Minimum efficacious rinse temperature

[johnmk]

Hi folks,

What's the minimum efficacious rinse temperature? Have there been any objective tests done that might shed some light on my question? My tap cold water temperature is about 48F right now, is there benefit to be had in what I'm doing at present, which is employing a thermostatic mixing valve to raise the cold inlet temperature to 65F? Do you think three rinses at 48F would be superior to two at 65F?

Thanks!

-John

 

[arbilab]

I notice with warm final rinse (switchable, other rinses are cold only) there is more suds evident than in the cold rinse before it. Warm on this machine is ~95F and cold ~65F winter, 80F summer.

"Exactly" what that means in terms of results, I can't say.

 

[washer111]

Perhaps...

But if using an FL machine, coming from a warm or hot main-wash, your rinses should still be around 90ºF/30ºC, with a Main-Wash of 40º (105º?). I've noticed that on our FL: It stays quite warm in there for the duration of the cycle, so by the end, it is luke-warm still. 

 

[jeffg]

> Do you think three rinses at 48F would be superior to two at 65F?

IMO you won't notice any difference between those two. The effacious temperature for rinsing will depend on the load and what detergent/other additives are on it. Generally, cottons/natural fibers should be rinsed in warm water, synthetics rinse better in cool or lukewarm water. Cold water rinses should be reserved for anything that can't handle warm water (delicates etc).

Most of today's detergents contain chemicals (optical brighteners etc) that are specifically made to not rinse off, so effacious is a relative word. The only way to residue-free laundry these days is to use Charlie's or another additive-free laundry detergent.

 

[combo52]

Ideal Rinse Temperature ?

Anything above freezing ? there has been much debate about this and no proof so I am open to some real scientific tests. You do see more suds coming out of a drain hose when spray rinsing with warm water than cold but I think that is because warm water activates suds where as colder water suppresses suds but I don't think that this observation proves that warm water removes more detergent or dirt at this point in the washing process.

 

But with NO detergent manufacturer and NO washer manufacturer recommending anything but a COLD rinse I am going with HOT for washing and COLD for rinsing till there is some proof that this very costly and environmentally unfriendly warm rinse gets close to being worth wild.

 

[kenmore71]

John, just a "friendly" question here. Based on NO scientific proof, do YOU think that my 38 degree COLD water rinse is as effective as my 80-ish degree WARM water rinse here in Mpls in February??? Mark (we will meet ONE of these days)

 

[jeffg]

> But with NO detergent manufacturer and NO washer manufacturer recommending anything but a COLD rinse I am going with HOT for washing and COLD for rinsing till there is some proof that this very costly and environmentally unfriendly warm rinse gets close to being worth wild. <

Thanks for the chuckle. First of all it's while not wild. Second, read the lid of any washing machine made between 1958 and 1990 and tell us what temperature is indicated for rinsing cottons (and most other clothes). You know, before the socialist environmentalist wackos started gaining the upper hand of our government and lives, and when human existence wasn't considered an attack on our planet.

 

[tomturbomatic]

In any study of textiles, it has been shown that cold water contracts most fibers and weaves while higher temperatures relax them. In chemistry we learned that chemical reactions go faster at higher temperatures and that solids dissolve and/or go into solution faster at higher temperatures. Stirring sugar into iced tea takes longer because the sugar dissolves and goes into solution more slowly than it takes for sugar to dissolve and go into solution in hot or warm tea. In rinsing, the idea is to move detergent and suspended soil from the fibers of the fabrics into the rinse water, a process of dilution. If the water is cold, the fiber and weave of the fabric are contracted, making it harder to flush the detergent and soil from the fabric and with cold water, getting the detergent/soil into solution, i.e. moving it from the fabric into the water, is not as easy as with warmer water due to the chemical reaction being slowed by the lower temperatures.

Yesterday I measured the tap cold water temperature and it is 50F. I use rinse water that is between 70 and 80F.

 

[jetcone]

Just a note here:

its important to keep in mind, in the detergent industry when they say COLD water, they consider cold water to be between 60-75 degrees F. 

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yes they do, Jon, but they don't state that ANYWHERE, nor do the washer manufacturers because they are in bed with the Department of Energy where dishwashers are rated on how well they wash already clean dishes with shitty detergents and rinsing of both laundry and dishes is a fleeting afterthought. My father, may he be remembered for a blessing, taught that proper rinsing was as important as washing in thorough cleaning.

 

[roscoe62]

rinsing

Even using the Persil universal powder rinsing can be difficult in the winter and I have to rerinse in warm, sometimes more than once, to get the load clear of suds/foam.This has started again for me this winter so it could be the water is too cold to effectively clear the fabrics of suds & dirt residue leaving them hard after drying, especially towels.

 

[alr2903]

I would agree with Tom. Washing removes oils, soils, stains. Good rinsing with tempered cool water flushes them away. alr

 

[jetcone]

Roscoe62

You need some Rosalie's Zero Suds!! Its a commin'.

 

[frigilux]

I had forgotten all about Rosalie's Zero Suds!! I want, I want!!

 

[roscoe62]

@jetcone

I new there was one arriving, I just forgot the name, sorry