Cold water wash challenge

[Luv2shop]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I do 1-2 loads a day. I wash mostly in cold.

[CJsoccerchic]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

Between my DH changing like 10 times a day and my job during the day and alter ego student at night, we come up with a LOT of laundry - then to top it off, DH goes to the beach every OTHER day and well, that's 2 loads of TOWELS a WEEK! But, everything is washed in COLD, I couldn't afford to wash in warm anyway!
But the vinegar deal - i do that for new clothes and baking soda... I'll have to give that a shot!

[brandondrury]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

How much can you expect to save by doing this?

Brandon

[flash]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

Wow, thanks for the great tip!

I do 10 - 12 loads a week, mostly cold or warm/cold, but everytime MD wants to wash the dog stuff in cold I change it to warm because the smell doesn't come out. I can't wait to try the vinegar method!

Thanks.

[CJsoccerchic]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

Brandon,
I've been doing this since I started living on my own and paying myown bills, I wish I could give you a dollar amount of HOW much can be saved from doing that, but I read somewhere (wish i could tell you Where!) that it doesn't make your clothes cleaner if you wash in hot water, it just makes your bill bigger. I read it on a website similiar to this but I forget where... Sorry!! But I hope this helps!

[flash]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

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.

[lrjohnson]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

My washer somehow broke so that the hot water side provides no water. It would probrbaly be easy for someone so inclined to fix it, but I'm not handy.

This happened over a year ago, and I've been happy to do all cold ever since. If I had a choice I'd do a linens hot water/bleach run. But it's not worth it to me to nuy a new machine for it.

My clothes seem to stay dark longer. I admit I don't have allergies to contend with.

[Jason]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I'm admittedly not a clothes washing expert, but I usually use cold water just because I wash colored clothes with white clothes. From what I understand hot water causes the two to bleed.

[Ima saver]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I always wash in cold water. It is cheaper. And I use Trend detergent, it only cost $1

[abowers]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I don't even pay for my gas this year and I always wash my clothes in a cold cold cycle. I only use hot for towels/sheets/and when I make felted bags.

[flash]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

Found this estimate of annual saving by switching to cold water in BL magazine

SWITCH TO COLD WATER = $58

You may shy away from washing clothes in cold water, but with specially formulated detergents, you can conserve energy and funds while getting your whites white. According to Tide’s online calculator (tide.com/tidecoldwater), if you convert four loads each week from hot to cold, you’ll save $58 in a year. Don’t you just love when do-gooding puts green in your pocket?


-- GEOFF VAN DYKE

[Ima saver]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I have washed in cold water all my life, no problems!!

[CheaplyClever]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

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!

[Ima saver]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

Gosh I had to hang clothes out when I first got married and I hated it. As soon as I could, I got a dryer.

[Lori63]

Re: Cold water wash challenge

I think with me it is just a MENTAL problem. I've always used warm/cold, and hot/cold for whites.
I have switched to doing the colors in cold and the whites in warm. I'm making progress. Of course, our hot water is heated by gas and our last gas bill was a big incentive. I hang all the shirts, and usually run 1 dryer load for every 2 wash loads. I do at least 12 loads a week-me+hubby+3 boys who wrestle, run, play soccer.