Editorials & Other Articles

appleannie1

(5,366 posts)

36. It's been years since I used hot water.

Sat Oct 30, 2021, 10:02 AM

Oct 2021

My f-in-l owned a garage and before he died my hubby used to work in the garage on the weekends. I washed the clothes he wore working on cars in hot water. My F-in-l died in the 1990's. I think hot water is more likely to set stains than cold water is and colored clothes don't get faded looking in cold water.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

77 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Only 50% wash clothes in cold water? COVID & Laundry - Malcolm Gladwell [View all] underpants Oct 2021 OP

Cold water washer here Dr. Shepper Oct 2021 #1

Me too! blueinredohio Oct 2021 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author mgardener Oct 2021 #21

Will a home dryer sanitize the laundry? olegramps Oct 2021 #30

I would think it'd be similar to cooking Wednesdays Oct 2021 #41

Heat, dry air, and wind can disrupt Dr. Shepper Oct 2021 #75

My dryer has a "sanitize" cycle radical noodle Oct 2021 #43

For the most part, yes Dr. Shepper Oct 2021 #74

My wife mostly washes cold water. gab13by13 Oct 2021 #2

We wash in cold and I don't like the dryer. Croney Oct 2021 #3

Sounds lovely Dr. Shepper Oct 2021 #7

I live in brisk Massachusetts. Croney Oct 2021 #11

I grew up just north of Boston in 50's-60's. Family of 6. We did not have a washer OR dryer. Fla Dem Oct 2021 #37

Always cold water and hang dry. we can do it Oct 2021 #5

Cold water for years. piddyprints Oct 2021 #6

Good for you! mgardener Oct 2021 #22

Yay! piddyprints Oct 2021 #33

I continue to use hot on undies, towels, and cotton bedding Backseat Driver Oct 2021 #8

I understand ironing shirts and blouses, wnylib Oct 2021 #40

I actually love ironing. Grasswire2 Oct 2021 #73

I'll buy that, except for sheets. Joinfortmill Oct 2021 #9

You'll have to fight my indifference I suppose FBaggins Oct 2021 #10

+1 2naSalit Oct 2021 #45

Yeah, screw the environment. SaintLouisBlues Oct 2021 #64

Disinfection can generally be accomplished by adding detergent with white vinegar soak/rinse hlthe2b Oct 2021 #12

I remember when it became possible to get the liquid detergent! lark Oct 2021 #14

Me too! mgardener Oct 2021 #23

OK, I give you remote controls!! lark Oct 2021 #26

You have reminded me about my family OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #47

Agree about the cell phone & add the hand held computer part. lark Oct 2021 #48

Yep. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #52

My dad bought a color TV in 1963 radical noodle Oct 2021 #50

For me it was Star Trek (surprising I know)... OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #54

At the time we didn't realize radical noodle Oct 2021 #55

I think I see it as more OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #56

Well put! radical noodle Oct 2021 #67

Thank you. OldBaldy1701E Oct 2021 #69

Aw... thanks! radical noodle Oct 2021 #72

It was a miracle. Marcuse Oct 2021 #70

I wonder if Walt Disney radical noodle Oct 2021 #71

I use vinegar on occasion... 2naSalit Oct 2021 #46

The one thing you SHOULD go to Sam's Club for. Two gallons for $6 and change. hlthe2b Oct 2021 #58

I'd have to go to... 2naSalit Oct 2021 #59

Walmart sells gallons too for a reasonable price--not as good a deal as Sam's but more affordable. hlthe2b Oct 2021 #60

Thanks... 2naSalit Oct 2021 #61

I understand fully. I will only go to Walmart for those items I can't find ANYWHERE else... hlthe2b Oct 2021 #62

Does vinegar ever leave an odor on the clothes? wnylib Oct 2021 #49

Nope. Not a problem hlthe2b Oct 2021 #57

As long as they are rinsed, nope. 2naSalit Oct 2021 #63

Why isn't everyone using cold water, it's so much better for the clothes & the environment? lark Oct 2021 #13

I thought so. underpants Oct 2021 #17

Same here. catrose Oct 2021 #32

For ticks or -heaven forbid- bed bugs, you must dry in hot dryer for 30 minutes or more... FailureToCommunicate Oct 2021 #15

Also need to use the dryer mgardener Oct 2021 #25

Thanks I thought bed bugs died in water (washer) I never had bb s so I thought that was the way luckone Oct 2021 #53

Cold water only MaryMagdaline Oct 2021 #16

Well underpants Oct 2021 #18

That must be it!! MaryMagdaline Oct 2021 #19

Good one 3auld6phart Oct 2021 #24

🤣🤣🤣 Rebl2 Oct 2021 #39

+1 dalton99a Oct 2021 #44

Cold water. SamKnause Oct 2021 #20

Do you add all three to the wash at the same time? -nt CrispyQ Oct 2021 #51

Yes. SamKnause Oct 2021 #66

All in cold here, except ms liberty Oct 2021 #27

I use cold for everything except bamagal62 Oct 2021 #28

I've washed in cold water as long as I can remember... Upthevibe Oct 2021 #29

I always use cold because I dislike having my clothes shrink. PatrickforB Oct 2021 #31

See post 18 above underpants Oct 2021 #35

LOL! Yep. Eliminating laundry shrinkage is only half the battle. PatrickforB Oct 2021 #38

One of the best detergents Bob_in_VA Oct 2021 #34

It's been years since I used hot water. appleannie1 Oct 2021 #36

Always cold water for wash SheltieLover Oct 2021 #42

Oxygenated water uses cold water RicROC Oct 2021 #65

I use cold water 99.9 % of the time I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2021 #68

My cold water is harder than a pawnbrokers heart. Scruffy1 Nov 2021 #76

I hadn't heard that saying before. underpants Nov 2021 #77