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Thread Number: 11078
End of the line for the 'boil wash' |
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| Post# 200202 , Reply# 3 3/29/2007 at 19:16 (6,231 days old) by rolls_rapide (.) | ||
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Quick! Lets all move to Serbia! lol | ||
Post# 200447 , Reply# 12 3/30/2007 at 22:53 (6,229 days old) by launderess  (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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I've Told Ya
Have laundry books from as far back as the 1940's where it is clearly stated "boil washing" as part of routine laundry went out with the introduction of the automatic washing machine. Yes, these books were printed in America, so obviously it pertained to that market. Europe and the UK of course held on to boil washing longer because high temperatures were needed to activate the perborate bleaching agents used on that side of the pond. Americans of course are heavy users of chlorine bleaching for whitening/sanitising laundry so "boiling" was something of a memory for most housewives by the 1950's or 1960's. High temperatures were a feature of laundry because until modern enzymes came along, it took quite a bit of mechanical action, and high temps to separate soils from fabrics with the mostly sodium carbonate,phosphates, surfactant detergents. Today enzymes deal with all and sundry types of soils, and do so in water temps of 140F,120F, 100F, and even 80F, thanks to "frankenzymes". In my own random tests, have noticed little difference in terms of stain/soil removal and other laundry results between laundry done say at 140F or 120F and that done at 160F or 180F. This applies to whites as well as coloured items. So to save energy one simply sticks to temps below 160F. There is also the fact very little apparel or linens are made today that can withstand repeated boil washing, much less "hot" water washing. Undergarments in particular seem to all come with care labels "wash in cold water". Well am here to tell you that is not going to happen. While not boiled, do wash undergarments and linens at 140F. Eliminating higher temperature settings on front loaders probably saves heaps in R&D costs as well in other areas. Scrapping very high water temperatures means outer tubs can be made from different materials than stainless steel (which at the moment is dear). There is also no mistaking that high temperature washing takes time. Unless one starts from hot or very warm water, "boiling" 10 or so gallons of water, not to mention the clothing and heat lost "warming" up the machine takes time. My Miele will do 200F, and really only use temps above 160F when trying to restore dingy/yellowed or badly stained linens. Will use also use high temps when laundering pillows or certian down filled items to kill off the little buggers like dust mites. Oh, and there is the once a month or so cleaning out the machine cycle as well. | ||
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Post# 200485 , Reply# 13 3/31/2007 at 09:10 (6,229 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany) |
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I`m not going to discuss if there is a need for a boil wash or not. Everybody has his own opinion and laundry routine and will stick to whatever one favours. There might be a further drop in temperatures through the backdoor. For instance our 60°C cotton programes are not that hot anymore as they claim to be, just to get the desired A rating for energy use. But I dare to predict that this kind of BOL Indesit will not even show up on the German market neither will last long anywhere else in Europe. | ||
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Post# 200511 , Reply# 14 3/31/2007 at 12:52 (6,229 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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Coincidentally, I've been asking myself the question: "How come, the 60° E cottons cycle is 20 minutes longer than the standard 60° cottons cycle, yet uses less energy?" So, how hot is it really?! While I, like Hoovermatic, don't use the 95°C cycle I have to say it's pretty *cool* to hear the sound of my grandma's Miele when the water starts to reach temps near the boiling point and steam rises from the dispenser. Alex | ||
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