Hi, Nick.
I saw this on TV a couple of days ago as well. I even rewound the programme because I missed the advert the first time! LOL
Methinks this is going to cause problems. I am absolutely in favour of energy efficiency – many of us need to go much further than we do at present to save energy. However, there are some areas where ‘saving energy’ may present problems:
1. Washing machine engineers have been noticing problems with machines for years now since the advent of regular 40ºC washes – that is, clogging up, smelly machines, etc. You are most likely aware of this already.
2. Clothes need some heat to be washed, for goodness’ sake! 30ºC is classed as ‘cool’. However, some items of clothing can only be washed at 30ºC as a maximum.
Ariel packets have advertised the fact that they can be used at 30ºC for some time now, although there appears to be some cross-advertising with the UK Energy Saving Trust, whose work is laudable. Indeed, we have managed to secure grants from them for energy efficiency measures in our home because I am in receipt of disability allowances. However, it did take many years for us to realise we could claim them (and we are always quite reluctant to claim benefits, which is a silly thing to say, I know).
Ariel apparently does clean better than any other UK laundry detergent, including Persil. This is according to Which? (an independent UK consumer association) tests and other independent tests. Ariel scored higher for stain removal; Persil bettered Ariel for brighter whites in Which? tests. However, as has been mentioned here recently, although Ariel does not appear to rinse out well, it does appear to leave something in the rinse water. These should not cause most people harm, but they really should not be there – the rinse water, excluding conditioner, should be clear.
Hmmm… Not sure what to make of it all. (BTW, this message is getting too long! Nick, Jon, do something! Glue my hands to the keyboard to stop me typing, or something!) Perhaps a better method would have been to make it clear that much modern clothing can only be washed at a maximum of 30ºC, not the usual 40ºC, and that we should check our clothes’ washing labels. Come to think of it, I’m not sure many know that such labels exist these days, do they?
LOL
I know are bodies are not like clothes (LOL), but how could you possibly have a bath or shower with your hot water set at a maximum of 30ºC? Imagine the scenario:
“I’m just going to have a bath/shower, dear/honey,” you say.
“OK, dear/honey. Don’t have the water too hot, or you’ll waste energy...” says your partner/mother/father/friend/child.
“Of course I WON’T – it doesn’t go above 30ºC any more! I doubt I’ll even get CLEAN!” you say.
Bleurrghhh! Horrible situation! LOL
I don’t doubt that we can get clothes clean at 30ºC – just not all of them! Bed linen should always go on at least 60ºC to kill house dust mites, even if one does not have an allergy to them. We wash towels at 60ºC, too, as well as the dogs’ towels after we have bathed them. Dishclothes (left in bleach overnight and then rinsed first) and E-cloths (microfibre, reusable cleaning clothes) are washed together at 75ºC or 95ºC.
Oh, I sound so sad and… err… old-fashioned! I am a 27-year-old man – honest!
Regards,
Carl
