Cold water wash challenge

[flash]

Originally Posted by CleverButCheap

In order for hot water to kill any germs it would have to be boiling or mixed with bleach. Well, that's my opinion anyway! I have used cold water forever and have no problems. I also use liquid Tide. I'll say it again, bleach works just fine in cold water. Vinegar and baking soda do ok, but absolutely nothing makes a load of laundry any fresher than an old fashioned clothes line on a sunny day!

Mites are killed in hot. Allergists are fairly adamant about washing sheets in hot for this reason. Other buggers, depends, what they are, what detergent you use, etc. Micellar properties of surfactants, etc.

I use cold for most things, but always a liquid detergent. In the days of powders, they would not dissolve well in cold, and I often redid loads with chunks of detergent on them. Ick.

[Ima saver]

I use a powder and always wash in cold. I have never had a problem with chunks of detergent. I use Trend which is usually $1 a box!

[mahanda]

i have been using cold water for most stuff about a year, only difference i see is the whites. my teenage boys use warm for their whites. i do let stuff soak for awhile and it works great

[acezz4e_tish]

i do all but whites in cold water. ive been presoaking with peroxide, so i might try them in cold too. i use tide coldwater. i use vinegar in the rinse and ammonia in the bleach compartment. i use a sponge cut up into four pieces, soaked in fabric softener in the dryer. these things not only cover the cost of my tide, but save me still at least 60 a month. you can also soak bounce in cool water for a couple days, then add it to spray bottle for your own febreeze. you can use warm to make it quicker, but then it wont last as long from what i read about it.

[flash]

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?

From Arm and Hammer Site:

Gently Clean & Freshen Baby's Laundry
ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda is gentle enough for even the tiniest baby clothes, yet effective enough for big baby odors. For tough stains add 1/2 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda with your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle for deodorization! For cloth diapers, dissolve ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers thoroughly.

Chlorine Bleach Booster
For thumbs up whites with less harsh chemicals that tend to damage clothes add ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda with a ½ cup of bleach (instead of the usual 1 cup of bleach). Do you smell a cover up? We do! Adding ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda instead of using a full cup of bleach will reduce smelly chemical odors too!

Liquid Laundry Detergent Booster
Give your laundry a boost - then give yourself a hand! Add ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder for you and your family. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, brighter! Our new 12 lb. Resealable Pouch with enclosed scoop makes it an easy additive for every wash load.

[acezz4e_tish]

my front loader says liquids only. thats why i use ammonia. its safer on clothes. once the door is closed, you cant smell it either. i use baking soda in the wash when i remember to tho.lol i always use vinegar in the rinse. saves loadsssss on softener. its easy on sensitive skin too.

[kaycee]

I have always washed clothes on cold, except when the whites are looking dingy or someone has been ill (vomiting). Then it's hot and lots of bleach!

I have found 2 wonderful products for stains that I couldn't live without! For poopy/baby stains - Totally Toddler. I spray and let it sit. If it's a big/bad stain, I rinse and repeat, then wash as usual. I've only had 1 stain I could not get out with TT, even old/set in stains I had before I discovered TT.

For everything else, I use greased lightning. Again, I can't think of a stain it hasn't gotten out. Even got crayon out, after my son left one in his pants pocket and it made it all the way to the dryer!

Those 2 products have saved me a lot of time and backache!

I am going to try the vinegar & baking soda though, and see if it makes a difference in my whites overall. I like to use borax now and then, but that is more expensive.

Kaycee

[Tightwad Kitty]

I don't remember the last time that I washed in Hot Water! Here it's sunny and warm at most times of the year, very few days are wet & cold together as most of our rain comes in Summer. I wash in cold water so much that I now I can't turn the Hot water tap on

[contrary1]

I did use some warm water today in a load. Teen age boy smells........fairly nasty. Thought they needed something other than cold..........

Will hang them outside in the sunshine for an additional freshening, hoping I zapped the smell.

Don't do this all the time, just occasionally with his things. The rest of us, it is cold all the time.

As soon as this load is done, I'm turning off the hot water tanks for the day.

[FrugalDiva]

I always wash in cold, just a habit i guess, but now that's its warmer outside I also line dry so that saves a bit on electric.

[Bargainacious]

Originally Posted by flash

Hate to be technical, but the need for hot water depends! Depends on if you have soft water, what detergent you use, etc. If you are just washing dirt off, cold is okay, but if you want to get dirt or stains OUT, or trying to kill bacteria/dust mites/other live things, temperature does matter.

Laundry detergents (surfactants) are designed and tested to work best at specific temperatures. You need them to get in and do their job. Seriously, a fortune goes into designing and improving every year!

For towels, anything that may have mold, mildew, etc., hot is best. Bleach works for whites, but it also breaks down the fabric, so it wears out much faster. Allergists will insist you wash sheets HOT, but rinse in cold.

Baking soda OR vinegar both have cleaning properties, but if you use them together, they cancel each other out.

I wash most things warm, I rinse everything cold. But I adjust my detergent to what I'm trying to get out.

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)


Info on a new way to sanitize at lower temperatures:

Revolutionary OTEX system
kills superbugs on all wash cycles
A revolutionary laundry system
which kills all bacteria on all wash
cycles has been developed
specifically for care homes.
The OTEX system has been launched in
light of new evidence that critical laundry
health guidelines - as outlined by the
National Minimum Care Standards - are
often ignored in the care market.
Data obtained by JLA indicates that
high temperature wash programmes are
frequently not used when they should be.
And even when they are, scientific tests
have shown that they do
not kill all superbugs.
JLA’s concerns were
a key reason behind
the company’s
development of OTEX.
The system works by
injecting ozone into the wash process
and kills all bugs common in care homes -
including so-called superbugs such as
MRSA and C. diff - on all wash cycles.
Remarkably, it even destroys bacteria on
low temperature programmes.
To prove the effectiveness of OTEX,
independent microbiologists Microsearch
Laboratories carried out comparative
tests on nurses’ uniforms contaminated
with a strain of MRSA.
The care labels of many nurses’
uniforms carry the recommendation that
they should be washed at 40º C.
Therefore, one test was carried out using
a conventional 40º C wash and a second
test with an OTEX cycle.
The 40º C wash had little effect on
MRSA and the bug was still very much in
evidence after the cycle. But after the OTEX
cycle, there was no viable trace of MRSA.
Microsearch’s senior microbiologist, Mr
R D O’Connor, described the OTEX result
as ‘outstanding’. Microsearch also tested
water containing C. diff and held at a
temperature of 80º C for 15 minutes.
Disturbingly, they found the reduction of C.
diff spores to be ‘insignificant’ - whereas an
EU Suspension Test on OTEX water found
no viable trace of
spores after only twoand-
a-half minutes.
Other, ongoing
tests by the
respected Laundry
Technology Centre -
well known in the NHS for its bug
counting projects - cast further
doubt about the effectiveness of
thermal disinfection.
The centre’s Dr Richard Neale said: ‘The
tests involve the use of bacteria dipslides
and continue to show a 50% failure rate
when thermal disinfection programmes are
used in healthcare laundries.’
Because OTEX uses mostly cold water,
it substantially reduces electricity, gas and
water bills. It also cuts labour and
detergent costs and lengthens linen life.
Total laundry savings are an
average of 30%.
Microbiologist
said OTEX result
was ‘outstanding’
The OTEX system destroys bacteria on low temperature wash programmes

[getforfree]

I was trying to use cold water for everything, but I noticed it doesn't wash as good. Now, that we installed tankless water heater, it would cost me less to use hot water. I use bleach only sometimes, and only if the whole load is completly white, no other light colors.

I started to use hot water, and noticed the results. I even took some really diry socks and underware, boiled it and it got really white, like new.

How much does it cost to heat the water for one load anyways? I have like 2 white loads a week, 8/month. So maybe $2 or $3/month. I save much more by not using the dryer.

[geneandmegan]

Hey there, new to the forum and just started reading this. Personally, I've always washed everything in cold, with whatever detergent was cheapest at Walmart. Don't really get the purpose of the more expensive ones? <shrug> Nice thing is, it does save money!

[Ima saver]

I have never washed in anything but cold water. I use Trend detergent, which is about $1 a box.

[ummabdullah]

[quote=Bargainacious]I completely agree!

I live in england and I wouldn't go with a front loader that heats up its own water if it killed me.. talk about a waste of electricity..
Just use your hot water from the mains dude..

It takes forever for those things to actually heat up.. and wash the clothes ..
personally I only buy good quality items that wash well anyway..
What I wouldn't do to get my hands on a good ole american washing machine.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by flash

Hate to be technical, but the need for hot water depends! Depends on if you have soft water, what detergent you use, etc. If you are just washing dirt off, cold is okay, but if you want to get dirt or stains OUT, or trying to kill bacteria/dust mites/other live things, temperature does matter.

Laundry detergents (surfactants) are designed and tested to work best at specific temperatures. You need them to get in and do their job. Seriously, a fortune goes into designing and improving every year!

For towels, anything that may have mold, mildew, etc., hot is best. Bleach works for whites, but it also breaks down the fabric, so it wears out much faster. Allergists will insist you wash sheets HOT, but rinse in cold.

Baking soda OR vinegar both have cleaning properties, but if you use them together, they cancel each other out.

I wash most things warm, I rinse everything cold. But I adjust my detergent to what I'm trying to get out.

Why would allergists INSIST that you rinse in cold water?

Sometimes when I wash/rinse in cold water, the clothing still has an intense "aroma" of the detergent, and the ONLY way I can tone that down is to RE-rinse the load in WARM water.

I can't imagine that all those millions upon billions of dollars spent in the R & D of the major laundry detergent manufacturers to develop better products is simply all a mirage.

That doesn't make any sense.

Also, with your scientific background, do you by any chance know WHY women for generations & generations always BOILED the whites on the stove - they didn't merely wash 'em in hot water, they literally boiled them for something like half an hour.

I've always been curious about that, and I've often wondered if the steep increase in asthma has alot to do with all the dust mites that go through the washer & dryer and survive intact, just fine, due to the cold/warm water washes --- and if it also might be responsible for diaper rashes and the great popularity of feminine hygiene products in modern times.

Why did pioneer women ALWAYS boil any white-colored item of laundry?

I've read that if you place freshly dried kitchen towels, right out of the dryer under a microscope, that afterwards, you wouldn't dream of using them in your kitchen --- due to all the bacteria & mold & germs that can be plainly seen.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by flash

Hate to be technical, but the need for hot water depends! Depends on if you have soft water, what detergent you use, etc. If you are just washing dirt off, cold is okay, but if you want to get dirt or stains OUT, or trying to kill bacteria/dust mites/other live things, temperature does matter.

Laundry detergents (surfactants) are designed and tested to work best at specific temperatures. You need them to get in and do their job. Seriously, a fortune goes into designing and improving every year!

For towels, anything that may have mold, mildew, etc., hot is best. Bleach works for whites, but it also breaks down the fabric, so it wears out much faster. Allergists will insist you wash sheets HOT, but rinse in cold.

Baking soda OR vinegar both have cleaning properties, but if you use them together, they cancel each other out.

I wash most things warm, I rinse everything cold. But I adjust my detergent to what I'm trying to get out.

Why would allergists INSIST that you rinse in cold water?

Sometimes when I wash/rinse in cold water, the clothing still has an intense "aroma" of the detergent, and the ONLY way I can tone that down is to RE-rinse the load in WARM water.

I can't imagine that all those millions upon billions of dollars spent in the R & D of the major laundry detergent manufacturers to develop better products is simply all a mirage.

That doesn't make any sense.

Also, with your scientific background, do you by any chance know WHY women for generations & generations always BOILED the whites on the stove - they didn't merely wash 'em in hot water, they literally boiled them for something like half an hour.

I've always been curious about that, and I've often wondered if the steep increase in asthma has alot to do with all the dust mites that go through the washer & dryer and survive intact, just fine, due to the cold/warm water washes --- and if it also might be responsible for diaper rashes and the great popularity of feminine hygiene products in modern times.

Why did pioneer women ALWAYS boil any white-colored item of laundry?

I've read that if you place freshly dried kitchen towels, right out of the dryer under a microscope, that afterwards, you wouldn't dream of using them in your kitchen --- due to all the bacteria & mold & germs that can be plainly seen.

[mountainmist]

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)

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.

[mountainmist]

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)

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.

[baking23]

I use cold water only, unless the clothes are really dirty, and flipping them inside out helps too. I haven't noticed any difference in the cleanliness of my clothes. I use a little tide in the water instead of fels naptha since I think it disolves better.