UK article about washing at low temps

[aquacycle]

I don't think this has been posted yet. Interesting article all the same. Thank goodness it would appear that people are finally grasping the fact that washing at 30 and lower is just plain dirty!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...res-mixed-loads-spreading-dangerous-bugs.html

 

[hotpointfan]

Washing low

Good job we know wash higher, boilwashes all round!

Normally I set the Creda to boilwash whilst the Bosch tumbles along on Express 60.

Washing at 15 degrees Is just rubbish, and I use Persil now instead of Liquid!

Jacob

 

[iheartmaytag]

Looks like we wasteful Americans knew what we were doing afterall. 

 

Wash'em hot and douse them with Cholorine.

 

[laundromat]

I RARELY wash ANYTHING in cold water. Even my hands.

 

[pierreandreply4]

You are way wrong about cold water washing

there is nothing wrong in washing clothe in cold water i wash all my clothes in cold water and they get even cleaner than hot water as well as keeping my clothes clean and also what would you do if your home water heater failed on you and you did not have a water heater for 2 weeks or more you would have no choice but to use cold water and also you should read this article that i google.

Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Laundry in Hot Water

washing machine

It seems intuitive to do wash your clothes in hot water when doing your laundry. It just seems like hot water should clean dirty clothes better than warm or cold water ever could, right? Wrong! You need to switch to washing in warm or cold water. Here’s why. First, hot water does not clean clothes better. Hot water is also tougher on clothes, helping to wear and tear them faster, as well as fade colors quicker.

More importantly, using hot water to do your laundry is an energy drainer. When washing, 85 to 90 percent of the energy used is for heating the water. Using warm water instead of hot water for two loads of laundry a week will save 500 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution, if you use an electric water heater, or 150 pounds of carbon dioxide, if you use a gas heater. Always use cold water when rinsing!

if you do not beleve this article just use google and this is my only post

 

[spoodles]

Oh please, it's from the Daily Mail!

There's nothing this rag likes better than scaremongering. Along with homophobia and their general love of bigotry, of course!

This paper runs articles along the lines of "Salad makes you fat - IT'S OFFICIAL!" "Eating sausages is worse than smoking 80 cigarettes a day", etc.!

 

[launderess]

With Respects To The Right Honourable James Hacker MP

The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country;
The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country;
The Times is read by the people who actually do run the country;
The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country;
The Financial Times is read by people who own the country;
The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country;
And The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is.

About those who read the Sun? Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits.

 

[DADoES]

 
I washed my sheets this evening ... at 125°F (or thereabouts).  Yay!   

 

[rapunzel]

Well, then there should be plenty of documented evidence re

especially in countries like the US and Australia where a significant proportion of households only wash in cold water. So, when they write these articles they should be able to pin-point instances where this has happened to back up their statements.

From personal experience I'd agree that better results are achieved via washing in higher temps when dealing with really dirty clothes. Though, since a lot of people change their wardrobe daily, much of today's laundry isn't all that dirty that it needs to be sanitized at boiling point. 90% of germs will be killed by most detergents even in cold water and what is left cops it in the dryer or when it's dried in pure sunlight.

Yes, when taking swabs from nooks and crannies inside washers there will be places where some nasty germs and mold might collect and breed over time. Though, most household washers do not have to deal with large amounts of blood, urine, fecal matter, vomit and other bodily excretions, as would be the case in a commercial setting. The actual wash bowl/drum has fresh water running through it all the time and it is highly unlikely that clothes will be in contact with dangerously contaminated surfaces whilst going through a cycle.

Another pointless article that flies in the face of real experience.

 

[foraloysius]

Real experience

That means you have done research on your own washer and counted germs? I prefer to believe people who have done scientific research on this than blank statements without any proof.

 

[rapunzel]

Like I said...

where is the evidence of dangerous cross infections from domestic washing machines?

 

[rapunzel]

I think it's a cleverly disguised plug for Ecozone's

Because 90% of cross contamination can be resolved with good and frequent hand washing and that is actually scientifically proven.

 

[matthewza]

i wash clothes with warm or luke warm water and rinse in cold or luke warm. towes and bedding and doggy & kitty blankets hot wash cold rinse. i prefer cold or luke warm rinsing because i get less creases because we line dry a lot.
i also put dettol in with bedding, towels, and doggy and kitty things.
and here in SA they say you should clean your washing machine atleast once every 3 months (like i do) with either coarse salt, dishwasher powder or washing machine cleaner. hot wash ofcourse. and i use powder detergent most of the time and NO fabric softener

 

[foraloysius]

Olav

It's hard to discuss if you on one hand say that scientific evidence is rubbish because real experience has shown you different and then later to prove your point you use.... scientific evidence! So you randomly accept results from one research and turn down the other? Please enlighten me.

 

[electron1100]

Cold Water Washing



I would not wash my dishes etc in cold water so why would i want to my wash clothes in cold water

To me its all just marketing hype as usual driven by the "green" community and manufacturers trying to sell products, it is a very bad joke as far as I am concerned

 

[rapunzel]

Is it truly scientific? Or is it bespoke science for a comme

Scientific evidence places most of the germs that they are finding inside washing machines (or on clothes after laundering), on just about every surface of the environments in which we live, including our skin. Their presence does not usually represent a problem unless they are in very high concentrations and people have severely compromised immunity.

Another point that is not being raised in the article is rinsing. Even if cold water washing does not kill germs, the dilution that takes place during the rinse cycle would reduce any bacterial load. Then, of course, it is unusual for someone to wear a damp clothing item straight from the washer. There is still the drying process that is part of clothes laundering. Most germs that we encounter in our every day environments will have either been killed or reduced to such low levels that they do not pose a threat to the vast majority of people by then. There is also acquired immunity to the germs that co-exist in our normal living environments.

Then, of coures, the bacteria have to find their way into our bodies. Unless we vigorously rub the contaminated area of a garment directly into an open wound, or we systematically and vigorously suck every inch of a piece of underwear contaminated with high concentrations of E.coli, there is still a hundredfold danger of getting sick standing next to other people in a busy place, shaking hands, eating at a restaurant or touching a door handle.

The water that we use to wash our clothes and that we drink straight from the tap also carries a bacterial load, albeit at extremely low concentrations after it has been treated.

If they do find higher bacterial levels in washing machines and on clothes after laundering, is this mainly applicable to high efficiency washers that do not use enough water to properly dilute and rinse out contaminants?

 

[aquarius1984]

If they do find higher bacterial levels in washing machines

If they do find higher bacterial levels in washing machines and on clothes after laundering, is this mainly applicable to high efficiency washers that do not use enough water to properly dilute and rinse out contaminants?

Quite clearly not, Low water use machines I have had kept squeaky clean inside yet uses low water levels. Its due to the fact I use high temp washes and quality detergent powder.

All folk need is a bit of education and everyone will be switching to low water level FL's after all they are the future.

Fabulous machines they are too,

 

[foraloysius]

Transferring contaminated laundry from the washer to the dryer is a moment that is risky when germs haven't been killed in the washer. Think of a child helping mother doing laundry. There are more situations thinkable that could be a risk, especially when a washing machine has germs, molds etc. in it.

As for the insinuation of the commercial aspect of this research, I think you'd better come up with evidence. I looked at the research report and found no link at all.

 

[aquarius8000]

My Mum will not let me go above 40'c or below. I only wash sheets on economy (dont know how hot that is? 30'?). Very interesting article, Thank you for posting it.

 

[rapunzel]

'As for the insinuation of the commercial aspect'

Persil, Nappisan, Dettol, Ecoballs. How does naming these products in the article underpin their supposed research findings, other than making subtle mention of each ones' favorable attributes in relation to the topic?

The article also doesn't really offer much in regards to proper research data to underpin what is mostly presented as a supposition of what 'may' happen if people consistently wash in lower temperatures. What may happen doesn't mean that it will happen and, drawing from personal and collective experiences, is unlikely to happen. The only definitive statement they offer is in regards to dust mites and that hardly constitutes a virulent outbreak of some super bug contamination.

I used to work in a residential care place for seven years. It was classified as a low care facility for the elderly and, thus, did not require commercial grade laundry equipment at that time. We did laundry in regular domestic top loaders using cold water and a commercial grade detergent. Over the years that I worked there we never once had any kind of reportable contagion issue. Nor were we ever required to go into lock down. Whereas nursing homes that were connected to our organization, which used commercial grade front loaders and germicidal laundry protocols, went into lock down for gastric outbreaks at least once a year.

Regarding your idea that a child would be at risk of catching something whilst helping mum with contaminated laundry, it is conceivable, but highly unlikely to about 99.999%. Kids are far more likely to get sick going to the play ground, day care, kindy or their GP's surgery.

 

[pierreandreply4]

A little history lesson

And there is something that you need to know and this is a history lesson and thats something i have seen on a french tv show that i use to watch and still watch from time to time in the 1800 way before automatic washers or wringers clothes where wash in a lake or on a scrub board and as you all know the water in a lake is cold and also you need to note that during that era they where no water heaters in homes of this era and no dishwasher so in other word when they wash the dishes sinks at the time did not have hot water they had to wash the family dishes in cold water unless they took the time to heat there water on a woodstove and in regard to laundry you can read everything in this article.

http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-of-washing-clothes.aspx

 

[aquarius1984]

History Lesson?

PMSLROFLMAO

heres another link.

 

[foraloysius]

Oh I see

I assumed you were talking about the research also assuming you had found it. But you're critisizing a news article not the research itself.

Link to the research:

http://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/Inte...d0e3b0f361079f1780257865003d43b1?OpenDocument

 

[joe_in_philly]

After reading the article, I come away with the understanding that it says that cold water washing may not be appropriate for some situations. I do not see a blanket statement on cold or hot water washing. When I was in college, I can remember guys first doing their own laundry and they liked the idea of washing everything together in cold as a way to minimize the chances of color transfer and ruining their clothes. No sorting necessary! It was a simple thing they could understand and they didn't want to invest any more thought into the laundry process. They didn't care about dingy socks or undershirts.

I think that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach that is best for all laundry situations. I wash in hot, warm, and cold temps, and use different products for different situations. I don't use bleach for my dark clothes, and don't wash my underwear in cold water, for example. I understand that there are places in the world where people only wash I cold, but I would bet that they have their own "good laundry" practices which may include proper sorting, soaking, a sunny environment where they can hang out the clothes to dry, methods to kill germs in contaminated clothing, or otherwise adjust their laundry process to ensure they don't get sick. It makes more sense to me that the cautionary tale being put forth is for people who don't realize that washing underwear with cloth napkins in cold water is not a good idea, or that washing in cold all the time without taking proper precautions could lead to cross contamination.

I like to wash my towels in hot and to use bleach. But I also hang my towel on a bar to quickly dry after a shower, and can use it for several days without it developing an odor. I have used towels at other people's homes that have an odor in "clean" towels. That means to me that it was not properly washed, dried, or stored. Some people may wash their towels in warm and change their towels after each use, and that may work well for them. But I would think using a towel repeatedly, not letting the damp towel dry after use, and then washing in cold water would allow bacteria to grow in the towel, and would result in a smelly towel.

If I had to wash for a week or two in only cold water, I would be sure to carefully sort my laundry, use bleach to disinfect when necessary, and I wouldn't wash underwear with cloth napkins together.

 

[aquacycle]

Sorry, but to all those who was in cold water, it's common sense that hot water cleans anything better than cold. Would you wash your dishes in cold water? No. Why? Because it doesn't clean things as easily or hygienicly as hot water.

Body temperature is 37.5 degrees. How can one ever expect all the bacteria caused by sweat and flaking skin cells to be effectively killed and washed away at any temperature lower than that?

pierreandreply4, you asked what one would do in the event of water heater failure. Get a washing machine that has a heat element might be an idea.

 

[pierreandreply4]

maybe but not if the washer is a topload model because even if the washer had a heater inside i would not use it and i was tought that washing in cold water is better so i will continue to wash in cold water and if i have to wash my bedsheets it will be in warm water not hot because the max temp my bed sheets can take is eather cold water wash or warm.

 

[arbilab]

There's a billion bacteria EVERYwhere. If not right when you wash it, but immediately once you put it on. WASHing dishes is not what makes them clean where they are no longer a growth medium, DRYing is, once washing has removed stuff that would retain water.

I'd more guess that article was written at the behest of the utility companies which would like nothing better than everyone boiling their clothes at electric rates among the highest in the world.

Wasn't there just a huge bacterial outbreak in Germany? Isn't Germany one of those "60C wash" countries? We cook known-contaminated foods (poultry, salmonella; beef, e. coli) to 70C. But we handle it before cooking and that doesn't make us sick. And we don't eat our laundry.

 

[mrboilwash]

The article makes a lot of sense to me.
For example my IKEA polyester shower curtain should not be washed above 40°C according to the care lable.
Well, the thing is, if I do so and even if I use a high quality powdered detergent with a TAED activated oxygen bleaching system, the curtain redevelops that nasty dish rag smell within a week after washing. The only way I can keep it fresh for up to two months regardless what detergent I use is by ironing it after washing. Heat works much better for me than chemicals when it comes to laundry hygiene.
However I am not convinced it would be so dangerous for the average person when washing in cooler temps like stated in the article. For me personally it feels rather icky than dangerous when I think about transferring skid marks onto tea towels and other things in a cooler wash.
By the way the recent bacterial outbreak in Germany has been tracked down to fenugreek sprouts in salads, had nothing to do with laundry hygiene.

 

[aquacycle]

i would not use it and i was tought that washing in cold wa

have you ever considered that what you were taught is..ya know, WRONG? Or that maybe there is a better way of doing things? I was always taught to wash everything on Non-Fast Coloureds 40, but I certainly never stuck to that once I got older and especially after I moved out of my parents. You're allowed to challenge those who have gone before you. If we didn't, imagine the world we would live in!

"We cook known-contaminated foods (poultry, salmonella; beef, e. coli) to 70C. But we handle it before cooking and that doesn't make us sick"

It does if you don't wash your hands in hot, soapy water!

Mr. Boilwash, I agree completely. I wouldn't say any bacteria on clothes is going to kill you or make you ill. As with anything, if you constantly wash in low temperatures over a period of time it will cause problems and could leave marks on clothes and leave you with a smelly washing machine that's covered in mould. Left for years, this could very well make you ill. Of course I'm not saying "ONE 30 WASH WILL KILL YOU!!" but the effects of prolonged cold-30 washes could indeed make you or family members ill - especially babies, children or anybody vulnerable to such bugs with underlying health issues.

 

[hoover1100]

High Temperature washing

Lets not forget that washing at high temperatures is not just to make laundry more sanitary, it also makes it a hell of a lot cleaner!

As has been demonstrated in recent threads a hot wash, and preferably a boil wash will leave whites far cleaner and whiter than lower temperatures, particularly when combined with a good quality, biological washing powder with oxygen based bleaching agents.

I'm sure results at lower temperatures may be improved by the use of harsh bleaches, pre-treating, pre-soaking and using detergent boosters, but I for one want to be able to put my washing in the machine, add detergent and have everything come out spotless. I don't have time to mess around checking clothes for stains and pre-treating them, and I don't have the money to buy overpriced detergent boosters!

85-100c for whites, 60c for non-white bed linen and towels, as well as light coloureds and white synthetics, then 40c for dark/bright coloureds and delicate/wool items. Nothing ever has, or ever will be damaged, shrunk or faded by this method in my experience. My laundry will never be washed below 40c thank you very much!

Matt