Cold water washing machines

[flyingant]

I'm in rented property and have found myself with a top-loading cold water washing machine. I don't understand how these can get laundry properly clean. What about sweaty exercise clothes - surely they need hot water? Does anyone have one of these types of machine? Any tips for making sure clothes come out clean and sweet-smelling please?

I'm wondering if I need to ask for it to be removed (if they will) and buy a hot washing machine of my own?

Do you mean it only has a cold water inlet?

Every machine I've owned in the last 20 years is cold inlet only, the machine heats the water during the cycle.

What sort of top loader is it?

It will heat. What programs does it have?? Could you take a photo and let us see??

Goodness that's really unusual. Are you in the UK? I wouldn't want that either. As I understand it the laundry detergents in countries where cold water washing is the norm have a different formulation to deal with sweat and stains but I still wouldn't be happy doing laundry in cold water.

A top loading machine is quite unusual nowadays but a cold feed is normal unless you mean that the machine actually doesn't have any programmes and literally agiatates with cold water

Are you in the UK?

Our washing machine only has cold water in but it heats it’s own, maximum cycle is 90! I would love to have a top loader, they are much more common in the US. Are you sure the machine doesn’t heat the water depending on the cycle you choose? I mainly wash at 30 anyway.

Cold water just means it only takes water in from the cold water supply. The machine then heats the water. The water will be heated to whatever temperature the programme you choose needs. Quite a few washing machines only plumb into the cold supply. There are pros and cons of top loaders. One pro is that they often do really quick wash cycles - e.g 15 minutes. If the landlord has not left the instruction booklet,you can usually get it online.

I'm pretty sure it only has cold water settings. I'm not in the UK (Asia) and Google suggests these are a thing that people actually choose! Pros seem to be to do with not ruining clothes (colour running, shrinkage etc). I can't seem to find a manual online. I've attached photos of the settings...

You really need to ask for specific advice from posters in the same country as you to get helpful advice

I think you'll get a thread of replies the same as above as the assumptioni is that you are in the UK unless you say otherwise.

I'd be very surprised if I'm the only person on MN who has experienced this type of washing machine. I'm assuming they are available in the UK too (although I have no idea, hence asking the question) and MN is open to people in other countries. I don't know anyone in my current country with a cold water machine and I don't know of any similar forums to ask.

I don't think they are available in the UK. We can get top loaders but the ones here do heat the water.

Hi flyingant - as I suspected, not in the UK. Hopefully someone from Australia or Asia who actually uses these machines (they do exist, I've seen posts on other threads) will see your message and can advise.

No idea but I love 'more wash'!

Actually thinking about it I grew up in the ME, the tap water was bloody hot most of the year as it came from a tank on the roof (not drinkable), if it's hot where you are perhaps the water doesn't need to be heated?

How "hot" is the cold water? It may be 20C anyway, so not exactly a cold wash.
Also, the detergants will be designed for those sort of washing conditions.
Are you actually finding things arent getting clean? Or worried about it? If the second, give it a go and see what happens. You may be plesently suprised.

I have a similar machine.
I add hot water using a bucket.

I’ve had my clothes washed for me in these in india and I’ve no idea what they did but the clothes were spectacularly clean every time.

A long time ago I worked for a company that made detergent. I remember being told that the formulations varied according to the washing preferences of different countries. I seem to remember that in Japan cold water and short washing cycles were normal so the washing powder was designed for that regime. Whereas in the U.K. we favour longer hotter washes. In the US bleach is usually added separately but in the U.K. it’s incorporated in washing powder (but not in liquids, back then, anyway). So local detergent may well give good results.

Thank you for the responses, everyone. It's good to know about detergent probably being different to suit cold washes and I'll definitely try the tip to add a bucket of hot water when needed and see how it goes

You don't need hot water to wash clothes, the detergent and agitation action does that for you. Most of my washing is done on cold.

In Australia the machines use cold water. The tumble driers don’t heat the heat either, they suck in warm air from outside to dry the clothes.