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Thread Number: 85578
/ Tag: Detergents and Additives
What's with the 'machine wash cold, gentle cycle, tumble dry low' tags lately? |
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| Post# 1101247 12/19/2020 at 22:17 (1,216 days old) by MaytagNeptune (FireAlarmTechGuy4444 on YouTube. Interlochen MI) | ||
This seems to become a growing problem. Many things now say "Machine wash cold" or "gentle cycle" or "do not use fabric softener" or a combination of those 3 or ALL of the above. First of all. I use Liquid Snuggle FS blue sparkle. I use 2.0 oz at most for any load except for active wear. Second Cold is not good for my LG or Neptunes or Calypso or any HE machine for that matter. Consistently running the delicate/hand wash cycle is also not good for the machine. This conflict with these tags annoys me so much. Especially when my sister wants something washed. she always makes me abide by the tag even though I care more for the machine. sometimes I don't even bother to run a load of her stuff, I wait for her to go to school for the day then I run the load when she is at school then lie about doing the Delicate cycle on cold even though I actually did the normal cycle on warm. Sometimes when she needs something done urgently. If it is a tiny load. I refuse to run it. I also always refuse to use cold period. Unless it is a load of stuffed animals/plush toys. Sometimes I run the load anyway and sometimes she screams at me and I get punished. Once when she wanted me to wash her "stitch" Pajamas for a pajama day at school the next day. I started the load and put it on warm and left it normal and ran delicate due to it being a fleece material. then she begs me to put it on cold. I retaliated and engaged the child lock. then watched (secretly laughing inside) her tamper with my LG WM2277HW for 20 whole minutes ( the entire wash cycle) trying to figure out how to disable the child lock. when all she had to do is press the power button then restart the load. I sometimes want to eradicate this problem by getting the intuitive panels for my Fisher&Paykel GWL11 and DEGX1 and convert them to IWL12 and DEIX2. So the intuitive's computer is incharge and figures out the load for me. so no more begging to wash on delicate the machine will decide. I always inspect each and every item before putting it in the machine for areas that the normal cycle might mess up. if there is none I run it in normal. if there is then I put it in the worldwasher on delicate. I told my parents all about this and I never get punished unless my sister gets involved. I really hate my sister and this "machine wash cold, gentle cycle" bullcrap. Sometimes my sister uses profanity at me too! Rant over. base your opinion below.
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Post# 1101257 , Reply# 1 12/20/2020 at 00:29 (1,215 days old) by CleanteamofNY  ((Monroe, New York) |
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 #1. Running the machine on the Delicate/Gentle cycles does not harm the machine. #2. If the washer temp has a lukewarm or cool cycle it is far better to use than straight cold from the tap during the winter. Warm water will cause shrinkage or pilling to fabric if you do not follow the MFG recommendations. #3. The normal cycle can be used to wash Delicate/Gentle fabrics with the least amount of wash time with a slightly higher water level to reduce fabric wear. Since your machine has these features, use it! High-speed spin will crease fabrics that may set before going into the dryer and cannot be ironed out on certain fabrics. This is something to keep in mind. #4. Fabric Softener should not be used on garments that require "No Fabric Softener," it can weaken some fibers and fabric softener leaves a residue that prevents breathable materials from wicking away moisture. #5. Life is too short to be quibbling over how to wash laundry, the directions on the label are there to extend the life of the garment without damaging the finish. Choose one machine that you feel comfortable letting your sister use on a regular basis to do her own laundry. | ||
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Post# 1101261 , Reply# 2 12/20/2020 at 01:04 (1,215 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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 Fabric softener can also interfere with flame-retardant properties of fabric treated for it (such as children's sleepware, if there are still such products on the market). Longer wash time at gentler action, perhaps with a soak period, causes less wear/tear and better cleaning than shorter times at aggressive action. Much of the tag directives for cold water is CYA policy of the clothing manufacturers ... and doesn't have much effect being that there's pretty much no warm or hot water on washers nowadays, LOL. | ||
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Post# 1101266 , Reply# 4 12/20/2020 at 02:15 (1,215 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Do Not Use Fabric Softener 
For things made in whole or part with man made fibers such as polyester, then yes; do not use fabric softeners or conditioners. Many of these fibers are hydrophobic by nature, but attract (and hold) oils. If you've ever gotten cooking or salad oil on say polyester blend clothing or table linen, then couldn't get it all out, there you are then.
For natural fibers such as cotton or linen, there isn't any real caution against using fabric softeners. Only exception are fluffy things like terrycloth, flannel, and things treated to be nonflammable such as infant and children's sleepwear. As for rest of it in USA manufacturers of clothing and textiles for consumers are only required to list one way of caring for things. It must be way that is likely not to cause damage (shrinking, fading, color loss, and or other damage). Many things for instance labelled "dry clean only" can be easily and safely washed in water by hand or machine. But manufacturers don't want to bother writing out long and detailed care instructions. However if customer disregards care instructions as given, and something happens to said item (shrinks, changes shape, color loss, and or other damage), then they are at fault. This applies to things that are sent to laundry or dry cleaners. Once you know and understand what you're dealing with often care instructions can be carefully disregarded. However do keep in mind many things aren't made like they were anymore. Cotton dress shirts that once could routinely withstand very warm to hot water washing and ironing with heavy hot iron, now fall apart after barely several trips through same nowadays. Also often many manufactures just feel today's housewives or whoever is doing the wash lacks knowledge and kills of grandmother's day. Thus they don't want to bother writing long detailed and exact instructions, so come up with something that will allow laundering with least possible damage. This and that item will not need extensive finishing to restore appearance. I don't need anyone to tell me how to restore a fine percale dress shirt from a crumpled and slightly shrunken mess out of the wash. But then again have been ironing shirts for more years than care to remember so am a well seasoned campaigner. | ||
| Post# 1101304 , Reply# 5 12/20/2020 at 10:24 (1,215 days old) by perc-o-prince (Southboro, Mass) | ||
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IMHO, It's OK to run cold and/or delicate cycles, but run a sanitize or "clean machine" cycle periodically to help rid the machine of nasties that can thrive in cold water. Some machines have a warning that will pop-up, advising you to run sanitize after X number of cold/cool/warm cycles.
Chuck | ||
| Post# 1101335 , Reply# 7 12/20/2020 at 12:49 (1,215 days old) by MaytagNeptune (FireAlarmTechGuy4444 on YouTube. Interlochen MI) | ||
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But what it the point of "flame resistant clothing"
Unless it is workwear from firefighters or something where you can be exposed to a fire like electrical or gas contractors. there is no reason for it. Fires that cause the most damage and injury do not typically start on children’s clothes. The most dangerous fires are large house fires in which smoke inhalation—not burning—is the leading cause of demise. Flame retardant chemicals on clothing cannot protect against house fires or smoke inhalation. They are only designed to prevent very small flames from igniting clothing. I have installed a professional fire alarm system and I use photoelectric detectors.
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Post# 1101439 , Reply# 9 12/20/2020 at 21:37 (1,215 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey) |
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at age 56, I have a sister that drops her clothes off for me to wash....and give implicit instructions on how to wash every piece....
Like I dont know how to do wash.....I know right!..... Cold Wash?....I would sooner B*TCH SLAP the fake color out of her hair!....after a few whacks, it really is a great stress reliever... there are three loads in any given situation....Whites, Lights, Darks.....Warm wash, Cold rinse, Normal cycle....in a Neptune!....its as simple as that!... Tide Detergent Bleach if needed Softener if wanted | ||
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Post# 1170237 , Reply# 14 1/24/2023 at 15:34 (450 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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long overdue It's long overdue, but I am so sick and tired of these stupid tags. I want my stuff washed properly. Sturdy cottons do not need a delicate cycle. I don't use cold unless they're dark colors. Everything is washed and dried on the normal cycle. | ||
| Post# 1170315 , Reply# 15 1/25/2023 at 12:34 (449 days old) by Egress (Oregon) | ||
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To add a bit of info to this, I've heard that sometimes manufacturers will skip on testing the clothing and just default to cold, delicate, and low. Even on materials that will do fine on warm or even hot on a regular cycle. It's probably cheaper... | ||
| Post# 1170318 , Reply# 16 1/25/2023 at 13:16 (449 days old) by qsd-dan (West) | ||
 I've heard that sometimes manufacturers will skip on testing the clothing and just default to cold, delicate, and low. Even on materials that will do fine on warm or even hot on a regular cycle.
It's true. I've washed many items the state cold wash in 120F and there was no bleeding, fading, or any other damage even after years of doing so. Most docker pants made in the the last 8-10 years are now state cold wash after initially being warm wash for many decades, if not from the very begining. No problems washing those in warm.
Other materials with cheap dyes will bleed even after several loads at the 85F that my tempering valve is adjusted to. Those are definitely not warm wash items. | ||
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Post# 1170366 , Reply# 17 1/25/2023 at 23:04 (448 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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jeans and shirts I have gotten jeans and shirts for Christmas that said cold, delicates, low heat. That was so stupid! I ignored the label of course and just used the default normal cycle on both the washer and dryer minus energy saver. They came out just fine. | ||
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Post# 1170369 , Reply# 18 1/25/2023 at 23:22 (448 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage) |
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Apparel and textile manufactures are only required to list one sort of care instructions; one that will likely cause least harm. Owners of things are perfectly free to ignore or otherwise substitute their own choices, however if item is damaged in process manufactures and vendors have zero liability.
Cashmere or woolen pulls can be hand or machine washed with care; but directions often state "hand wash only". If one launders said pull by hand or machine and it shrinks or otherwise is damaged, responsibility clearly will rest on owner. | ||
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Post# 1170524 , Reply# 19 1/27/2023 at 22:48 (446 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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clothing care I know how to properly care for my clothes. It's not like I'm wearing delicates everyday which I don't. The vast majority of my clothes are sturdy cottons and linens. Cotton and linen are the 2 sturdiest fabrics known to man in my opinion. That's why the normal cycle is aggressive for everyday fabrics. | ||
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Post# 1170525 , Reply# 20 1/27/2023 at 22:50 (446 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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normal cycle The normal cycle provides warm temp, high spin, and normal soil along with accelawash on the washer and medium heat and normal dryness on the dryer. No harm done! | ||
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Post# 1170531 , Reply# 21 1/28/2023 at 01:55 (446 days old) by SudsMaster (SF Bay Area, California) |
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Post# 1170684 , Reply# 22 1/29/2023 at 23:14 (444 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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front loader Exactly! They're gentle on laundry, even on the normal cycle. | ||
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