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Originally Posted by Bargainacious
I completely agree!
Newer laundry detergents contain enzymes (biological catalysts) that help break down the proteins, oils and starches in stains at lower temperatures. Then the water washes away these small particles.
Years ago, women used to have to boil clothes to get out the stains, but that was before all these synthetic detergents.
Bacteria, viruses and fungi are also made up of protein (including enzymes). To destroy the germs, you have to destroy their proteins.
Chemicals like bleach can achieve this, as can water hot water (normally over 65*C, whatever that is is fahrenheit). As the temperature increases, it helps break down the chemical bonds that hold the protein in its shape. Once the bacteria/virus etc. loses its shape it cannot function. It is "denatured" or dead. Some germs can be killed at lower temperatures than others. Chlorine bleach will do the trick, but it also destroys fabric and is hazardous to the environment. You may save money by washing in cold water, but your clothes might wear out faster.
Just as hot water can destroy the proteins that make up bacteria, boiling water *might* damage the enzymes in detergent. You would need to verify this with the detergent mfr. though - I'm sure they use different formulations.
I wash all of our towels, sheets and Whites on a hot wash. I very rarely use chlorine bleach. I prefer to pay for the hot water than have the chemical smell and fabric deterioration from chlorine bleach. Animal bedding and towels should also be washed with bleach and/or hot water to destroy germs, ringworm spores and minimize allergens.
A good solution to this issue is to get a front-loader with a built-in water heater. That way you can sanitize the clothes that need a hot wash, but only use the electricity to heat water for one load, not the whole tank. Front loaders also use less water and are easier on clothes. If you are thinking about a new washer, I would go with a front-loader. JM2C.
links:
http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/...17245d8301 00
http://www.tomfarrell.org/laundry/temperature.shtml
http://www.miele.com/usa/laundry/abo...umber=5&bhcp=1
(scroll down to info on temperature)
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Interesting that the Health Department realized that cold water laundry practices in nursing homes aren't destroying all those many germs & spores & dustmites, etc.
I'm intersted in you using much less chlorine -- as several years ago I read that people who take showers don't realize that they may have a serious buildup of chlorine in their bodies, because during the shower they breath in copious amounts of aerosolized chlorine from the shower mist - the same chlorine used by the water treatment plant to sanitize the water.
So it seems to me that we get our daily dose of chlorine in many ways already, particularly if we don't use distilled bottled water, and so it might be WISE to not increase the chlorine load to our bodies by also using it every single week in the wash.
Consumer Reports once mentioned that chlorine essentially works because it is excessively ALKALINE in nature, which is exactly what baking soda is - totally ALKALINE.
It's my understanding that alkali substances are particularly harsh on clothing, making the fibers of the the clothes wear out many times faster.
But I can't remember where I read all this.
I do know that I will never purchase anything at a garage sale or at an estate sale which I cannot bring home and immediately put through a HOT/warm wash - if I cannot launder it in HOT, it's not welcomed in my home, there are simply too many bugs out there, too many weird cases of "allergies," an seeming epidemic of asthma, just too many weird fatigue/exhaustion "disorders" that I'm not about to save pennies on the hot water heater in order to spend 100s on OTC medicines or 1000s on doctor visits.
I cannot even begin to imagine not washing the dog bedding on HOT, it's inconceivable to me to save pennies on proper laundry temperature and potentially sacrifice cleanliness and maybe jepardize the health of family members.
Also, I am very cautious what I pick up at estate sales, as I have no idea how the person who's estate miscellany is being sold, how that decedant died, how old they were at time of death, what kind of housecleaning and house maintanance they were capable of, etc.
I don't like to buy anything I can't soak in either an hour bath of amonia-water OR bleach-water, or anything fabricwise which can't survive a HOT laundering & HOT dryer.
I have NO idea what is LIVING in those used towels & used bedding & used clothing, and I'm not taking any chances.