18 replies to this topic

[Pat]

90 percent of the energy consumed while running a load of laundry is used to heat the water, the average household opting for cold water washing eliminate as much as 350 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.  For most homes, this will amount to about $40 in savings a year.

[aspen]

I've been using cold water for a very long time. I couldn't imagine why anyone would wish to use hot water. You bring up some good reasons not too Pat.

[BuddhaStarlight]

If you use all cold water, do you feel that everything gets just as clean?

I use hot water on anything I feel needs extra sanitization, such as underwear, socks, sheets, towels, dishrags, etc.

Everything else I wash cold. I wish I could feel that cold water got everything clean enough, but I am really not too comfortable not washing my towels and stuff in hot water. If I could start gathering evidence that it would be just as clean and sanitized as with the hot water, maybe I could convince myself.

[adam_a]

I've read that you should wash your sheets in hot water to kill dust mites but on the other hand if your sheets go in the dryer for at least 10 minutes that should also kill them. I don't think the hot water used in washing machines is hot enough to kill germs. Adding vinegar, bleach, or bleach alternatives like hydrogen peroxide will most likely do the job in cold water.

[ACSAPA]

I've been washing my clothes in cold water for years as well and I'm glad it has all these additional benefits. I was just trying to save electricity. I didn't know about the carbon dioxide emissions.  Thanks for sharing the info.

[BuddhaStarlight]

adam_a, on 05 October 2012 - 06:06 AM, said:

I've read that you should wash your sheets in hot water to kill dust mites but on the other hand if your sheets go in the dryer for at least 10 minutes that should also kill them. I don't think the hot water used in washing machines is hot enough to kill germs. Adding vinegar, bleach, or bleach alternatives like hydrogen peroxide will most likely do the job in cold water.

Interesting, thanks. I had heard the same about the hot water, but it may be a waste if the water isn't hot enough to truly sanitize the stuff.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Cold water only for about 10+years now.  Line dry summer, inside racks winter.
Maybe it's the vinegar I always use as final rinse but no issues of germs/bacteria.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

Our hot water hookup to our washer is broken, so we can't wash anything in hot water.  We haven't noticed any savings on our bill though.  It seems to be just as high as when we had that capability.  I do notice sometimes the stained clothes don't look quite as clean.

Shortpoet, you just answered a question I wondered about.  How do you kill bacteria in cold water?  For instance, I've read that it's better to wash your clothes in hot water if you are prone to UTIs.  Does the vinegar cut down the bacteria in that case?

[Shortpoet-GTD]

FamilyTreeClimber, on 05 October 2012 - 01:32 PM, said:

Our hot water hookup to our washer is broken, so we can't wash anything in hot water.  We haven't noticed any savings on our bill though.  It seems to be just as high as when we had that capability.  I do notice sometimes the stained clothes don't look quite as clean.

Shortpoet, you just answered a question I wondered about.  How do you kill bacteria in cold water?  For instance, I've read that it's better to wash your clothes in hot water if you are prone to UTIs.  Does the vinegar cut down the bacteria in that case?

I sent you a private answer on that, but vinegar works for me.

[artistry]

I use warm water and wash the clothes, at least twice. No problem that I have seen, thankfully.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

artistry, on 05 October 2012 - 05:30 PM, said:

I use warm water and wash the clothes, at least twice. No problem that I have seen, thankfully.

Did I misread that?
You wash your clothes twice?
That's a waste of water.

[BuddhaStarlight]

When do you add the vinegar?

[Pat]

When I feel that the clothes are really smelly to make sure the smell is removed during the wash I add vinegar to water.  I don't like using bleach because I have ruined so many outfits that I try not have it in the house.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

BuddhaStarlight, on 06 October 2012 - 06:09 AM, said:

When do you add the vinegar?

As the final rinse instead of softener.

* A client of mine recently had a blue gunk buildup on the inside of her washer. In the process of trying to
clean off that oily mess, I removed the funnel tube where softener can be added.
The buildup of that horrid mess was about 4 inches thick and scraping it out with a spoon took almost an hour.
I didn't use gloves like I should have, and it took several washings to get that oily substance off my hands.

This ingredients list should give everyone pause. Don't use softener; oil and water don't mix.
List.

[R. Paradon]

I have been using cold water for many years to wash clothes.  On things like underwear or sheets I just add the bleach that does not remove the color.  Forgot what it is called in English.  And fortunately where I live now it is always summer and the water I use is from a well so I don't even have a water heater.  Cool shower with soap is fine for me!  Saves a lot of money and energy and I am clean.  And since this is a laundry thread...when I have a small bar of soap left from the shower I just toss that in with the dirty clothes.  Not sure if it helps but at least it is used and not tossed away.

[Sandra Piddock]

Richard, we can buy washing bleach here in Spain, which is okay to put in the washer. I use cold water when I'm just washing clothes that are sweaty but not dirty, but I find I have to use hot water for the sheets, or they lose their white colour. I only use detergent on the sheets as well - I use a laundry ball filled with ceramic beads for the rest of the washing, and use a spot remover for stains. I think I'll buy new sheets in another colour when these ones are ready to be replaced, then my washing will really be 'green.'

[R. Paradon]

That is one scary list, Shortpoet!  I was surprised when I saw "Camphor" on the list.  When I was a kid my mother used to buy "mothballs" and they were in every drawer and closet we had.  In those days they were made of camphor but now they are made of naphthalene which sounds equally scary!

[lizzie29]

I have been using both cold and warm water to wash my clothes. I never knew about the carbon dioxide emissions when using cold water so thank you for the additional information. From what I know, both cold and warm water have their own benefits.

Washing clothes with warm water makes soap more effective in dissolving dirt and certain stains. It allows some materials to relax for less wear or potential to tear during agitation.

Washing clothes with cold water doesn't set stains but prevents bright or dark colors from fading easily. It prevents wools and other natural fibers from shrinking and saves energy for a more green approach to the laundry.

[R. Paradon]

Sandra Piddock, on 11 October 2012 - 04:50 AM, said:

Richard, we can buy washing bleach here in Spain, which is okay to put in the washer. I use cold water when I'm just washing clothes that are sweaty but not dirty, but I find I have to use hot water for the sheets, or they lose their white colour. I only use detergent on the sheets as well - I use a laundry ball filled with ceramic beads for the rest of the washing, and use a spot remover for stains. I think I'll buy new sheets in another colour when these ones are ready to be replaced, then my washing will really be 'green.'

Going a bit off topic here...hope Pat does not mind.  In the US we always have top sheet and bottom sheets - the bottom mostly being a fitted sheet.  Here in Thailand, only hotels have a top sheet and the rest of us will use a comforter as a top sheet.  I can even find a place to buy top sheets here.  How about other countries?