Help! New washer doesn't have a "hot" setting!

[Blanca78]

We just bought a washer/dryer set off Craigslist. They seem great except that I just noticed the washer only has a warm/cold option and a cold/cold option.

So, my question is, is it ESSENTIAL to be able to wash on a hot setting?

p.s. ETA that I believe water in my area qualifies as "moderately hard." From a recent newspaper article:

Columbus spends $6.3 million a year on lime and caustic soda to reduce hardness to an average of 118 to 126 milligrams per liter.

Edited by Blanca78 - 3/12/11 at 12:33pm

[woodchick]

I never wash our diapers on anything but cold and have never had any problems.nak

[Blanca78]

Thanks! After doing some more research I'm not worried. It seems like the main reason for hot is to dissolve and rinse detergent better--home washers don't get hot enough to actually sanitize. I went to a cloth diapering class today and the lady said it shouldn't be a problem, though she did say liquid detergent might be better in our case, and to start out using even less than recommended to see how the rinsing goes. I figure if there gets to be a problem with buildup or anything I can always borrow my neighbor's washer for a couple cycles, or boil them or something.

In case anyone else is reading this and wondering, I found a couple of links on the topic:

http://www.sunshinediapers.com/cloth-diaper-university/cloth-diaper-care-laundering/

http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/04/29/green-breakthrough-save-energy-by-washing-diapers-in-cold-water/

[LeighPF]

I almost never wash on hot, just warm. It is better for you diapers long term health too.