Found this whilst searching around the Web.
NYY Article on Using Cold Water For Laundry
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My mother said MANY years ago, You cant wash your hands clean in cold water, so how can clothes get clean in cold water. She got a free sample of Cold Power powder and would only use it to wash rugs or the dogs blanket. I still and will always wash in hot or warm but will rinse in cold now. So I guess I am doing my little part.
mrcleanjeans
New member
Sorry, I will NOT wash most anything in cold water, with VERY rare exceptions and even then the water would be cool or lukewarm. Cold water takes forever to fill up the washer also. I use warm on most of my loads! I don't want sludge building up in the outer basket from solidified soils!
I too refuse to wash in cold water, they can try all they want but it's not going to happen in my home...
strongenough78
Well-known member
Tim I'm glad you brought up hand washing! Ok they want us to start washing our clothes in cold water, when our clothes touch more filthy surfaces throughout the day than our hands do. Yet, with the germ free, hand washing craze the last few years, they say to wash them in hot water with a soap designed to kill germs. And the last time I checked, I have yet to see an antibacterial laundry detergent (other than bleach of course) and we're expected to wash clothes in cold water. I REALLY don't get the logic behind that. Oh and before anyone reminds me of how using the dryer can kill germs, don't forget, they want us to hang dry our clothes more often instead of using the dryer all the time 
No thanks, the coldest water I use to wash my clothes is warm. It's bad enough not having a warm rinse readily available anymore like there used to be.
No thanks, the coldest water I use to wash my clothes is warm. It's bad enough not having a warm rinse readily available anymore like there used to be.
"Although some of these detergents have been available for several years, customers cling to mom’s age-old advice that hot water washes best — squandering energy and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions."
No bias there!
/sarc off
No bias there!
/sarc off
I just go by the care label
of the item, with some common sense.
I would never wash cotton underwear in anything less than hot (I only wear white).
I never wash kitchen or bath towels in anything less than near-boiling (I add boiling water). At least 175F.
The few "cold water wash" items I have, get cold water wash, but I have so few of them I usually wash them by hand.
I do almost always rinse in cold water, however.
Giving a hoot about the planet shouldn't obviate common sense. If I need items, and don't have a full load, I have a handy little "water level" switch.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
of the item, with some common sense.
I would never wash cotton underwear in anything less than hot (I only wear white).
I never wash kitchen or bath towels in anything less than near-boiling (I add boiling water). At least 175F.
The few "cold water wash" items I have, get cold water wash, but I have so few of them I usually wash them by hand.
I do almost always rinse in cold water, however.
Giving a hoot about the planet shouldn't obviate common sense. If I need items, and don't have a full load, I have a handy little "water level" switch.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
Though my whites, and towels still get hot or warm washes; I do wash some of my clothes in cold. I have tried and like Tide Cold water, however, the original is too perfumey--ok it stinks. I was happy when I found Tide Cold Water Free & Clear, but now I can't find it in the stores.
It is still listed on the Tide website, but I am not having any luck finding it locally.
It is still listed on the Tide website, but I am not having any luck finding it locally.
beekeyknee
Well-known member
F#%k Proctor & Gamble.
I personally think that anything touching against my skin, such as underwear, pants and shirts, should be washed in water which as hot as possible.
Where I live, boilwashing is a very rare thing to do. We use bleach as much as the Americans do.
When I wash my denim and unmentionables, I always wash them on the hot setting, which is usually 60 C water. I feel that gets the smell out of them.
I have washed them on the warm water setting, which I believe is around 30 C here in winter. I feel that they still get clean, but they also get dirtier (And smellier) faster.
When winter is here, the water gets down to about 5 C. I don't see how that can kill germs, but rather just make them sleepy.
The only time we ever wash anything in cold water is when the label on the clothing demands it.
Where I live, boilwashing is a very rare thing to do. We use bleach as much as the Americans do.
When I wash my denim and unmentionables, I always wash them on the hot setting, which is usually 60 C water. I feel that gets the smell out of them.
I have washed them on the warm water setting, which I believe is around 30 C here in winter. I feel that they still get clean, but they also get dirtier (And smellier) faster.
When winter is here, the water gets down to about 5 C. I don't see how that can kill germs, but rather just make them sleepy.
The only time we ever wash anything in cold water is when the label on the clothing demands it.
Well There's Cold And There's
*Cold*
My Miele can use either tap cold water or one can set the thermostat to 85F. The latter feels rather warm to my hand when draining so isn't exactly the frigid water you have say during a North Eastern winter.
I use machine cold setting for certain items such as linens with heavy embroidery where hot or even warm water causes so much constricting of fabric as to make ironing day more of a hassle than it already is. Also use this setting for badly stained items that are delicate as well. In both instances always use a detergent from my Euro stash such as Ariel Excell Gel or Persil (Henkel) megaperls. To both will often add sodium percarbonate (the cold water oxygen bleach), just to kick things up a notch.
L.
*Cold*
My Miele can use either tap cold water or one can set the thermostat to 85F. The latter feels rather warm to my hand when draining so isn't exactly the frigid water you have say during a North Eastern winter.
I use machine cold setting for certain items such as linens with heavy embroidery where hot or even warm water causes so much constricting of fabric as to make ironing day more of a hassle than it already is. Also use this setting for badly stained items that are delicate as well. In both instances always use a detergent from my Euro stash such as Ariel Excell Gel or Persil (Henkel) megaperls. To both will often add sodium percarbonate (the cold water oxygen bleach), just to kick things up a notch.
L.
It's funny
How things change. Growing up I swear my mom's washer was permanently set on "hot/cold". When I started doing my own laundry she gave me a lecture on how "cold water will not break down the body oil in your clothes. Use at least warm water". Today (and this totally grosses me out) my Mom washes everything in cold water !!!. When I asked her about that she said "soap and water kills germs, period. And I usually ad oxi clean to the load". Sorry, not buying the oxi clean story. I will agree with here that soap and water kills germs, but all cold water washing--EEWWWWWWWWWWW.
How things change. Growing up I swear my mom's washer was permanently set on "hot/cold". When I started doing my own laundry she gave me a lecture on how "cold water will not break down the body oil in your clothes. Use at least warm water". Today (and this totally grosses me out) my Mom washes everything in cold water !!!. When I asked her about that she said "soap and water kills germs, period. And I usually ad oxi clean to the load". Sorry, not buying the oxi clean story. I will agree with here that soap and water kills germs, but all cold water washing--EEWWWWWWWWWWW.
zanussi_lover
Well-known member
I wash at 30*c
Wash Woollens/Handwash items on cold cycle, to keep them in shape and stop them from being damaged.
I wash Black clothes at 30*c to keep them dark - using a colour powder/tablet
Also wash lightly soiled stuff at 30 too, if I need it in a hurry
-
I wash colours at 40*c - including my underwear - using a biological powder/tablet with oxygen bleach in, as the oxygen bleach will sanitise them and helps remove any stains..these are all mixed colours light and dark, and they dont bleed into eachother
Whites get 40*c also - I dont see any reason to wash them at 60 unless they are heavily stained.
Towels/Sheets/White Socks - get washed at 60*c for hygiene reasons
I use the long cycles for Towels/Sheets wash, and for whites.
but I press the quick wash button for darks/colours so they get a shorter cycle.
Wash Woollens/Handwash items on cold cycle, to keep them in shape and stop them from being damaged.
I wash Black clothes at 30*c to keep them dark - using a colour powder/tablet
Also wash lightly soiled stuff at 30 too, if I need it in a hurry
-
I wash colours at 40*c - including my underwear - using a biological powder/tablet with oxygen bleach in, as the oxygen bleach will sanitise them and helps remove any stains..these are all mixed colours light and dark, and they dont bleed into eachother
Whites get 40*c also - I dont see any reason to wash them at 60 unless they are heavily stained.
Towels/Sheets/White Socks - get washed at 60*c for hygiene reasons
I use the long cycles for Towels/Sheets wash, and for whites.
but I press the quick wash button for darks/colours so they get a shorter cycle.
Popularity of Cold Water Washing
Makes me think of the term, "The Great Unwashed Hordes." If it were not for the intensely perfumed fabric softeners, their clothes would soon smell like their washing machines and people venturing into crowds of Palinites will resume the old practice of carrying a perfumed cloth to hold against the nose.
The other hole in this argument, besides the A** Holes pushing this is that with the new HE machines using so little water to wash a load, the water heating costs cannot be what they were when machines filled with 16 to 25 gallons of hot water. This is the sort of bull crap that makes the best argument for shutting down the Department of Energy. It is nothing but a source of misinformation and a way to funnel our tax dollars to corporations while supporting a huge bureaucracy to do it. It was formed by Carter to reduce our dependence on oil and we can see what a roaring success that has been.
In the cold water months, 80-85F is the "cold" water temperature I use for dark items and those are the only things I wash in cold water.
Makes me think of the term, "The Great Unwashed Hordes." If it were not for the intensely perfumed fabric softeners, their clothes would soon smell like their washing machines and people venturing into crowds of Palinites will resume the old practice of carrying a perfumed cloth to hold against the nose.
The other hole in this argument, besides the A** Holes pushing this is that with the new HE machines using so little water to wash a load, the water heating costs cannot be what they were when machines filled with 16 to 25 gallons of hot water. This is the sort of bull crap that makes the best argument for shutting down the Department of Energy. It is nothing but a source of misinformation and a way to funnel our tax dollars to corporations while supporting a huge bureaucracy to do it. It was formed by Carter to reduce our dependence on oil and we can see what a roaring success that has been.
In the cold water months, 80-85F is the "cold" water temperature I use for dark items and those are the only things I wash in cold water.
DaveAMKrayoGuy's "Cold" Philosophy:
Eh, somehow I don't feel any pressure to change my Water Temperature knob...!
Everything is washed & rinsed in "Cold", except for the baby's clothes which I'll wash in "Warm", but still rinse in "Cold" (although there are exceptions where I DO use "Warm" (Wash) / "Warm" (Rinse)...)
But, if anything such as rags or towels are subject to any unsanitary conditions, then I'll use "Hot" for my wash, and still rinse in "Cold"...!
Otherwise, my clothes are clean, smell right, and are germ-free! "Cold" for my wash & rise, it is!
Otherwise bring back those "Germicidal Lamps" (maybe make 'em SAFER!) for my dryer!
-- Dave
Eh, somehow I don't feel any pressure to change my Water Temperature knob...!
Everything is washed & rinsed in "Cold", except for the baby's clothes which I'll wash in "Warm", but still rinse in "Cold" (although there are exceptions where I DO use "Warm" (Wash) / "Warm" (Rinse)...)
But, if anything such as rags or towels are subject to any unsanitary conditions, then I'll use "Hot" for my wash, and still rinse in "Cold"...!
Otherwise, my clothes are clean, smell right, and are germ-free! "Cold" for my wash & rise, it is!
Otherwise bring back those "Germicidal Lamps" (maybe make 'em SAFER!) for my dryer!
-- Dave
verizonbear
Well-known member
Completely off subject NYT link
The P&G tech is handsome
Why is he wearing eye protection ? Humm..... OSHA ? Fumes from the detergent chemicals? Makes me wonder about what is REALLY in Tide cold water!
Being a P&G laundry product technician/researcher would be my ultimate dream job !!!
The P&G tech is handsome
Why is he wearing eye protection ? Humm..... OSHA ? Fumes from the detergent chemicals? Makes me wonder about what is REALLY in Tide cold water!
Being a P&G laundry product technician/researcher would be my ultimate dream job !!!
Great picture illustrating their solution to the temp / chemical / action equation. They definitely have the scale weighted on the mechanical action side.
Habits don't, and won't change until the cost does. Proven repeatedly through the years with motor vehicle fuels, consumption is directly related to the wallet. If the costs of energy remain low, all the advertising in the world won't change set ideas and habits.
With the advent of cheaper natural gas from shale fracking, not only will the gas get cheaper to heat the water, it may come with the chemicals already in it saving a step at the dispenser drawer. Yay! /sarc ON
Habits don't, and won't change until the cost does. Proven repeatedly through the years with motor vehicle fuels, consumption is directly related to the wallet. If the costs of energy remain low, all the advertising in the world won't change set ideas and habits.
With the advent of cheaper natural gas from shale fracking, not only will the gas get cheaper to heat the water, it may come with the chemicals already in it saving a step at the dispenser drawer. Yay! /sarc ON
I think one of the most important things to take into consideration here is how "cold" is the cold water we are using?
As was mentioned in a thread here a few months back, the municipal water supply here in Minneapolis varies greatly in temperature depending on the time of year. This time of the year it can be as cold as 40 degrees. By the middle of August, it can get as high as 65 or even 70 degrees.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that most detergents require water of 60 degrees to wash and rinse out properly. How cold are the "cold" water detergents designed for?
I know that there are places in the south where "cold" water in the summertime is upwards of 80 degrees. Well water here in MN is typically about 50 - 55 degrees.
As was mentioned in a thread here a few months back, the municipal water supply here in Minneapolis varies greatly in temperature depending on the time of year. This time of the year it can be as cold as 40 degrees. By the middle of August, it can get as high as 65 or even 70 degrees.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that most detergents require water of 60 degrees to wash and rinse out properly. How cold are the "cold" water detergents designed for?
I know that there are places in the south where "cold" water in the summertime is upwards of 80 degrees. Well water here in MN is typically about 50 - 55 degrees.
dirtybuck
Well-known member
Phil:
Just my preference, but I think he'd look MUCH better with either a 'stache, goatee or a beard.
Just my preference, but I think he'd look MUCH better with either a 'stache, goatee or a beard.
