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Thread Number: 42912
Does cold water washing cause mold? |
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Post# 631197 , Reply# 1 10/13/2012 at 00:16 (4,206 days old) by Kenmore71  (Minneapolis, MN) |
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It can be true. Some of it depends on whether or not you leave damp clothes in the washer for an extended period of time after the cycle is finished, some of it depends on whether or not you leave the washer lid open in-between uses and it also depends on how COLD your cold water is. There is a significant difference between Phoenix cold water in the summer (90-ish degrees) and Minneapolis cold water in January (about 40 degrees).
If you remove laundry from the washer promptly and leave the lid open between uses I doubt that you will have trouble with mold. That said, I wash with 150 degree water and chlorine bleach about once every two weeks in my Mayatg and I have have NO issue with mold. | ||
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Post# 631222 , Reply# 2 10/13/2012 at 06:54 (4,206 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Cold Water Washing and Mold I do see lots of evidence that people who routinely wash most or all their clothing in cold water have a lot more problems with moldy-smelly washers. We believe this is caused by the lack of cleaning you get at lower temperatures which leaves behind dirt and oils that coat the outer tub and main seal areas.
Most people do not realize that to clean clothing in cold water that you must use up to twice as much detergent to do the same job. So when you calculate the cost of detergent or the hot water you would it usually comes out cheaper and more environmentally friendly to go the hotter water route.
While I am sure rinsing or just running your washer with cold water would do no harm [ in fact cold water would probably make rubber seals and hoses last longer, even the hot water inlet hose fails more often than the cold water inlet hose on a washer ] it is the soils that build up on and around the seals that keep these areas damp and allow excess corrosion occur, this same thing diffidently coats the major aluminum parts that are in virtually all washers are causes the corrosion problems that we see. | ||
| Post# 631299 , Reply# 3 10/13/2012 at 14:19 (4,206 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea)) | ||
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Post# 631350 , Reply# 4 10/13/2012 at 17:11 (4,206 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK) |
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Mould problems.
I have witnessed mould growth in a washer always on warm/cold washes it was like a pink sludge that reminded me of animal fat in a blender, it coated the top part of the outer drum as it dried the smell was quite something. The door boot was black which came off with bleach but it was due to being closed to contain the stench after each cycle.
I repaired the bearing and said to the owner it would be less impact on the environment to hot wash as it would to replace the machine. I believe my advice was heeded as the washer went on for a number of years after. Austin | ||
| Post# 631445 , Reply# 5 10/14/2012 at 04:20 (4,205 days old) by brummybear (Birmingham uk) | ||
Vinegar  | ||
| Post# 631479 , Reply# 6 10/14/2012 at 09:01 (4,205 days old) by pierreandreply4 (St-Bruno de montarville (province of quebec) canada) | ||
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Post# 631512 , Reply# 7 10/14/2012 at 11:25 (4,205 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Cold Water washing To Eean if when you clean your washer periodically stuff comes out you can not possibly be getting cleanest possible clothing out of your washer. We have used washers come into our shop all the time for rebuilding and it is amazing the crap that comes out of the drain hose when you start using the washer properly with a little hot water, plenty of detergent and some LC bleach.
The same thing is true of DWs, if the machine is getting dirty while it is suppose ability cleaning your dishes it just does not add up, for the most part it should NEVER be necessary to clean a clothes washer or dishwasher if the machine is being used properly. | ||
| Post# 631547 , Reply# 9 10/14/2012 at 14:54 (4,205 days old) by Rolls_rapide (.) | ||
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"for the most part it should NEVER be necessary to clean Agreed. The machines are supposed to be self-cleaning - if used properly with hot cycles. After all, you wouldn't attempt to clean a greasy pan by hand, in the sink, with tepid water, would you now? | ||
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Post# 631587 , Reply# 11 10/14/2012 at 18:35 (4,205 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Odor Free washing in Cold Water Allen it is possible to get clothing fairly clean in cooler water temperatures, as I mentioned in an earlier post you just have to use a lot of detergent. The number of cases of customers using too much laundry detergent and causing some sort of problem with either the laundry or the washer is outnumbered 10 to 1 by the folks that use too little. | ||
| Post# 631609 , Reply# 13 10/14/2012 at 20:00 (4,205 days old) by Iowegian () | ||
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@combo52: I have heard people blame bearing failures (suds crawling through seals and dissolving lubricants) and spider failures (corrosion) from using too much detergent. What is your thought on this? | ||
| Post# 631612 , Reply# 14 10/14/2012 at 20:02 (4,205 days old) by DirectDriveDave () | ||
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Do any of you leave your dishwasher slightly open for a while after unloading? we never have (with no problems), but just something I happened to think of. | ||
| Post# 631646 , Reply# 15 10/14/2012 at 21:16 (4,205 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO) | ||
Mark's right and I agree with John completely on this. Grease and dirt will not release in cold water, for the most part.
Put some butter in a cold skillet and it sets there; put it in a hot skillet and shazam, it melts. Combine this with the right chemicals and agitation and shazam again! Out comes the mess. The ladies back in the day knew all about it. They didn't have our fancy chemicals but they had the heat. They had to keep an eye on that boilin' pot, though. One slip-up and scarred for life or death. Just ask, "Launderess". She can tell you all about it. Not that she's a lady from back in the day. Pardonnez-moi, Madam. There is also a book that I enjoy, if one can get a hold of it. It's called, "Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring for Clothes and Linens", by Cheryl Mendelson. I've gleaned much information from it. Happy fall everyone. Enjoy this time of nice weather and pretty colors before the time of hectic holidays and the sequestration of winter sets in. Brian | ||
| Post# 631705 , Reply# 16 10/15/2012 at 00:58 (4,204 days old) by Iowegian () | ||
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@DirectDriveDave: Good Point. You are correct - we run the machine, unload it, and there's still a bunch of moisture left in it, even with the rinse aid and using the dry cycle. But we keep the door shut and latched. No funkosis that we know of. | ||
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Post# 631787 , Reply# 17 10/15/2012 at 08:33 (4,204 days old) by Kenmore71 (Minneapolis, MN) |
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Dishwashers are a whole different deal for a number of reasons. First of all, many detergent contain a significant amount of chlorine bleach. Secondly, as far as I know, all dishwashers made within the last 20 years heat the final rinse water to at least 125 degrees. If you add a heated dry on top of that, any water that's left in the machine will be mostly bacteria-free by the end of the cycle.
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