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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

So how many of you wash at 30 degrees now?

71 replies

IvanaDK · 30/11/2009 18:20

It's global warming people and we're all supposed to wash our clothes at 30 degrees now, not 40 or 60.

But do you do it?

I only started recently, and I was quite surprised to ind that the clothes still got clean. My neighbor admitted to over filling the machine and boiling everything and it just made me feel that I had to do my part ;)

I do still wash mine and DHs bed linen at 60 as he has dust mite allergies.

OP posts:
WouldYouCouldYouWithAGoat · 30/11/2009 19:42

my 30 degree wash is called 'worn once' which says it all really. i am 40 degrees and proud

shonaspurtle · 30/11/2009 19:45

I've got a 60 minute quick cycle on my machine that defaults to 60 degrees but gets stuff clean and fresh at 40 so I've been using that. I should have a go at turning it down to 30 really.

I'm a sucker for new washing products but the Ariel liquid that says it washes well at lower temps really does work.

I'm sure I saw something on here once about some countries washing everything in cold water and their powders are formulated to cope with that. (may be making it up)

gallusbesom · 30/11/2009 19:51

I tried the 15 degree using Surf and it needed to be rewashed but the brrrrr liquid worked and it smells lovely

JaneiteMightBite · 30/11/2009 19:52

We do: have done for ages. And the clothes realy do get clean. Must admit, though, that we wear a lot of black and don't have young children, so clothes tend to just need washing because they've been 'worn' rather than because they're actually 'dirty' as it were.

LaDiDaDi · 30/11/2009 19:58

I use the otherwise unspecified "energy saving" cycle on my machine which is different from the 30degree wash . I have no idea which is the best for the planet! The energy saving one is fine for washing but takes 126min which can be a pain.

Goober · 30/11/2009 19:59

I do.

JaneiteMightBite · 30/11/2009 20:01

The clothes realLy get clean, not 'realy' -they are cleaner than that! Must remember to spellcheck.

veryconfusedandupset · 01/12/2009 16:47

Whites have to go on 95 degrees plus pre-wash, otherwise don't come out clean.

TheInvisibleManDidIt · 01/12/2009 16:51

Yes- Clothes always clean.

Then go and use all the energy/elec I've saved by putting them on tumble dry after!

GrimmaTheNome · 01/12/2009 16:56

I use 30 by default, but do white towels/bathmats at 60 or very occasionally 95 - you need to run a hot wash sometimes to keep the machine clean.

I notice no difference whatever between 30 and 40.

I use Biotex soak or spray on bad stains, prewash if muddy, sometimes use Vanish in the wash.

BellaBear · 01/12/2009 16:56

we do unless towels or bed sheets

princessmel · 01/12/2009 16:57

We do, unless it's bedding. Then it's 40 degrees.

SparkyToo · 01/12/2009 17:42

I've started doing a more and more washes at 30 - as I find more cotton clothes suggest washing at this temperature. I therefore wash the rest of the load at this temp too. Seems to work OK.

MadameDuBain · 01/12/2009 17:46

I started doing it, but was informed that that's why I ended up with a stinky washing machine. 30 isn't hot enough to get rid of the germs and mould that grow in the machine where it stays wet inside.

So now I do it at 30 if it's everyday/not actually dirty stuff, but some stuff at 40 and bedlinen at 60.

OhYouMerryMerryKitten · 01/12/2009 17:47

We do 30, but with bio powder which probably will get me shot!

thedollshouse · 01/12/2009 17:51

I wash at 30 if there aren't any stains. With my machine 30 will not actually remove dirt so I have to wash at 40. I have only occasionally washed at 60.

SolosScrapingUpForXmas · 01/12/2009 17:51

Sometimes, but mostly 40.

SofaQueen · 01/12/2009 17:58

I don't because 30 degrees won't get out stains from poo, vomit and tomato sauce. Also, I won't wash bedding and kitchen cloths in 30 degrees because that temperature won't kill bacteria well enough.

BellaBear · 01/12/2009 18:09

what's wrong with bio washing powder? (I don't use it but DH is allergic)

juneybean · 01/12/2009 18:09

I do but not because of any environmental initiative, but because I worry I'll shrink my clothes by washing it higher lol

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 01/12/2009 18:11

I tried, but it just didn't get things clean enough. I do wash at 35C though with bio.

OhYouMerryMerryKitten · 02/12/2009 12:48

I was under the impression that bio wasn't good for the environment but after googling to back my argument up it seems that I'm quite probably wrong.

so thats good

empirestrikesback · 02/12/2009 21:22

Sometimes but come on, you dont get stuff like towels and, lets face it, knickers,clean without a proper hot wash. And who wants to go round in slimy knickers using grey old towels?Not me thank you!
p.s. i am VERY green when it comes to recycling/reusing and all that stuff. in fact i drive everyone else in the house mad. so i think that buys me a bit of slack in the washing department

bibbitybobbityhat · 02/12/2009 21:25

Well, quite, thats what I was implying earlier Empire. When you put on clean clothes you want to be confident that your gusset/armpit/toes of socks - really is clean with no residual slightly sweaty whiff.

Heathcliffscathy · 02/12/2009 21:27

what on EARTH are you talking about? 30 degrees cleans fantastically well. slime??? parallel universe perhaps.