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 mostly use a 40C wash, but towels and sheets get washed at 60C.

Everything at 60. Pet stuff at 60 or 90. Delicates at 30.

Use powder, not pods or liquid, and wash at 40 or 60 for towels
but most importantly don’t leave washing in the machine for more than five mins after it has finished

Washing at 30 with modern detergents is totally fine. Why are people so mental on MN about washing. Absolutely baffling.

The problem is you’re leaving it in the machine. Simple fix; don’t do that!

90c 🤣 you’re joking???

I mostly wash at 30, but find t-shirts need a 40 wash every 3 or 4 washes to stop the smell building up. To be honest, I've never read the washing label of ant garment

I wash everything at 40 apart from bedding which is done at 60, towels are done at 40 or 60 depending on room in the machine.

If stuff is a bit smelly, Dettol Laundry is quite good and Persil Odour defy. I use that on DH sportswear.

I wash different things at different temperatures. Sportswear, jeans & some expensive clothes at 30. Delicates on a special delicate setting. White cottons (with powder) at 40 & a higher spin setting. Wool & silk on the hand wash setting. Tea towels and cleaning cloths at 60. I do a maintenance wash once a month with bicarbonate

This. I wouldn't dream of leaving anything damp in the machine, especially not for that length of time.

Where I live most people wash in cold water, our clothes don't smell musty.

40