Cold water washing has arrived

[launderess]

@jetcone

One of many ways true industrial washer/extractor differ from domestic machines is their ability to perform "sluice" cycles. That is remove bulk soils and foul matter from laundry.

Industrial or commercial diaper services either for infants and or increasingly being offered for adults do not "flush" or rinse soiled linen. Everything is bunged into washer where one or more flush cycles will send solid matter down drains.

Such washer/extractor have larger diameter holes in tub (better to allow foul matter to exit) and of course have dump valves, not pumps. This reduces chances of foul matter being carried over to subsequent loads.

Domestic washing machines cannot handle sort this sort of laundry, at least not returning consistent hygienic results.



Old school wash cycle for diapers at commercial laundry:

(1) Five-minute cold rinse;

(2) 10-minute soak in hot suds;

(3) 10-minute soak in hot suds;

(4) 10-minute soak in hot suds, with bleach;

(5) five hot rinses with live steam;

(6) six cold rinses, and a germicide solution is used in the third cold rinse;

(7) water is extracted; (8) dried in tumblers under 125 pounds of live steam;

(9) ready for folding and packing.

After all that all fecal matter is *gone*.

OTOH it explains why cloth diapers have (or had) such short useable lifespans.

 

[launderess]

Cold water setting on my European washing machines (Miele, AEG) is 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Far as one can see all versions of Tide cold water detergents are meant for wash temps of 90 degrees F. This is only ten or so degrees under "warm" which is 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Consumer Reports noted at the time that other versions of Tide including "Free and Gentle" worked perfectly well in warm water.

With above in mind greatest energy savings likely comes from reducing wash temps from 140F to boil temps. European detergents offer products rated for 20 degrees Celsius which is a very chilly 68 degrees F.

Personally would rather go with a detergent rated to perform across a range of temps rather than just "cold water" only. This if only because tap cold water temps in our neck of the woods varies. It is heavily influenced by outdoor weather and or say if boilers are firing for heat.

For things like making coffee or tea there are times one has to let taps run for what seems like ages to bleed out "warm" water for something relatively cold.

Both of our AEG washers are "tap cold fill" only and register complaints when say set to "cold" or "warm" and incoming water is sensed to be at or above set parameters. Good thing is that heater isn't engaged for long or at all. Downside is machines wipe out good portion of wash cycle time in response to not having to heat water.

My older Miele isn't bothered. Miele washers of old had "cycle guarantee" programmed in. If water temp either as incoming or heated reaches selected temp quickly all machine does is turn off heater. It will remain in heating mode however until timer tells it's time to move on.

 

[qsd-dan]

"Dan you get a "like" for making me lough out loud when I read your post."

The comment wasn't made to offend or be funny, it was a genuine statement. Anyway, carry on...

 

[tomturbomatic]

When my sister was born, mom and dad decided to use a diaper service. We rinsed soiled diapers in the toilet before putting them in the plastic bag that lined the container. I can't believe that that is not a stipulation of the contract any more. People are such lazy shits these days.

I had no idea how strong the suction of the flushing action was until one day it pulled the diaper out of my fingers and it went into the sewer. I was scared it would cause a clog, but mom reassured me all would be OK.

 

[ea56]

When my sister was born in 1955 Mom washed all of her diapers in our Bendix Economat in the basement and hung them up to dry on clotheslines stung under the ceiling of the basement. Then shortly after Mary was born Dad bought Mom our first dryer, a Norge Timeline dryer.

The dirty diapers were soaked in a diaper pail in a solution of Hexol and water while they were being held awaiting the laundry day. They were washed separately from the rest of the laundry using Ivory Snow and Snowy Bleach.

Eddie

 

[launderess]

Hexol is still out there, but things have changed.

Then:

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/001776-00001-19680323.pdf

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/001776-00001-19111111.pdf

Now:

https://www.amazon.com/Hexol-Concen...CSUO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1

Difference is today Hexol is not marketed as a disinfectant. Product is not registered by EPA as a "pesticide" or disinfectant hence no EPA registry number on label.

Many products of old that once were routinely sold and taken for granted as disinfectants no longer are so today.

Back in day nearly all chlorine bleaches were disinfectants, Clorox actively promoted this in marketing for their product. You have to check labels carefully as many versions of Clorox or other LCB sold are not EPA registered disinfectants.

Ditto with Lysol (phenol/carbolic compounds removed or decreased), Pine Sol and many other pine cleaners....

With pine cleaners large issue is declining sources of pure pine oil which in turn have driven up prices.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine-Sol

 

[petek]

I did something I wasn't thinking of doing... I ordered a box of this off Amazon yesterday just for the sake of trying it. Unfortunately the delivery states between May 14 and June 22. Sold by Amazon, ships from Amazon. Must not have any stock or something.

 

[frigilux]

My box arrived yesterday. Will do a stained kitchen towel test this weekend. The scent is really nice. It’s not really floral or fruity. A sensible scent for a detergent.

On a similar note of scarcity, Walmart online is already sold out of the “original scent” of the Tide Evo detergent tiles. [this post was last edited: 4/24/2024-19:02]

 

[jetcone]

@petek

can you order through Staples? I got mine in a day as Quill is their online store.

 

 

 

[appnut]

Jon, from small town central texas, my options are Amazon at $37.49, Staples at $44.99, and Walmart at $52.00. Amazon & Walmart can deliver to my front door. Not sure about Staples. There's also a regional office supplies chain that supposedly has it on offer, but I have to log in for price. Target doesn't stock it. Nor does my local HEB grocery store. It's best for me to have it delivered to my house. I will be investigating the Downey Professional Volvoman showed us. I"ve only found it online at Walmart and it's $115.00. Staples is $23.39. Quipply is $104.00[this post was last edited: 4/25/2024-12:30]

 

[volvoman]

Reply 68

Jon -

We purchased the Downy Professional from Staples, and it was delivered right to our door (I should know - Mrs. Volvoman grabbed it off the porch).

I'm torn between trying the liquid Tide Professional and the Powder version. I'd love to know what the liquid one smells like, as it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the powder version.

 

[petek]

Jon; I just looked and yes . Says 4 days for delivery but I think I'll just wait rather than open an account with them as I already have my amazon account and would have to give my cc out to another company. BTW it's $49.99 cdn $37 USD. they also have the liquid version 120? loads for $39 Cdn. Free delivery over $35.

 

[cycla-fabric]

I will never wash in cold water as my water comes from a well and the cold water temp is a steady 54 degrees in all seasons.I will rinse in cold but that's it. Warm or hot is what I grew up with and I will die with washing our laundry in, never cold.

Doug

 

[jetcone]

Bob, thats great you have two options for Tide to your door! Steve let us know your impressions of the Downy.

 

The only fabric softener I would ever rave about was a forgotten one that Jeffadelpi got in  a jug from some giant factory in the mid west. Would love to find that again !! Again it was for professional laundry only !

 

Petek Set that dial to C  O L D 

 

[volvoman]

@ Reply 72 - Jetcone

Hi Jon -

I actually have a review on here! (https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?95754_4)

The more we use it, the more impressed we are with it. It's nothing like the Downy that is sold to us mere mortals. The consistency is substantially thinner (so much so, that I don't need to dilute it in my fabric softener dispenser), and it smells damn good! It's nothing like the typical sickly, overly sweet scents that P&G is foisting onto their retail consumers. We washed our bathmat with it last night, and let it dry on the laundry table. The final (dried) scent reminded us of the Miele liquid softener. And it softens great.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

cold water washing

Cold water washing has already been here!

 

[angus]

I ordered my Tide Professional Powder from Staples for delivery. I had a $20 points award so the cost was defrayed somewhat. Also ordered some printer ink so my order total qualified for free shipping. Right now, working through box of Tide Oxi Powder so will have to finish that up first.

Regarding fabric softener, I will only use it on synthetic fleece garments and for that Liquid NuSoft is my choice. Coconut based (no animal fat) and a very light residual scent that all but disappears on dried clothes. Only available on line through the manufacturer (Malco Products) and it comes in cartons of six 64 ounce bottles. Consistency is quite liquid and not that viscous. Also helps rid my sister's fleeces of the dreaded cat hair in the dryer. Since it all collects in the lint screen, I no longer need to vacuum out the drum - better yet, she should do her own laundry at her girlfriend's house. Another matter for another day.

 

[frigilux]

I performed the purposely stained kitchen towel test using 60 grams of powdered Tide Professional on the Normal cycle of a front-loading Speed Queen 7009. Results were impressive!

Follow link to see the towels in the thread where the other Tide detergents were tested.

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?95673#start_95673.1204190

 

[maytag85]

“Petek set that dial to C O L D ”

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Since I’ve been washing in hot and warm since I’ve had my Whirlpool and my Maytag A806, my clothes have been a lot less itchy and feel more thoroughly washed and rinsed.

 

[jetcone]

@frigilux

SO cool to hear that !!! 

 

 

@petek you don't know what you are missing !