Cool water washes lead to bacteria in washer

[helicaldrive]

Yes, Mark I love ammonia too!

Especially with sheets.

And I don’t do funky towels. In fact I only use a towel and washcloth once. Re-used towels are full of bacteria and they smell bad. Why wipe odor and bacteria all over yourself after showering? Makes no sense.

 

[frigilux]

Although I wear all black frequently, I am a big fan of white for everything else: All bedding, bath linens, kitchen linens, undergarments and short socks (for around the house) are white, white, white. All can be washed in hot water and all get some LCB love as needed.

Ammonia: Just as Launderess can’t stand the smell of chlorine bleach, I make a hasty exit at the very sight of a bottle of ammonia. We had a cleaning lady when I was a tyke who used ammonia for cleaning almost everything. She (and our house) reeked of the stuff whenever she was on duty.

Helicaldrive: Until about eight months ago, I also used bath/hand towels only once. Then one day I decided to try using a towel 3 times and so far so good. It was weird at first, but so far no bacterial plagues or mildew-scented towels. I wash them in 150+ degree water with a couple of scoops of Rosalie’s Zero Suds (and some LCB when warranted), then give them a very thorough drying with the Speed Queen set at ‘Surface Of The Sun.’

 

[iowabear]

I think nothing of using a towel for five days.  For all other clothing this GQ article is more or less what I do.

 

 

https://www.gq.com/story/how-often-you-should-wash-your-clothes

 

[toploader55]

Markwp...

OMG. Exactly when I go to my Dad's house. His wife is the Cold Water queen. I was just there on a spur of the moment trip. (Dad is getting real old). I always bring my own sheets and towels. I just tell her I sweat a lot. ( Which I do not,) I just cannot sleep in between sheets that smell like Milder, Tutti Frutti and Bounce Sheets.
Plus washing Kitchen Towels with Handkerchiefs and Underwear is just nasty. I look at it as a trip to strengthen my immune system.

Spot on with the towels. Nice and clean out of the shower only to bury your face in a towel that smells like mildew and Bounce. Gawd how I hate that. I know I will be making another trip soon so I may as well pack the truck in advance so I don't forget next time.

And oddly enough, the machine doesn't really stink. I remember 4 years ago she went away for 4 days and I ran the machine (One of the first non Neptune Maytag FL) on a Hot wash twice before washing my own clothes. I think that was the only time it was ever on hot.

She buys what ever is on sale for detergent. YUCK !!!

 

[DADoES]

 
I reuse bath towels for long as two weeks.  They do not have or develop an odor.  I "squeege-off" first with the wash cloth, wringing repeatedly into the drain as needed, then finish with the towel, hang it over the shower stall, then squeege (with a rubber-scraper dealie) the shower walls & floor.  Master bath has a ceiling fan, which runs to dissipate/dry the residual moisture.

I routinely use chlorine bleach on whites/towels/kitchen linens.  My trigger for washing that load (always on Hot) is when I'm near-out of socks.

 

[dylanmitchell]

Viruses and bacteria are more common in healthcare settings

Viruses and bacteria are more common in healthcare settings like hospitals. Many hospitals have a laundering service for scrubs and you don't want to be washing those in your home laundry.

I use cold water for most loads but use warm or hot water with Biz and a soak cycle for bedding, towels, rags, etc. Our hot water is set to 125 degrees just above the minimum of 120 degrees required by the dishwasher and about the level that limits Legionella growth but not hot enough to kill it. We're on city water that has residual chlorine that keeps bacteria levels low too. I think our water heater maxes out at 140 or 150-degrees and below the 158 to the 176-degree range for disinfection. It's a compromise between energy savings, safety, and hygiene. Above 125 to 130 degrees the scalding risk increases and none of our faucets have anti-scald protection beyond common sense.

I do clean my SQ TL washing machine by running an empty load with Vinegar. I think Vinegar kills most of the bacteria but I'm sure if it kills viruses. SQ says Vinegar is your best friend and to clean your washing machine, pour a cup of vinegar in once a month, then run a normal cycle without clothing. Vinegar is not a friend to rubber or plastic parts so I usually run an extra rinse through if I'm not doing a load after the cleaning cycle. Before the SQ I'd run a cleaning cycle with affresh or bleach (not together!). At the laundromat where I take bulky bedding, I'll run an empty load with vinegar and hot water before I put my load in. It's amazing how much crud mostly built-up soap washes out. Costs me a few extra dollars and some time but avoids making laundry worse than when it started out.

http://aem.asm.org/

Why Vinegar Is Your Best Friend in the Laundry Room - Speed Queen

Vinegar has been around for thousands of years. Over time, this miracle product has been used as a preservative, cleaning agent, insect repellent, weed killer—and even a beverage! Today, vinegar goes to work in the laundry room. More than just a basic additive to the wash cycle, vinegar can do...

speedqueen.com

http://aem.asm.org/

 

[DADoES]

 
What amount of typical 5% vinegar diluted in gallons of water in a SQ toploader is sufficient concentration to have an effect?

 

[dylanmitchell]

Not sure SQ says 1 cup others say 2 cups

Not sure SQ says 1 cup others say 2 cups which is well below ratio recommended for cleaning use (bucket of water and mop or rag type cleaning). I use one cup of 5% Acidity Vinegar. FYI Vinegar won't kill bacteria like staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli, and salmonella or viruses like the flu and the common cold. I'd imagine a cup or two of bleach would kill those.

I've also found Vinegar works well for mineral build-up on faucets and showerheads and cleaning the dishwasher. It's a mild acid and not great for rubber or plastic so I only use it when there's a lot of build-up and rinse things thoroughly after using it.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Vinegar

Nothing cleans our shower stall better. Raw vinegar in a spray bottle heated up is unbelievable. Smell is horrible but worth the results.

 

[turbowash]

I use vinegar on my gym clothes, underware, gym, kitchen and bath towels ( hot wash for clothes, sanitize for towels and sheets) no softener . Never had smell problems since using vinegar.
Warm wash for darks + softener.
Warm for jeans + softener.

Before I began using viner, my towels would smell after 1-2 uses. Now they don't smell after 4-5 uses, but I wash them anyway.
My gym clothes used to smell like mildew in 10- 15 minutes of workout. After using vinegar no mildew smell during the workout.

Vinegar saved my laundry and washer. There is no more black mold growing on the door seal.

 

[yogitunes]

never understood people who wash in COLD, to prevent shrinking, and then toss the items into a 180 degree dryer

hotter than most water heater settings.....

 

[gelaundry4ever]

the only time I use cold water

is when I wash any dark colors or blues or reds. Everything else gets a warm or hot wash with bleach if they're light colors or whites. I want my whites perfectly white! And I do use a reasonable amount of laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener. I use pods.