wash. If it comes out wrecked it has no place in my washing pile. I don't do handwash / dry clean only or fancy knits for that reason as well. All in, if not enough to split whites and colours I whack a colour catcher in a bra bag and throw that in....used to just chuck them in but recently had to clear a few of them and all the gunk out of the filter and have been more careful since!

I wash all colours at 40° and all white towels and white bed linen at 90°.

I've had some of my whites for literally decades and they're as white as the day I bought them. I doubt they'd last that long on a cooler wash, so I am doing my bit to save the planet by not adding to landfill.

Coloured towels are done at 60°.

I think washing everything at 30 is gross and it’s definitely not just as clean as washing hotter.
Cotton is fine at 40, I do bedding and usually whites at 60, towels at 40/60 depending how dirty they are.
I only do more delicate items like knitted tops at 30.
I usually use delay start to wash overnight and then hang out in the morning.

I wash everything at 40 unless it is hand wash only. I tried doing washes at 30 but everything starts to come out smelling starchy after a couple of times being washed like this, so I don't think they are getting washed properly. 30 seems like a pointless temperature anyway, may as well just use cold water and save electricity.

My tops get a very persistent smell under the armpits which only comes out when they are washed at 60, they have all survived this. I wouldn't do it all the time but they need it every few washes.

I mostly ignore care labels unless it is something delicate, I tumble dry everything as well apart from swimwear.

You need to clean the machine every so often by running an empty cyle on the hottest wash, if you like you can add some citric acid powder, that's what the washing machine cleaner sachets contain anyway. It's a good idea if you live in a hard water area.

Running a 60 or higher wash semi regularly will help avoid build up of soap scum in the pipes. And leave the door ajar when the machine is empty.

Although TBH I find if I leave washing in the machine too long it will smell regardless of the wash temperature. Use the delay start button if you want to run a wash overnight or rinse hold if you forget to empty it promptly.

I wash everything at 40 with bio powder (Lidl or Sainsbury's) I don't read the care labels unless it seems particularly delicate. I've read that bio works well at 40 but if using non bio then it needs 60 to work well. Dilute bleach won't harm your machine but will make it smell clean, if it's the machine that smells.

I wash everything at 40, including bedding and towels. I use vinegar instead of clothes conditioner. I never leave clothes in the washing machine overnight.

I never had issues with smells and stains

I wash everything at 40 except for towels and sheets (60), and delicates, wool and outdoor stuff for which I use the specific washing cycle and washing detergent. 30 just doesn't get stuff clean in my experience.

I use powder for whites. Liquid for colours. Using powder periodically seems to avoid the musty smell that builds up with the residual film from liquid or pods. I never leave anything sitting in the machine after washing.

I leave the door open between washes.

Cottons can go on a hot wash!

Use vinegar in the fabric softener compartment, that will stop the film and deodorise at the same time.

Everything in our house is washed at 30. Nothing smells musty and no issues with stains.

The issue is you leaving your washing in the machine overnight - it needs to come out and be hung up as soon as it’s done.

I wash my sheets at 60C maximum, my towels at 90C. I have a duvet cover that's about 40 years old and still going strong.

30 or 40

I've never thought to look at clothing labels to check recommended washing temperatures.

The wash cycle I use automatically puts the temperature at 40°. I leave it at 40° for towels but turn it down to 30° for everything else to save energy.

Everything comes out clean and looks fine.

I do everything on 30 except towels and dishcloths on 40. The problem will be leaving them in the machine after they are done.