The Washing Machine
As seen this morning on the Early Show
The video will play
As seen this morning on the Early Show
The video will play
Germ Warfare
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toggleswitch2
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Proving once again that hot water and bleach is a good thing!
Did anyone notice that the worse machine had a filthy/ moldy softener dispenser? Softener abuse! Waxy softener = mold food.
Did anyone notice that the worse machine had a filthy/ moldy softener dispenser? Softener abuse! Waxy softener = mold food.
mysteryclock
Well-known member
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about softener -- persistent, available growth media / germ food. I wonder how many of us who don't use softener, actually clean our washers regularly with hot water (even w/o bleach) and let them completely dry out have these kinds of issues?
The other interesting thing about this video is that it actually conflicts with the CDC guidelines for MRSA and laundry (see link, text below). So who is right, CBS and their expert or the CDC wrt. killing germs in laundry?
"Will routine laundry processes, detergents, and laundry additives remove staph and MRSA from towels, clothes, linens, and uniforms?
Yes. Routine laundry procedures, detergents, and laundry additives will all help to make clothes, towels, and linens safe to wear or touch. If items have been contaminated by infectious material, these may be laundered separately, but this is not absolutely necessary."
One follow-up question for you guys -- why cold water with chlorine bleach instead of hot? I must have slept through that semester of Chemistry class....
The other interesting thing about this video is that it actually conflicts with the CDC guidelines for MRSA and laundry (see link, text below). So who is right, CBS and their expert or the CDC wrt. killing germs in laundry?
"Will routine laundry processes, detergents, and laundry additives remove staph and MRSA from towels, clothes, linens, and uniforms?
Yes. Routine laundry procedures, detergents, and laundry additives will all help to make clothes, towels, and linens safe to wear or touch. If items have been contaminated by infectious material, these may be laundered separately, but this is not absolutely necessary."
One follow-up question for you guys -- why cold water with chlorine bleach instead of hot? I must have slept through that semester of Chemistry class....
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Bah!
It floors me that a scientist, in this age of drought and dwindling resources, would recommend running a cycle of bleach and water for the sole purpose of killing germs (and ones that a healthy immune system can handle just fine, at that!). It seems to me that a better plan would be that of making sure to run at least one bleach load of actual laundry each week, thereby making that water do double duty.
This "germ-mania" in our media is getting out of hand - people are buying all kinds of unnecessary products. Even sillier, a lot of people get scared into buying something that promises to kill germs or eliminate allergens - and then they either don't use it at all, don't use it effectively or don't maintain it. I can't tell you how many Lux Guardian, Miele and TriStar vacs I've seen where the owner has never changed the HEPA filter - the supposed "miracle" vac is the filthiest thing in the house!
There was a study of cleaning products back in the late '50s that was cited by writer Vance Packard in one of his books. The study found that many purchasers of "miracle" products didn't actually want to clean - they wanted to buy something that made them feel like they had done their duty by buying the "best" product available. Actual use of the product seemed to be irrelevant.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose and all that...
It floors me that a scientist, in this age of drought and dwindling resources, would recommend running a cycle of bleach and water for the sole purpose of killing germs (and ones that a healthy immune system can handle just fine, at that!). It seems to me that a better plan would be that of making sure to run at least one bleach load of actual laundry each week, thereby making that water do double duty.
This "germ-mania" in our media is getting out of hand - people are buying all kinds of unnecessary products. Even sillier, a lot of people get scared into buying something that promises to kill germs or eliminate allergens - and then they either don't use it at all, don't use it effectively or don't maintain it. I can't tell you how many Lux Guardian, Miele and TriStar vacs I've seen where the owner has never changed the HEPA filter - the supposed "miracle" vac is the filthiest thing in the house!
There was a study of cleaning products back in the late '50s that was cited by writer Vance Packard in one of his books. The study found that many purchasers of "miracle" products didn't actually want to clean - they wanted to buy something that made them feel like they had done their duty by buying the "best" product available. Actual use of the product seemed to be irrelevant.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose and all that...
rayjay
Well-known member
When doing a lot of loads in one day, I always run the whites last with bleach, and always leave the door open. Never had a problem with mold or mildew. So many people have gotten away with washing in hot and warm water and I think this attributes to it. I only use cold for certain dark colors and delicates. All the other colored loades are washed in warm or hot.
rayjay
Well-known member
Bleach and Cold Water
This is all coming together now. Our friends who own a pool store and also sell chlorine and chemicals for the pool confirmed this. I bring in a sample of pool water weekly to be tested for PH and Chlorine. I one left it in a hot car for a few hours doing errands. My friend told me that I did not get a chlorine reading, and I said this was impossbile becasue I have an automatic chlorinator on the pool and I tested the water earlier in the morning and got a good reading. He asked me if I left the container with the water in the hot car. I said I did. He said that the heat dissapates the chlorine. Same principal I guess.....
This is all coming together now. Our friends who own a pool store and also sell chlorine and chemicals for the pool confirmed this. I bring in a sample of pool water weekly to be tested for PH and Chlorine. I one left it in a hot car for a few hours doing errands. My friend told me that I did not get a chlorine reading, and I said this was impossbile becasue I have an automatic chlorinator on the pool and I tested the water earlier in the morning and got a good reading. He asked me if I left the container with the water in the hot car. I said I did. He said that the heat dissapates the chlorine. Same principal I guess.....
rayjay
Well-known member
Bleach and Cold Water
No wonder why when I was growing up and my parents washed with a GE wringer, that the white were wrung into a tub of cold water and bleach for 20 min. then rinsed; they were so much whiter.
No wonder why when I was growing up and my parents washed with a GE wringer, that the white were wrung into a tub of cold water and bleach for 20 min. then rinsed; they were so much whiter.
hoover1100
Well-known member
hmmmmm
Nothing is ever going to be germ free, none of those machines will cause anyone any harm, but it's not a nice thought.
As long as there is no mould or build up or unpleasant smell, I don't see that there's a problem.
Running an empty cycle every 2-3 washes? Thats a bit extreme. Using chlorine bleach? Completely unecessary!
As long as an oxi-bleach is being used on white and light coloured clothes, as well as towels, and towels and sheets are washed at 60c (140F), there should be no mould, build up or bad smells on the clothes or the machine, therefore as far as I am concearned the washer is clean.
This is what I have done all my life, and never had any of the above problems, have never put chlorine or disinfectant into my machine, have never used temps higher than 60c (140F) for anything other than the sheer novelty value (it does not get clothes any cleaner from my experience) have never run an empty "cleaning" wash, have always washed underwear with other clothes of similar colour and have never used one of these "washing machine cleaners" appearing on the market now.
I have always used softner in almost every wash, but I guess in a machine where the softner dispenser is flushed with water it causes much less problems, I clean the dispenser maybe once every 3 months and don't get build up in it. It is however important to let the machine dry when not in use, by leaving the door ajar.
Bearing in mind my Grandfather's machine is 17 years old and has been in constant use, yet remains continuously spotless inside and out, and the clothes always come out fresh and clean, this obviously works.
Now before the top loader fanatics start ranting about how "disgusting" it is to use a front loader, and how modern ones are even more "disgusting", I can only say that even the most water efficient machines I have used have never had any of the problems mentioned above, providing the above methods are undertaken, to me it never requires thought, it's just common sense. The clothes also come spotless and fresh every time, with or without scented detergents or softners and with or without chlorine bleach, disinfectants, tumble drying, drying in the sun, ironing or any other way you can suggest of reducing bacteria numbers.
Anyone who has smells, mould or build up's in their machine, or suffers from unfresh laundry quite obviously has no idea how to use a washing machine properly, or proper laundry techniques.
Matt
Nothing is ever going to be germ free, none of those machines will cause anyone any harm, but it's not a nice thought.
As long as there is no mould or build up or unpleasant smell, I don't see that there's a problem.
Running an empty cycle every 2-3 washes? Thats a bit extreme. Using chlorine bleach? Completely unecessary!
As long as an oxi-bleach is being used on white and light coloured clothes, as well as towels, and towels and sheets are washed at 60c (140F), there should be no mould, build up or bad smells on the clothes or the machine, therefore as far as I am concearned the washer is clean.
This is what I have done all my life, and never had any of the above problems, have never put chlorine or disinfectant into my machine, have never used temps higher than 60c (140F) for anything other than the sheer novelty value (it does not get clothes any cleaner from my experience) have never run an empty "cleaning" wash, have always washed underwear with other clothes of similar colour and have never used one of these "washing machine cleaners" appearing on the market now.
I have always used softner in almost every wash, but I guess in a machine where the softner dispenser is flushed with water it causes much less problems, I clean the dispenser maybe once every 3 months and don't get build up in it. It is however important to let the machine dry when not in use, by leaving the door ajar.
Bearing in mind my Grandfather's machine is 17 years old and has been in constant use, yet remains continuously spotless inside and out, and the clothes always come out fresh and clean, this obviously works.
Now before the top loader fanatics start ranting about how "disgusting" it is to use a front loader, and how modern ones are even more "disgusting", I can only say that even the most water efficient machines I have used have never had any of the problems mentioned above, providing the above methods are undertaken, to me it never requires thought, it's just common sense. The clothes also come spotless and fresh every time, with or without scented detergents or softners and with or without chlorine bleach, disinfectants, tumble drying, drying in the sun, ironing or any other way you can suggest of reducing bacteria numbers.
Anyone who has smells, mould or build up's in their machine, or suffers from unfresh laundry quite obviously has no idea how to use a washing machine properly, or proper laundry techniques.
Matt
Half of the washers had high bacterial counts
At least half the people I know wash everything in cold and would never use chlorine bleach. I can't get them to dilute the fabric softner either. Since I wash very little in cold and do 2 chlorine bleach loads a week, I'm not worried about my machine.
Much of this bacteria grows in the "stuff" that builds up in the machine, and machines that do nothing but cold washes are loaded with "stuff".
Ken D.
At least half the people I know wash everything in cold and would never use chlorine bleach. I can't get them to dilute the fabric softner either. Since I wash very little in cold and do 2 chlorine bleach loads a week, I'm not worried about my machine.
Much of this bacteria grows in the "stuff" that builds up in the machine, and machines that do nothing but cold washes are loaded with "stuff".
Ken D.
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Why Cold water?
I asked that question myself. What they said in the story is the Hot water makes the chlorine evaporate out and become dilute. Makes sense I guess. I was also told in FL machines with on board heaters the heater would boil off the chlorine.
My machine automatically chooses the sanatize temperature plus steam when I run the clean washer cycle.
I asked that question myself. What they said in the story is the Hot water makes the chlorine evaporate out and become dilute. Makes sense I guess. I was also told in FL machines with on board heaters the heater would boil off the chlorine.
My machine automatically chooses the sanatize temperature plus steam when I run the clean washer cycle.
EVERYONE PANIC!
OMG! Blowing my nose with whats in my underwear? If I could reach my nose with whats in my underpants, I'd be a far more popular boy.
How many people use hankies anyway? Conversely, how sterile are those Kleenex you just bought? Are your underpants THAT dirty? Your arse is connected to your nose by 3 feet of skin, coincidentally.
I expect my washer to CLEAN my clothes, not to sterilize them. As long as they are clean, and smell nice, this is a non issue.
Now, if I had a cold, I would of course take more heroic measures to kill germs, but that would be throughout the house.
OMG! Blowing my nose with whats in my underwear? If I could reach my nose with whats in my underpants, I'd be a far more popular boy.
How many people use hankies anyway? Conversely, how sterile are those Kleenex you just bought? Are your underpants THAT dirty? Your arse is connected to your nose by 3 feet of skin, coincidentally.
I expect my washer to CLEAN my clothes, not to sterilize them. As long as they are clean, and smell nice, this is a non issue.
Now, if I had a cold, I would of course take more heroic measures to kill germs, but that would be throughout the house.
toggleswitch2
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ah so! Launderess was absolutely correct when she stated that chlroine bleach works just fine in cold water. Better, even.
Perhaps we are so used to adding a bit of Clorox (in a top-loader) to the last five minutes of a hot wash, that we associate bleach with hot water.
I'm guessing the heat and disipating fumes of chlorine bleach wafting out of a top-loader makes one SMELL the chlorine bleach and makes one FEEL like it is more effecive that way.
Perhaps we are so used to adding a bit of Clorox (in a top-loader) to the last five minutes of a hot wash, that we associate bleach with hot water.
I'm guessing the heat and disipating fumes of chlorine bleach wafting out of a top-loader makes one SMELL the chlorine bleach and makes one FEEL like it is more effecive that way.
I've Done Told You, Told You & Told You
Chlorine bleach does NOT require hot water for whitening or sanitation. While higher temperatures do speed up the process, it is not required.
This is one of the reasons commercial laundries like LCB in some cases over oxygen bleaches.
Think of all the water treated for sanitation or even when camping with chlorine bleach, does one ever hear of it being heated?
L.
Chlorine bleach does NOT require hot water for whitening or sanitation. While higher temperatures do speed up the process, it is not required.
This is one of the reasons commercial laundries like LCB in some cases over oxygen bleaches.
Think of all the water treated for sanitation or even when camping with chlorine bleach, does one ever hear of it being heated?
L.
using bleach with a wringer washer
Since the water in the wringer washer was used for many loads from whites when the water was hottest to dark colors when the water had cooled, you did not want bleach in the wash water. My grandmothers would put bleach in the first rinse tub for the whites. Subsequent white loads went through the bleach water. When it was time to wash the colors, the bleach water was drained and replaced with fresh water. Likewise with a suds-saver washer, bleach was not used in the wash water unless there were two or three loads of whites after which, the water was drained if colors were going to be laundered. If only one load of whites needed bleaching, the bleach was put in the first WARM deep rinse, followed by another rinse. It's amazing how much you used to need to know to wash clothes properly and how much has been forgotten.
Since the water in the wringer washer was used for many loads from whites when the water was hottest to dark colors when the water had cooled, you did not want bleach in the wash water. My grandmothers would put bleach in the first rinse tub for the whites. Subsequent white loads went through the bleach water. When it was time to wash the colors, the bleach water was drained and replaced with fresh water. Likewise with a suds-saver washer, bleach was not used in the wash water unless there were two or three loads of whites after which, the water was drained if colors were going to be laundered. If only one load of whites needed bleaching, the bleach was put in the first WARM deep rinse, followed by another rinse. It's amazing how much you used to need to know to wash clothes properly and how much has been forgotten.
It's amazing how much you used to need to know ... and h
Tom, I think you pretty much summed up this whole issue with your last sentence. So true about so many things today, and all in the name of automation and laziness. I worry for my generation!
Ben
Tom, I think you pretty much summed up this whole issue with your last sentence. So true about so many things today, and all in the name of automation and laziness. I worry for my generation!
Ben
Did anyone notice that the worse machine had a filthy/ moldy
Exactly...all that waxy, plant based extract is being spun out on the last rinse all over the tubs, gaskets, nooks & crannies!!!!
You can liken it to the black, mouldy crud you get if you`ve left a vase of flowers to long, all that crap on top of the water...even the manufacturers are waking up to it know!!!
Exactly...all that waxy, plant based extract is being spun out on the last rinse all over the tubs, gaskets, nooks & crannies!!!!
You can liken it to the black, mouldy crud you get if you`ve left a vase of flowers to long, all that crap on top of the water...even the manufacturers are waking up to it know!!!
toggleswitch2
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~The bleach was put in the first WARM deep rinse, followed by another rinse.
My Frigidaire front-loader adds bleach to a warm or cold FIRST RINSE. Seemed odd to me at first, but it works out just fine.
I simply run the "Short" cycle for an addtional three rinses and I get decent results and decent rinsing. If I don't rinse extra times when using chlorine bleach my t - - t goes on fire!
When not using chlorine bleach that is where I put my cheap/watery softener; in the bleach dispenser so that it is put in the FIRST rinse. Want the suds removed from the laundry and the chemicals rinsed out. So it works for me!
My Frigidaire front-loader adds bleach to a warm or cold FIRST RINSE. Seemed odd to me at first, but it works out just fine.
I simply run the "Short" cycle for an addtional three rinses and I get decent results and decent rinsing. If I don't rinse extra times when using chlorine bleach my t - - t goes on fire!
When not using chlorine bleach that is where I put my cheap/watery softener; in the bleach dispenser so that it is put in the FIRST rinse. Want the suds removed from the laundry and the chemicals rinsed out. So it works for me!
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Softener Buildup:
Is one of my biggest reasons for liking centre-dial 'Tags - that cup is easily kept clean. As much as I love keyboard Lady Ks, they would definitely have a problem with today's near-gel softener formulas.
Is one of my biggest reasons for liking centre-dial 'Tags - that cup is easily kept clean. As much as I love keyboard Lady Ks, they would definitely have a problem with today's near-gel softener formulas.
Extensive Test were done here on this very thing
About 3 years ago. some findings were as expected some were very eye opening. It was found as expected that as little as 1 oz of bleach could render a load bacteria free if other variables were met. Washing time / action being the most important. It was also found that loads run @ 110 and no bleach had such a high bacteria content that they could not even be counted. and it increased in less than 15 mins. Test were done over a 3 week time span on over 800 loads. It was also found that detergents the cheapest and most costly had little on no effect on the the removal of bacteria at all. And that over loading as little as 1 lb in the smaller units had a great effect on the bacteria not removed. also found was that the larger machines could render a load almost bacteria free with out bleach but the smaller ones could not. Test loads were run at temperatures from 60 to 160 and everything between. In short cold water washing CAN render a load bacteria free if run with the right formula.
About 3 years ago. some findings were as expected some were very eye opening. It was found as expected that as little as 1 oz of bleach could render a load bacteria free if other variables were met. Washing time / action being the most important. It was also found that loads run @ 110 and no bleach had such a high bacteria content that they could not even be counted. and it increased in less than 15 mins. Test were done over a 3 week time span on over 800 loads. It was also found that detergents the cheapest and most costly had little on no effect on the the removal of bacteria at all. And that over loading as little as 1 lb in the smaller units had a great effect on the bacteria not removed. also found was that the larger machines could render a load almost bacteria free with out bleach but the smaller ones could not. Test loads were run at temperatures from 60 to 160 and everything between. In short cold water washing CAN render a load bacteria free if run with the right formula.
