Here we go again, the mantra of washing laundry in cold water

[bpetersxx]

bump

I bought some Hanes t shirts and the label says cold water

you have to wash things like these in warm water at least as they are worn next to the skin and get everything on them and in them

 

[kd12]

Looking at today's POD (10/11) for the Maytag A902 it's interesting that only Bright Colors called for a cold wash in the washing instructions. I'm not sure how "bright" my gray t-shirts are but they all call for cold-wash only. Also boxers call for cold wash and briefs call for warm wash, regardless of color. I just ignore this whole "use cold-wash only" stupidity that certain interests are calling for and just go with what the clothing tag says. Also have to put a plug in for Cheer. Used to use Tide years ago, and it seems Cheer lives up to its old All Tempa-Cheer tagline. Gets clothes cleaner for me than Tide did in all wash temperatures, and smells better too. I think the brand of detergent you are using really does matter for cold vs warm wash emps.

 

[DADoES]

 
At the mother's place today.  She was running the washer/dryer, again.  I sometimes think she's washing just because she can't find anything else productive to do.

Anyway.

I peeped at the washer settings.  Cold.

Weather has been warm (80°Fs) and humid.  The incoming cold water is cold enough that the cold supply tap and the hose were covered with condensation.

I had a gentle discussion with her about it, reminding her of the photos of accumulated gookus in the disassembled Kenmore 90 that she used for six years.

She said she uses cold because that's what the labels on the clothes instruct.

I said that I wash this (pointing to my shirt) at 115°F to no ill effects.

I may have convinced her to at least use the warm/cold setting (approx 95°F) at minimum.

 

[justjunque]

I don't know why, but I just can't seem to bring myself to wash in cold.
Yes, we have several garments whose labels call for cold water wash. But, even then, I can only compromise by using the warm setting. I've never checked to see what the temperature of our "warm" is, but I'd describe it as "lukewarm". Certainly closer to cold than hot.
When I want a warmer wash, I stand there while it's filling, and toggle the selector between warm and hot.

Barry

 

[fisherpaykel]

wash temps

At least for some Fisher&Paykel toploaders warm cold is 35 C=95F, warm is 40 C=104 F, hot warm is 50 C=122 F, and hot is tap hot temp. I don't know if my GWL11 model has any different temps but the warm cold temp feels warm to my hand and normal body temp is 98.6 F I believe. I think all of us here know body oils and grease and oil spots won't usually wash out well in cold water. I use the warm cold temp or warm for machine washable wool and no problems so far on the washable wool cycle. Glenn@dadoes probably knows if the GWL11 has different set temps. I don't recall ever washing in cold in recent years at least not since being on this site, thanks to you all.

i

 

[sudsmaster]

Hell, I still use hot wash for some things.

 

 

[appnut]

Hell, I still use hot wash for some things.

Towels, most sheets.

 

[sudsmaster]

Like I said 201 days ago,

 

"Towels, sheets, whites, etc. Hot water."

 

 

[dermacie]

I use warm water to wash all of my regular clothes.  My undies, socks, and towels I wash in hot water with powdered Tide and a scoop of BIZ.  I always use fabric softener.  

 

[gelaundry4ever]

cold water

The only thing I will wash in cold is a load of darks depending on the weather. Enough of this washing everything in cold water stupid crap!

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

The only thing I’ll ever Wash in cold water is

Either something of really really high value to me that I wouldn’t feel comfortable washing in warmer temperatures or something with proteins on it because temperature would would cause it to become a permanent stain