Advice on washing whites please!

[BoschExxcel]

Quite new to this so I hope I've posted in the right section!

I normally wash my whites at 40, but would like to start doing them at 60C. (my machine has a Whites 60C programme) My whites load mainly consits of my school shirts (35% Cotton 65% Polyester) and other items like underwear (cotton, viscose and polyester) and a few other bits.

They all say to wash at 40 but any advice would be appreciated!!

Chris

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

Use the Whites 60C Programme

I always wash my whites clothes, and I have a lot, on the Whites cycle.
Its a 60C heat intensive cycle. I usually always wait for a full load of whites, as it gives better friction/movement to really take the dirt out better.

Alternatively, you could wash on cottons with 90C/70C/60C etc.
40 will fade them to grey quicker.

So many people make the mistake of bleaching white clothes, this breaks down the fibres quicker, also making then grey (or yellow) over time.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks, so they should be ok? Unfortunately my machine doesn't have variable temperatures (unlike the freestanding version with 50 and 70C!

My mums always told me that things shrink at 60, but I presume that's just delicate items like wool?

 

[henene4]

Shrinkage

All my whites are T-Shirts and underwear. They usualy don't have a problem with shrinkage, yet, as my Ts are printed, this print usually last way shorter when washed at 60°.
Our method to whitest whites at 40°: prewash. Bot pre and main wash are done with Persil, then they are rinsed well and spun at usual high speed. And boy, these whites stay white.
Yet, I would still prefer 60° over 40° on plain whites/non printed whites.
Owning a free standing WP build EU FL (sold as Bauknecht), the Whites cycle is quite OK. Only disapointment is the low rinses water levels and the missing prewash option. The main thing changed to the Cotton cycle is the longer wash and slower interim spin.
Cycles I use as a substitution to Whites:
1st: Cottons 40°, high soil level (if yours got that Option), prewash, intensive rinse. Used for mentioned printed articles.
2nd: Cottons 60°, high or medium soil. Used for tablecloths that go to the dryer or with intensive rinse for white bedding. Good for heavy soiled shirts as well, though, option 3 or 4 would be prefered if soil allows.
3rd: Easy Care 40°, high soil, 1000 RPM spin, intensive rinse. For less dirty shirts or for delicate table clothes.
4th: Easy Care 60°, high soil, intensive rinse. At 1000 RPM for standard table clothes beging hang dried or at 1400 RPM for bedding. I actually like the Easy Care cycle for any bedding better because it still spins at full speed, yet, only for a max of 120 sec and it has a cool down, thus, less creasing.
Hope I could help.
Henrik

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks for that! Your machine sounds similar to my WP, mine only has Synthetics 30 and 40 though, maybe I need to get some pics up!

I haven't used the prewash yet, do you notice much difference? Maybe I could try Whites 60 with easy ironing or something? Would bras go funny at 60? My mum wouldn't be impressed if I wrecked them!

Oh and does your machine have a Rapid option? I use it a lot with cottons on full loads as I'm too impatient to wait over 2 hours for a load! Lol

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[henene4]

Ours has the rapid option, yet, no easy iron. Therefor, we got the soil level selector. This way, without using short, I can get the 2:20h 60° Cotton down to 1:40 on lowest setting, or 2h flat at medium soil.
I prefer that option as it does not cut out the enzyme stage as rapid does.

 

[paulc]

BoschExxel

You didn't mention what detergent you were using. Remember a good quality powder is best for whites, if you are using liquid you need to add a scoop of oxy stain remover, Sainsbury's own brand one for whites is very good and a lot cheaper than Vanish or the Ariel equivalent.

I would be wary of washing bra's at 60 deg and also of putting them in with a "normal" load, especially if they have underwires in. Believe me it's no fun trying to remove the washing when a wire has come out and skewered through the whole load! Or even worse if the wire pokes through the holes and ends up between the tub and drum.

I would wash the bra's by hand or on their own on a quick wash.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks for the replies!

I use Ariel Bio Powder for my whites, bedding and towels. Colour version for darks. I have Pods and liquid too but don't like them as much so my mum uses them when she does the washing.

With my whites I add a scoop of Waitrose Essential white stain remover, I've only used it twice but you can't really go wrong for £2.50! Thanks for the advice on the bras, Maybe I'll try them in a separate load.

 

[hotpointwma64]

how to wash

Whites must all be washed on 60c unless delicate. Bras are fine at this temperature... wether you put bras in a bag/handwash them is your choice but generally they are fine. wash yellows with whites orelse they go greeny colour, but never actually leak colour on to other things.

Bright colours should be washed together, and to be honest would be fine at 60c too.

Towels and bedding must go on a 60c cycle otherwise you are just being unhygienic, same with bath mats really(floor mats, not rubber bath ones) if you want to be picky white towels and teatowels/dishcloths could go on a 90c, which is useful because then you never need to do a 90c wash to keep your machine clean. also if you use cycles above 60c regularly, your machine will never smell in the first place.

Darks/colours 40, simply because of colour run etc, most things still wouldnt shrink at 60. Never use 30 as its disgusting, and the labels are usually useless and just telling you what you want you to hear (i.e. if you wash on 30c then your likely to buy more products from the "government" i.e. washer cleaner, new door seals....new machines. do you catch my drift?)

wash delicates how they say, so say... wash silks on there own on a silk programme.

also never use gel as it ruins your machine and makes it smelly. hope this helped.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks for the advice!

Towels and bedding are always on 60, sometimes teatowels sneak in with them darks/lights but we rarely wash up and they are only hand towels. I do boil towels ever few months to keep the machine clean (only boiled them once in this machine so far)

Darks go on 40 with Ariel colour powder, I rarely use 30, only for delicates and my car cleaning cloths (don't get very dirty), it's very unhygienic.

Don't worry, I never let my machine get dirty, my Whirlpool is two months old but I will never let it get mouldy! The door and drawer are always left slightly ajar after a wash and. Only shut them after a few days when it's all dry.

I don't use gel, I hate it. My dad always uses liquid or gel and always washes at 40, I'm always cleaning his machine! He won't use powder, but soon I'm going to take my own box with me to use when I'm there! I always use powder now, I much prefer it. I have pods and liquid too but I only use them for delicates or my mum uses them when she uses the machine.

I'll try the whites on 60 at the weekend! Hopefully everything will be ok!

 

[mielerod69]

Washing whites

In my Miele I use the following programmes:

White mixed fabrics @ 50 degrees on Minimum Iron Hygiene, as it keeps the temp for a longer period of time. I use Miele UltraWhite or similar. Sometimes I add a 2 hour presoak and that really helps with perspiration stain removal from using deodorants. That programme also does as standard 3 rinses and uses a medium-high level in the main wash if you select water plus.

White cotton fabrics @ 60 degrees on Cottons programme with water plus and extra rinse, not the Eco as the temp doesn't hit 60. I use again Miele UltraWhite or similar.

I used to remember my grandma in Italy washing her whites at 95 degrees with a pre-wash, as she always told me that you don't wash in dirty water, that is why the prewash was important to get whites really white and her favorite detergent was Dixan. I don't know if it's my imagination but when I added the pre-wash, the whites did seem whiter!

 

[glenfieldmathk1]

Mielerod

A quick question, is the Minimum Iron Hygiene you describe simply Minimum iron at 50, with Programme manager set to Allergy/Hygeine, or is it the actual Miele Minimum iron Hygiene Programme (supplement cost programme Package. I always wondered if 90 was chosen on this cycle (as its possible on the Minimum iron Hygiene) does the cooldown take about 20-30minutes? I know its a long cooling process even when on 60C at about 10 minutes. Always wondered, hopefully you will be able to confirm?

heres a little tip, generally true... All garments, whatever there label says, can eb washed at 60C. In fact my dad's one of the top dogs at Next, and they test every single item of clothing (the fabric anyway) on a 60C wash. The only garments that can't be washed at 60 are Outdoor, wool, silk, hand full of other items. I even washed my Nike Trainers at 60C (in the old WM31)!!! Come out wonder full! (wont wash trainers in HE7L though, fear the paddle's might come off

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks for the reassuring advice guys! Will give it a go at the weekend when I need to wash my school shirts.

 

[henene4]

Though standard Cotton and Synthetics take a 60° without problem, I'm really carefull about denim and any non-plain textile.
Denim is for me just to risky. I had Jeans withstanding 60° without problem or bleeding, yet others just fade completly or shirink horribly. Because of the fading, I limited darks to 40°, especially every day wear. Over time, colors do fade faster at higher temperatures.
As I mentioned, I would be carefull with all that plastic print-on decorations or any other kind of print. Again, I had some not haveing any problems, others just completly getting removed. Without a remain.
And, IMHO, most day-to-day stuff like my jeans and hoodie as well as my T's and socks get perfectly clean with a 1h 40° wash, 3 rinses and a nice high spin.

 

[BoschExxcel]

Thanks, in the whites wash everything is white and things that have a bit of colour on have been washed many times before so I'm not too worried.

I'll let you guys know on the outcome!

 

[mielerod69]

Minimum Iron Hygiene

Hi Glenfieldmathk1,

the programme is an addition as part of the Miele4Life programme packages. I have a W 5965 WPS which I think is one of the best Miele washing machines because of its flexibility.

The cool-down phase is in stages, where the machine partially empties and refills a number of times. This process is thermostatically controlled via the NTC sensor. Once the wash liquor is around 35 degrees, then the cooling down phase is complete, but it only takes around 5 minutes or so.

Hope this answers your question.

Cheers

 

[BoschExxcel]

Hi guys,

Washed my whites on 60 and everything came out brilliantly! Thanks everyone!

 

[dascot]

George - "Whites must be washed at 60"? Oh, you do enjoy talking nonsense, don't you. There is no *must* about it, that is quite simply YOUR opinion.

Glad everything came out ok. Cottons should be fine on the whole, though I would be wary of washing polycotton shirts at 60 - some will be fine, others may shrink and you could find them more difficult to iron if creases set in.

While it may be true that Next test their fabrics at 60, that isn't true of all stores. Be aware that, while it may be fine to wash at higher temps, you do run the risk of shrinking clothes. IF you shrink anything, after washing at higher than recommended temperature, you will not get a refund/exchange.

 

[washer111]

Whites Must be Washed at 60º

I would tend to agree with this. Opinions are opinions, but you cannot deny such astounding differences in results.
At lower temperatures, you might get the enzyme action, but far less of the oxygen-bleaching action you need for really dazzling whites. (Launderess has some very interesting figures on this, actually).

How do I know? Well, I don't wear many white shirts, so they get washed at 40º with the rest of the colours, but if/when I do run a 50 or even 60 wash, they come out much whiter.

While there is no "Concrete Statement" on washing, if you're going to remove temperature, you need MORE detergent and MORE time (Tumbling/Agitation) to get equivalent results.