Cold Water: The Future Of Laundering

[frigilux]

On the upside, that pesky water temp selector won't be there to confuse us, LOL.

http://laundry.reviewed.com/features/why-cold-water-washing-is-the-future-of-laundry

 

[lordkenmore]

Pass me the cyanide, please

I'm afraid you are probably right.

 

[appnut]

Gag!! 

 

[appnut]

Even if only one model in a product line has a heater, that's the one I will buy!!!

 

[appnut]

the consumer is still the ultimate decider of their laundry

You got that right damn Mr. Chan!!!  They're all being brainwashed by the EPA!!!  If warm is the new hot, I'll be washing everything in "hot". 

 

[mamapinky]

I know a LOT of people that use cold water to wash everything and their clothing shows it...I've been in the homes of some of them and I swear I can smell dirty bedding. As long as people are told cold water cleans they will use it..they either don't see it isn't working or they don't care.

 

[gusherb]

I shudder to think about how nasty it would be to wash in our during wintertime 43 degree city water. Blech.

 

[a440]

Blah!

I know someone also that only washes in cold water.  They have a Kitchenaid top load washer and the entire top of the wash basket is a 6" rim of grease and grime!  So disgusting!  He is always going to the Dermatologist for skin issues and adult acne.  (he is in his 50's)  I have explained to him time and time again the reason for his skin issues and he just looks at me like I have three eyes!  He said he told his Dermatologist about what I said and the Doctor told him that there is no way this is the cause of his skin issues.  I actually yelled at him and said I am sure he told you that!  You are a great Patient that is paying off his Mercedes!!!!

 

B

 

[norgeway]

Ive said it before

Ill say it again, the D$%^ government has no business in my washing machine or dishwasher, if I can afford to buy the water and to heat the water, they should stay out of it, If the EPA was abolished maybe this country could actually make something again!

 

[stan]

Brent

I'm sure your right about your friend.
You could ask your friend why he's willing to spend the time and maybe $ with the doctor, paying for the creams, lotions and potions instead of spending a little more $ for some hot water! What he got to loose by following your suggestion? With all that cold water.. Probably none of his detergent is rinsing out properly either.. There's a skin condition ready to happen
What's wrong with people?

 

[mark_wpduet]

I've seen the YUK at the top of TL washers before

and they use cold water. It's gross. I can't understand how anyone could think it's cleaning when you go to the kitchen sink, and clean up greasy dishes or a greasy sink with food that has been in there, cold water doesn't work worth a CRAP!!! And anyone who uses a kitchen for prepping food, or cleaning the kitchen from dirty dishes KNOWS IT! Every last one of them run the tap until the water gets warm or almost hot, then squirt some dish liquid and clean the sink, etc. So if you put 2 and 2 together, it's the same with laundry..I mean, body oils, sweat....euuwww

 

[gpevas]

Hot water

I totally agree our government sticks it nose where it does not belong!!! You have to use HOT water to get cloths really clean especially with body oils grease ect. Detergents DO NOT rinse out well in cold water. I live in Ohio close to Lake Erie and in winter the water is Cold and that's what my automatic washer uses to rinse my cloths out with. Thank God for my wringer I can choose what temp to wash and rinse with. The fellow with skin problems I am sure it is from his washing in cold water!!!! One last thing I bought a Kenmore Elite front load washer last year and when I use the HOT water wash setting it is not hot it is warm!!!!!! I stop the washer to open the door to check how hot the towels are and they always are warm. I set my water tank at a very hot setting 165 degrees yes 165 I know people will say that's wasteful but I pay for the bill and I want a hot water wash and CANT get it. Why the Government regulations!!!!!! It does have a heater but only get hot on the sanitary cycle.

 

[appnut]

It does have a heater but only get hot on the sanitary cycle

Gary, does your model have an Allergen Cycle too?  What model do you have? 

 

[arbilab]

I thought the future of laundering was no water at all. Like, "if you want water, sweat".

 

[polkanut]

Nothing beats washing your bedding, clothing etc in "HOT" and /or "WARM" water, and letting them line dry to know they're truly clean.  Too bad so many are "drinking the Kool-Aid" and believing all of this environmental laundry garbage.

 

[frigilux]

Here's my issue with cold water washing: Define cold.

Cold water from the tap can be 80+ degrees in warm climates. Most new high-quality detergents and washers can do a good job with that on many loads. Consumer Reports now tests detergents in 75-80 degree water (which they call 'cool') because that's what most new washers deliver when the temp selector is set on warm.

Unfortunately, the water here (southern Minnesota) rarely hits 70 degrees even in the summer and drops to 40 degrees in the winter. I don't believe for a moment even made-for-cold detergents are effective using 40-55 degree water, especially on greasy stains.

I'm with Bob on this one: Thank God for front-loaders with internal water heaters!

 

[washer111]

NOOOOO

Notice: Any member here caught with the cold water will need to see their Laundering Director, and perhaps visit a confessional. From my understanding, the penances to absolve one of this offence is severe...

Personally, I cannot believe that cold washing is better. Our local testing institution suggests there is only an 8% difference in the results. I can point out some flaws with that:
- Are they testing their laundering over time, or just one wash? Over time dirt can buildup if it isn't properly removed the first time (i.e. pit stains that get worse and worse). Thats why shirts can grey/yellow, over time.
It might work the first few times, but quickly stops doing so, as I found out with "tepid" water for my dark clothes. They started to not smell clean, and there was a noticeable difference just switching up to warm temperatures!
- Testing institutions don't test odour, as its a subjective thing.
- The institutions test premade samples. In reality, stains are probably very different from this "sanitised examples," and not at all easy to remove in tepid water.

My other gripe is this:
Australians mostly heat their water from FREE solar sources. At least 60%, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. And yet, less than 20% wash in warm/hot water. Given our FREE energy, I think we've been swindled.
You see too many people around in grubby shirts, that are yellowed and stained *badly* from all this. And people think we are saving energy with this?*

Washing in cold prevents the enzymes from working. I don't care whether its formulated for that or not, most enzymes seemingly work best around the "warm" temperature, and bleaching (oxygen-based) takes place anywhere from warm - hot. The colder you wash, the longer you must wash to receive the same results.

Then, as others have said, the cold washing prevents greases from being dissolved into the water. In cold, they can gradually build up and "congeal," making the snot and grime that causes mold and odours in your washer.
It may not be as bad with use of LCB, but exasperated with use of fabric softeners.

*I have been lectured once or twice by people who think that I am destroying the planet with warm and hot washes. They claim their clothes are just as clean...
Well - we previously were "cold-only" with the Simpson TL. Immediately after switching to the Miele, clothes smelt better and were noticeably softer! I'd attribute that to the fabrics loosening up and releasing detergent residues, and odours with it.

 

[turquoisedude]

UGH!  I thought I was the only one who noticed that in households where only cold water is used for laundering, the clothing and bedding just don't seem clean.  My ex-tenants had 9 (yes 9) children and everything was washed in cold water - the brood of brats always seemed to have colds, allergies, coughs, and snotty noses.  My late grandmother drilled into me that if anyone had been ill in the household, the bed sheets they used were to be laundered in hot water (she still boiled wash up until the mid-70s!) and if possible, hung out in the sunshine. 

 

And oddly enough, I'm pretty sure that I've read some of the older automatic user manuals to run the washer with a full tub of hot water and detergent once in a while... 

 

Now, here's a question - would rinsing in cold water cause any problems, especially after a hot wash??

 

[user 3941]

I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I do agree that washing EVERYTHING in cold water is not good. I only wash my dark colors in tap cold water, which here in NH is pretty darn cold in the winter. When I lived in Arizona, I actually hardly ever turned on the hot water in the summer (which there is like half the year) because the cold water alone was pretty darn close to "Hot". I could shower easily with it…it was warm coming out. If anything i think you'll see more machines that have internal heaters to overcome the problem.

As far as the government sticking their nose in our business. That's really what they are there for, unfortunately. If a lot of things are left unregulated, then it will be a free for all. And just seeing some comments here, I don't think the majority of people would really care what they are dumping down their drains. lol. I do have concern for our environment and really the government should be in charge of that. Some one has to take responsibility. Look at China….YIKES.

Although I should clarify, I don't see a big need for them to regulate the temperature of water used in cleaning. That does seem a bit silly. I mean if someone wants to pay more for their light bill, why should the government stop that. LOL.

Obviously this would only be a problem if you were buying a brand new machine, which I'd sad the majority of people here don't do anyhow. There is a plethora of older used machines in this world. I don't think any of us here will have an issue for many MANY years to come.

 

[polkanut]

My oldest sister is one of the deluded people who has swallowed all of the bilge about laundering in cold water.  This past weekend my 8yo nephew stayed overnight 2 nights, and I was absolutely appalled at how gray looking his tightie whities were.  They were nothing that I would want to wear, but my sister won't listen to anyone.  She's afraid of the clothes "shrinking" if she uses any other water temp.  My wife & I get compliments all the time on how white our laundry is when we line dry it. 

 

[user 3941]

I can't even imagine washing kids clothes in all cold water. Though I have to say that I'm 40 years old and even when I was a kid in the 80's my mom would yell at me for using hot water in the washer. I even remember seeing Cheer commercials where they make a point of noting that HOT water washes were a thing of the past (the 1950's back then) and that modern fabrics don't need to wash in hot water. So I think this has been an issue for quite a long time. It's just recently of course that manufacturers are actually inhibiting users from controlling the real temp of the water.

I've noticed on most all new machines now, there is a clean cycle. The user manuals I've read all make a clear point to use it regularly so I imagine manufacturers know the drawbacks of using only cold water in the machine. My GE manual actually said to use at least a warm water wash every 5th cycle. But naturally, WHO reads the manual? LOL

 

[iheartmaytag]

As the article says we have been moving to cooler and cooler wash temperatures, not only for clothes, but dishes as well.

I wonder if the O3 water systems like Aerus Laundrypure and others, why the washer manufacturers don't just build these units into their machines--Oh, wait, I know P&G and other detergent manufacturers are their partners.

 

[paulc]

The article is nothing more than a thinly veiled advert for P&G

 

[wayupnorth]

My grandmother used to say "You cant wash your hands in cold water and get them clean, so you cant wash your clothes in cold water either and expect them to get clean".

 

[lordkenmore]

As I think about cold water detergents, I have to wonder what about people who have skin issues? A number have reported having huge trouble with Cold Water Tide. What would the effects on others be like long term (i.e. will normal people have skin problems develop?).

 

[DADoES]

 
Aggressive enzymes in Cold Water Tide?

 

[warmsecondrinse]

First, I have a wave-a-magic-wand wish. I want to video all the cold water wash proponents trying to convince their grandmothers and great-grandmothers that washing in cold water is fine.

Second, The English teacher (aka Grammar Bitch) is in the house! There are so many things wrong with this article that I really don't know where to begin...

1. This reads like an infomercial. There are way too many names of products and companies mentioned. This is red flag #1.

2. People's names are mentioned without specific credentials, job titles or departments. This is a major no-no as it makes it more difficult to source the info. Red flag #2.

3. Unexplained jargon: "catalytic chemistries", "recycled enzymes" ... wtf? Red flag #3.

4. Clicking on "recycled enzymes" brings you to a link that neither explains the term nor clarifies the somewhat cryptic sentence. Red flags #'s 4 & 5.

5. "Unlike TVs, cellphones, and computers, consumers don't often gravitate towards the latest trends in appliance technology." Really? I was unaware that "TVs, cellphones, and computers" [sic] often gravitated towards the latest trends in appliance technology. Don't look at me, lol. I'm just reading the sentence. Red flag #6.

6. There're a couple more sentences like the one in #5. There're also a large number of unsupported assertions, some even set up as if they support or explain each other. Red flags ad nauseum.

7. There are a gazillion and one logic problems: Laundry does not have a temperature. Detergents are not "suited" for climates.

Do I really need to go on??? This thing totally fails even as a puff piece to encourage people to wash in cold water. Certainly, this piece would be handed back for heavy revisions in the in the freshman English classes I interpret.

All in all, this article convinces me that washing in hot water must be a really, really good thing!

Jim

 

[logixx]

This sounds like yet another BS article from reviewed.com where the author, more or less, copied some company's press release... *sigh*

I love how the article says that cold water cannot remove grease from clothes. Well, last time I've checked, every human being's skin had a natural film of sebum on it, which eventually comes off on one's clothes. D'uh! The only thing this article is missing is an ad for Affresh. And has anybody read the author's short bio?

"Jonathan Chan grew up in Massachusetts and studied agricultural economics at the University of Connecticut. Before joining Reviewed.com, he's worked jobs as diverse as a ballot counter, an environmental lobbyist, and a math tutor."

Environmental lobbyist? How interesting...

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I went to UConn for 2 years in the early 80's. IIRC the 'Ag School" as it called, was actually one of the top in the country and rather tough to get into.

Odd that he's not working in the field having had that education.

 

[maytagbear]

The formula will need to be adjusted:

Mechanical action.

Temperature.

Contact time.

Chemical action.

When all four are in balance, the result is clean clothes. When one is modified, the other three elements also need to be modified.

As for me, sometimes in hot, always in warm, and if the label says cold, that's what the item gets.

I do give a darn for the future. Today's actions have consequences down the road. HOWEVER, as always, it is a question of choices and priorities.

Lawrence/Maytagbear