Washing Laundry in Cold Water

[lab80]

Is there any reason to use hot water to wash regular laundry, like clothes and towels. I use hot to wash diapers because I use Bac-Out and use hot to kill the enzymes (I've read that is necessary). Cold rinse with a hot wash and a few extra rinses.

Just trying to find things around the house to change that are wasteful or harmful. (Been gradually getting rid of chemical cleaners and making our own).

TIA

[Ruthla]

I wash everything in cold water, though I occasionally use warm or hot for particularly smelly towels.

[EnviroBecca]

In general, hot water is necessary only when you're concerned about germs. Oh, and if you are using oxygen bleach, you need hot water to dissolve and activate it.

I washed diapers in hot water, but I have used cold for all my other laundry (except the occasional funky-smelling towels and things) for 12 years, and it works fine.

I use hot to wash diapers because I use Bac-Out and use hot to kill the enzymes (I've read that is necessary).

The enzymes are what does the cleaning. If hot water kills them, that is reducing the cleaning/germkilling power of the Bac-Out. Read the label for advice on water temp--I'm going to, because I have not heard this before.

[BlessedOne]

I personally use hot water for everything except blacks (and that is because my hubby will not let me because he thinks it will fade them...he prefers cold for everything). I feel hot water washes clothes better.....but that is just my personal opinion. I am obsessed with clean.

[tracyhos]

I wash most clothing in Cold. Towels and sheets I wash in Hot.

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

I wash everything in cold Unless it's been puked on...it jsut makes me feel better

[HerMommy28]

I used to wash most things in hot, but now I use mainly cold water except on underwear and diapers. I guess it isn't really necessary, just a comfort thing. I figure as long as there is soap, things are being cleaned.

[danaalex]

i wash everything except diapers and wipes in cold water. i use hot for diapers and wipes.

on occassion i will toss color safe bleach in with things like dishrags.

[alegna]

I wash everything in cold except towels, sheets and diapers. Diapers, because they come clean better. Towels and sheets because I have an oily husband...

-Angela

[Limabean1975]

I never, ever, use the hot on my washing machine. Always cold/cold. SO, maybe certain things would be cleaner if I used hot, but I don't know because I never use it to compare to.

[FREEmom1120]

I always use cold because I am too lazy to sort laundry and cold keeps the colors from bleeding.

I do have an oily husband too though, but mostly forget to change the settings for the sheet washing.

[sunny*pa*mom]

I wash everything in cold except dh's stinky running clothes. Everything else gets perfectly clean in cold.

[Yo Becca]

I used to wash everything in cold/cold. Then i had babies, and I washed diapers in hot/cold. Then i had toddlers and I started washing in warm. I feel like it's more aggressive at getting things clean, and if the warm water works, that's less spray cleaner/soap/chemicals I have to use (Although i've switched to green laundry soap, it actually seems a bit less effective, so i feel the warm gives it a boost.)

So that's my plan = warm for clothes (esp. kids clothes), hot for dipes, cold for towels or less dirty stuff

[lab80]

Originally Posted by EnviroBecca

The enzymes are what does the cleaning. If hot water kills them, that is reducing the cleaning/germkilling power of the Bac-Out. Read the label for advice on water temp--I'm going to, because I have not heard this before.

I've read you need to use bac-out in cold water so it DOES clean and then you need to wash it out with hot water so the bac-out doesn't sit on the diapers and start to attack your babies skin trying to get all the germs. It makes sense to me.

[moon child]

sheets and towels I wash in hot water, everything else in cold water.

[sandy'smama]

diapers, towels and sheets in hot rest in cold.
Hot water (60C and over kills faecal bacteria such as in poopy diapes and towels or dust mite poo in sheets). everything else is washed at 30C which is coolest setting on my washing machine.
oh and anything pooped or puked on gets the hot treatment as well, usually just tossed in with one of the other hot loads above.

[Limabean1975]

My diapers are really thick so I machine-dry them - I figure that heat does the job of killing any remaining bacteria.

[tuscanymom]

another vote for all cold. I wash everything but diapers in cold. I have done this for years so I guess I don't know if I could be missing out on having cleaner clothes.

[gagin37]

I use cold for everything, mostly because I am lazy! I do plan on washing ds's diapers in hot when he gets here though.

[simple living mama]

Originally Posted by ALittleBitCrunchy

I wash everything in cold Unless it's been puked on...it jsut makes me feel better

: That's me too.