Hello everybody. I have been doing laundry since I was 7. I've washed sturdy cottons in cold water - particularly dark colors. I have heard that GE washers have a sturdy cottons cycle that uses cold water to wash them called dark colors. At my dad's house I have the washer set to normal/fast, extra-heavy and cold/cold when doing brights, blues and darks. Load sizes vary. At my mom's house, I use cold/cold and cotton/normal when washing darks. Of course, I wash light colors on warm and whites on hot at both places. What do you guys think about washing sturdy cottons in cold water? I believe GE decided to name this sturdy cottons cycle darks for this reason. It uses cold water but uses the typical regular wash and fast spin. What are your thoughts? I'd like to know. Thank you.
washing sturdy cottons in cold water.
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I wash white cottons, sheets, and towels in HOT. For colors, dress shirts, and dress casual pants in luke warm or cool water so as to not enhance fading. For jeans it depends on how dirty or stained they might be and the detergent that I'm currently using. I don't like for my colors to fade, but I do want them clean.
I'm old school, but I'm learning!! LOL.
I'm old school, but I'm learning!! LOL.
I agree.
I agree with you there. I wash study cottons on the regular cycle with all out full speed washspin. The only thing that changes is the temperature depending what color type they are. For dark colors like jeans and other non-colorfast heavyweight cotton fabrics, I use cold. Light colors on warm. Whites on hot. So I'm old school toowhen I comes to wash temp. I find cold water quite effective at removing stains without setting them in. I just use the most intense cycle with the highest grade laundry detergent out there today and the heaviest soil level. If I had a GE washer with smart dispense, I would have the entire 100 ounce jugs of laundry detergent and fabric softenerinto their designated tanks and have both features selected. Then I would try the stain removal guide on dark colors.
I agree with you there. I wash study cottons on the regular cycle with all out full speed washspin. The only thing that changes is the temperature depending what color type they are. For dark colors like jeans and other non-colorfast heavyweight cotton fabrics, I use cold. Light colors on warm. Whites on hot. So I'm old school toowhen I comes to wash temp. I find cold water quite effective at removing stains without setting them in. I just use the most intense cycle with the highest grade laundry detergent out there today and the heaviest soil level. If I had a GE washer with smart dispense, I would have the entire 100 ounce jugs of laundry detergent and fabric softenerinto their designated tanks and have both features selected. Then I would try the stain removal guide on dark colors.
harpon
Well-known member
I've gone to cooler temps the last few years myself- and even less detergent some times. The clothes last longer that way- the exceptions are the very dirty and greasy things- but these diminish as the years past and I can't comfortably do as much of the things that get my clothes the grimiest. But if something has just been sweaty or less even, why stress the fabric and colors and heat transfers with a lot of heat and detergent?
My water heater in Florida is like a sewage factory anyway. I turn it on and off with the circuit breaker, because I live alone and don't need constant hot water. But when it really cooks the water for any length of time it really looks and smell like sewage more- Jacksonville! Ugh I have seen better water. So the more heat I use here, the more I'm like washing my clothes in sewage. Environmental Crisis? What Crisis?
Sometimes I cycle the heater without heating it, but what I really wish I could do at will is add a touch of bleach periodically to keep the organic growth DOWN!
And I have a choice of machines- the old full sized top load Maytag in the detached garage out back, or the 1.5 cubic foot Haier on the laundry faucet for temperature control in the bath. The grimy things tend to go in the Maytag when necessary. The Haier in the bath is nice- I usually just use the quick cycle- but I can pause it and let things soak when I want.
My water heater in Florida is like a sewage factory anyway. I turn it on and off with the circuit breaker, because I live alone and don't need constant hot water. But when it really cooks the water for any length of time it really looks and smell like sewage more- Jacksonville! Ugh I have seen better water. So the more heat I use here, the more I'm like washing my clothes in sewage. Environmental Crisis? What Crisis?
Sometimes I cycle the heater without heating it, but what I really wish I could do at will is add a touch of bleach periodically to keep the organic growth DOWN!
And I have a choice of machines- the old full sized top load Maytag in the detached garage out back, or the 1.5 cubic foot Haier on the laundry faucet for temperature control in the bath. The grimy things tend to go in the Maytag when necessary. The Haier in the bath is nice- I usually just use the quick cycle- but I can pause it and let things soak when I want.
Nancy
have you checked your anode rod in the water heater? Sometimes they make the water stink like rotten eggs. Not trying to hijack a thread, but here's a link
have you checked your anode rod in the water heater? Sometimes they make the water stink like rotten eggs. Not trying to hijack a thread, but here's a link
We never
use cold for anything other than rinsing. Towels, sheets, socks, underwear, kitchen rags all get HOT and colors like our everyday stuff and my scrubs all get warm. Gas is cheap here so I use lots of hot and warm water.
use cold for anything other than rinsing. Towels, sheets, socks, underwear, kitchen rags all get HOT and colors like our everyday stuff and my scrubs all get warm. Gas is cheap here so I use lots of hot and warm water.
gusherb
Well-known member
I have not run a cold cycle in months. Hot for sheets, blankets, towels and warm for everything else including my darks. Been doing it like this for years and fading hasn't been much of a problem. Like Greg said, gas is cheap here too so I'm comfortable with using lots of hot water.
arbilab
Well-known member
I have NEVER washed ANYthing in cold besides my hands. In summer.
mamapinky
Well-known member
Hot or very warm washes for me except the rare garment with blood and that gets luke warm. I seen what cold washes did to my mothers machine, tons of slimy crud. Besides body oils require at least warm . Cheryl
