I was recently reading a post on instagram, the lady was giving her list of energy saving ideas and mentioned that she only ever does cold washing, I was surprised by this.
I do most of my personal washing at 30* but I like a hotter wash for bedding and towels, and an even hotter wash for dish cloths, oven gloves, mop heads etc. am I being overly fussy?
I was recently reading a post on instagram, the lady was giving her list of energy saving ideas and mentioned that she only ever does cold washing, I was surprised by this.
I do most of my personal washing at 30* but I like a hotter wash for bedding and towels, and an even hotter wash for dish cloths, oven gloves, mop heads etc. am I being overly fussy?
In this day and age Jazzy you are just being careful and I think I will follow you with this.
"I am doing the best I can with what I have in this moment; and that is all I can expect of anyone including me"
I am amazed at this Jazzy, I can't think of any item that wold benefit from a 'cold' wash, even a very fine merino wool or cashmere item.
I hand wash a lot of delicate items, but never in cold water. It is common sense that cold water will not kill germs or bacteria, and I agree with you re bed linen etc. I actually boil facecloths, always have, don't know where I picked that up from, not that you can tell with the complexion I've got though
When I saw the heading, I thought you were going to mention the trend of standing in the shower under cold water, which is supposed to be invigorating, but I'm not keen myself!
Agree with you, needs a hotter wash - so many things today are 30 degree wash, which is all well and good but sometimes I just don't think it's enough to kill the germs & bacteria they're exposed to (especially bedding, think of all the shed skin!)
At my dad's care home, everything gets washed at 60 degrees, sadly most of his clothes are marked as 30 or 40 degrees, so not sure how long they'll fit him for
I wouldn't wash in cold. They are pushing it as its better for the planet, and new washing powders and liquids are supposed to be able to kill germs and clean at lower temperatures. However, I was brought up with a mum who boiled things to death! I used 30/40 degree washes, but towels, t-towels, sheets etc get a 60 wash. Nothings fallen apart yet lol
Thanks for all your replies, I’m going to stick with my current plan, I used to boil face cloths too Cj, but use the 60 degrees wash these days.
I couldn’t do the cold showers either Jax, I don’t think I could even do it in the summer.
You’re right VW, our Mums washed everything hotter and I can remember my Mum having a copper washing tub, it must have had a gas heating system (similar to a gas hob) she also hand washed delicate clothes, and I can remember being her helper, I couldn’t reach into the sink so had a small leather suitcase to stand on.
I’ve bought a lot of clothes from the USA when I’ve been over there. It’s always amazed me how so many of the labels say to wash cold! I never do as like you lot believe you need heat to get things clean. I use 40C for most things but 30C for more delicate items. I’m not found of 60C as I have shrunk things. I put an expensive sweater of my husbands in the machine a few weeks ago. It said it could be machine washed but now he says it would fit a school boy! 😱 I’ve tried stretching it with steam from the iron but it’s still not back to normal. Going to give it another wash when we have a sunny day to dry it outside.
On another washing note - have you tried Smol? Maybe I’m repeating myself here so will shut up.
I wash everything on a 30c with a bio liquid. If there is anything that really calls for a much hotter wash, I put them in the sink first with very hot water, then do a 30c. Like as Jazzy said, dish cloths, tea towels a mop head etc. Not towels, towels go on a 30c, in my mind you use a towel "after" you have washed yourself, so unless you didn't wash properly why go hotter?
A lot of countries with regions with no electric washing machines etc, wash their things in cold water..sometimes in the river too, I think the west in obsessed with germs and bacteria, which in my mind you have to come into contact with in order to build resistance
There is a lot to be said for being part of a group, and the support and friendship that is gained from this.
I’ve bought a lot of clothes from the USA when I’ve been over there. It’s always amazed me how so many of the labels say to wash cold! I never do as like you lot believe you need heat to get things clean. I use 40C for most things but 30C for more delicate items. I’m not found of 60C as I have shrunk things. I put an expensive sweater of my husbands in the machine a few weeks ago. It said it could be machine washed but now he says it would fit a school boy! 😱 I’ve tried stretching it with steam from the iron but it’s still not back to normal. Going to give it another wash when we have a sunny day to dry it outside.
On another washing note - have you tried Smol? Maybe I’m repeating myself here so will shut up.
Shrunken jumpers, sewn into a square make a funky cushion cover! Always a use for things the washer or tumble dryer has 'changed'
Smol is company who supply washing capsules and dishwasher tablets amongst other things that come in cardboard packaging so are better for the environment. My OD introduced me to the company and I bought some boxes of washing capsules from Sainsbury’s. When I look on their own website, I found it was cheaper to buy direct and it gets posted out, through my letter box on a calendar that suits how much I use. Have a look and see …