Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to wash your laundry at 60 or 90 degrees to clean it effectively. And by choosing a lower temperature, you will save big!
In the past, our grandmothers swore by high temperature detergents. Washing at 60 ° C or even more, was then synonymous with absolute cleanliness. These habits, solidly anchored, made sense in a context where hot water seemed to be the only way to effectively eliminate stains and bacteria. Even today, this belief that “the more hot, the clearer”, continues.
However, there is now a myriad of innovative textiles and detergents. Synthetic fibers, cotton mixtures and antimicrobial solutions have multiplied, deeply modifying household rules. And with them, a better understanding of washing cycles and optimal temperatures has developed. Little by little, household interview experts realized that boiling water is not the only cleanliness guarantee.
Indeed, current washing devices are much more efficient than their ancestors. The majority of modern washing machines, even by washing at 30 or 40 ° C, make it possible to effectively eliminate dirt and bacteria, in particular thanks to current high-efficiency detergents. The latter, specially designed to operate at low temperature, effectively decompose fat, food or perspiration stains. Consequently, a high temperature washing becomes not only useless in many cases for cleanliness, but in addition it is very energy -consuming.
Studies thus show that a washing at 60 ° C is rarely necessary, except for the textiles of sick people, the laundry soiled by body fluids (blood, urine, stools, vomit, etc.) or underwear in case of infections. For the rest, a wash at 40 ° C, supplemented by the use of a suitable disinfectant product, is more than enough to obtain a clean, fresh and healthy cloth. Be careful, for allergies to mites, a washing at 60 ° C once a month is recommended, because it eliminates allergens better.
Above all, heating water at 30 or 40 degrees requires much less electrical energy than going up to 60 or worse, 90 degrees! The difference is enormous and is immediately felt on the electricity bill.
In addition to lightening the energy bill, low temperature washing has other advantages. At high temperature, clothes are subject to increased wear, which can weaken their fibers and shorten their lifespan. By washing your clothes at 30 or 40 ° C, you not only preserve your textiles, but you also reduce the environmental impact linked to the production of new parts to replace those damaged.
Thus, washing at low temperature has three advantages: less wear of clothing, a light energy bill, and a reduction in ecological impact. Be careful to choose a fairly long washing cycle. The combination of time and mechanical movement of the washing machine is as important as the temperature itself.