Cold water wash challenge

[BlingBling]

I add the vinegar to the rinse cycle. Sometimes, when I am doing the dogs bedding I add alittle splash to the wash cycle, also. I use about 1/3 of a cup.

[skipper]

I add baking soda at the begining or i would forget it and if the only baking soda I have is the fridge box I use it

[momofthree]

[CheaplyClever]

Originally Posted by tango

I just wonder when to add the vinegar / baking soda. Can I use the baking soda that's been in the fridge?

If I add baking soda, I would do it with the soap in initial wash. I think that would be a clever way to use up the 'fridge box of soda!

The hot water faucet to the washer started leaking and my husband turned it off. We were going to call a plumber. That was six months ago. I haven't missed warm or hot wash loads yet. In case you are wondering, it is OK to use normal amounts of bleach with cold water.

I always use Tide. I find it on sale at grocery store $4.99 for a 200 oz bottle. I bought the Coldwater Tide but can't tell a difference.

[tango]

I ran out of bleach today and had to do a big load of whites. I just added Tide with 1/3 box of old baking soda. I wonder how it will turn out!?

[CheaplyClever]

So how did the baking soda do, Tango?

[kashi]

I always wash my clothes in cold/cold, and my mother always does too. Both of our washing machines run the water warmer than they should, though, so cold really is warm.

I stopped using Tide many years ago. They test on animals.

[BillsGirl]

There is a myth and a "small print" to this challenge First the myth ALL laundry product worked so well with modern technology we never need to use hot water anymore no matter what detergent you use!!
"small print" You need to do 7 loads a week to save the money they suggest!!

I haven't washed my clothes in hot water for years!! and I have done just fine, I also buy the cheapest detergent I can find, use spray and wash to get stains out!

[momma4]

i have been doing the cold water challange on my own just do warm water with light colored clothes. towels and darks i do cold. I have an average of 12-15 loads a week and I believe only 3-6 are washed in warm.

[amomof4]

Unfortunately I can't wash in cold water. My well water is too cold to break down the soap. But I did go from hot to warm for wash & from warm to cold in rinse.

[momma4]

I am doing this more this week than ever. I have been washing everything on the cold setting But then again the temp has gone way up down here in FL and right now there is no such thing as cold water. I have noticed all the laundry comes out warm and I have it set on the cold/cold setting. I have also set my dryer to the low heat setting hopefully next months bill will show me the savings.

[CheaplyClever]

I just washed the dog's laundry in cold water and had no trouble. The dog cushion cover was really stinky and then I had doggie bath towels. When I put a shot of fabric softener in the rinse cycle, I noticed that the water was clear. So now I have it all clean, and smelling nice, and hanging outside on the clothesline to dry. (Not the dog! He's mad and running around in the yard!)

I do believe in cold water washes.

[mom-from-missouri]

Don't need the fabric softner. Use vinegar. It not only freshens smell wise and softens, (not to mention cheaper, if you get the generic by the gallon) but also is a natural flea replent (so is cedar, but can't add it to the wash).

[CheaplyClever]

Thanks for the tio. I will try vinegar!

[momma4]

i use vinegar and softener sheets

[cicy33]

Can you put vinegar directly on the dog? Also, I just can't wash clothes in cold, doesn't seem right to me. I mean I do dishes in hot water. I just don't want germy clothes.

[mom-from-missouri]

Yes, you can put vinegar directly on the dog. In fact, it helps to repel flees!! Vinegar is a natural product, so safe, but is also slightly acidic, so keep away from the dogs eyes.

You cant wash your clothes in cold water because of the germs? In order for the water to kill the germs, it would have to be boiling temperature. So, warm water in your wash doesnt kill germs-what it does do, is help the soap to disolve better. Its the soap that is doing the cleaning-not the temperature of the water.

Just like brushing your teeth-you brush them in cold water--but, you use toothpastem which does the cleaning.

[cicy33]

I see, on both accounts. I wonder how much savings it would be to set it only on the cold setting? I do approx 6 loads a week total.

[CheaplyClever]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

Yes, you can put vinegar directly on the dog. In fact, it helps to repel flees!! Vinegar is a natural product, so safe, but is also slightly acidic, so keep away from the dogs eyes.

You cant wash your clothes in cold water because of the germs? In order for the water to kill the germs, it would have to be boiling temperature. So, warm water in your wash doesnt kill germs-what it does do, is help the soap to disolve better. Its the soap that is doing the cleaning-not the temperature of the water.

Just like brushing your teeth-you brush them in cold water--but, you use toothpastem which does the cleaning.

Thanks for saying all of that! Beautifully done.

As far as dissolving soap in warm water, I switched to liquid a long time ago. It works very well.

[mom-from-missouri]

I did to, but sometimes with coupons I get power if it is next to nothing in price. When I do, I like to fill a bowl with warm sink water, put the detergent into it to disolve, then dump it into the washer. Could disolve it in some warm water in the washer, but I find I forget to reset the temperature when I do it that way.