Many of us feel overwhelmed by the seemingly endless pile of laundry that’s constantly filling up the washing machine. But have you ever pondered over the correct temperature for running a wash cycle?
A doctor asserts that using your washing machine in a specific way could optimise cleanliness, benefit your health and reduce costs.
British TV doctor and presenter, Alexander Gerald van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken, better known as Dr Xand van Tulleken, recently shared his wisdom on BBC Morning Live.
The expert discussed why washing your clothes at two temperatures – 40 and 90 degree settings – might not be the most effective approach. Here’s what he recommends instead…
Doctor’s advice on washing machines
Dissuading people against the 90 degree setting, Dr Xand stated: “The hottest your washing machine will go is 90 degrees usually and that will kill everything, it’s almost boiling it.
“It’s bad for the clothes, it’s very expensive. Whatever’s happened to those clothes… I think you’ve got to get new clothes at this point.”
Instead, he suggested that 60 degrees can be “quite good” as “certain bugs will be killed”. He elaborated: “So, if you’ve got an infection going around your house, particularly think of something like norovirus, put it up to 60 [degrees] along with the mechanical cleaning and detergent.”
Next, Dr Xand expressed his scepticism about the usefulness of the 40 degrees setting. He observed it’s “too hot to be cheap and too cold to kill anything”.
He advised that choosing either a hot or cold setting would be more beneficial than opting for a medium temperature.
“30 degrees gets the job done,” he stated. “It is much cheaper, so going from 40 to 30 saves you almost 40% in energy costs. It’s quicker.” He recommends purchasing a lower temperature detergent if you frequently use this setting.
The doctor identifies himself as a “20 degrees guy for everything”, with the exception of workout clothes. He suggested that switching to a 20C setting on your washing machine could reduce your bills by 62%.
Dr Xand emphasised the importance of cleaning your machine when using lower temperatures. He added: “You’ve got to think about cleaning your machine. One [trick] is that the tray that you pull out, the detergent tray where all the mould grows, that can be a real nuisance to clean.”
The expert cleans it in the dishwasher. To cleanse the drum of the washing machine, he suggests using a cloth and some white vinegar. He advises doing this weekly and leaving the door open daily.
Public opinion on washing machine settings
A flurry of comments followed after a snippet of the TV segment was posted on Instagram, revealing people’s personal laundry habits. One person commented: “I have never had to use the 90 degrees settings.”
Another shared: “Cold wash every time. Anything grubby soaked first. Any stains pre-treated. Hang things out to dry, sunshine and wind are the best bacteria killers.”
A third concurred, stating: “Cold, always cold. Never had a problem.” A fourth echoed this sentiment, adding: “20 for everything except to do a machine clean. Sometimes 30 if it’s sports tops.”
Another shared their laundry routine: “I’m a 30C girly and always will be, detergent, stain remover, laundry sanitiser and conditioner and then a low heat tumble dry. Clothes are lovely and soft, stains are gone and totally fresh. Only do a 90° wash for bedding and white towels.”
Yet, some champion the 40C and 90C settings on their washing machines. One commenter stated: “Nah mate, 40 degrees all the way. Hot enough to kill bacteria and get rid of hard stains but cold enough so it doesn’t ruin clothes.”
One person recommended: “A 90 degree every now and again for something like towels is good and blasts the machines though too. It’s there for a reason.”
And another remarked: “Bedding and towels 90 degrees now and then. 30 degrees delicates only and the rest mainly 40 or 60. Too much bacteria buildup with 30 degrees (won’t kill you but nevertheless bacteria).”