Do you think that it saves money to wash clothes in cold only? My dh always requests that I wash in cold, but I like to use warm/hot depending on what I am washing. I don't think that cold gets some things really clean. I am just wondering if I honored his wishes, would it really save that much money? What do you think?

Also, do you like cheap detergents? I have found that some just don't do the trick.

Have you found any that are inexpensive but still work and smell fresh?

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 11:35 am:

I personally would never wash towels in cold water. Certain things I feel just don't come really clean in cold water.

As for detergents, I've bought some really cheap ones and the ones I've tried just don't clean as well.

It's all a matter of preference.

By Mrse on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 11:36 am:

I wash in cold water all the time, but if I have whites, I will use hot, with some bleach. I usually buy the cheap detergent but when I am not feeling cheap I will buy sunlight or tide something like that, and I do see a difference in the way the clothes come out, but can not afford the expense of the higher priced ones all the time

By Cybermommyx4 on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 11:46 am:

Arm and Hammer FabriCare powder is not that expensive, and works really well. I use that AND liquid Tide, 1/2 and 1/2, with Downy. Bleach in the whites and towels and bedding. Hot water for Whites, towels, and bedding--cold for everything else. Purex liquid detergent works well, too. I am SO picky about how my laundry SMELLS when it comes out, that I probably use more detergent than I should.

By Mommyathome on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 01:20 pm:

Some things I wash in cold, and some in hot. As far as saving money by washing in cold only...I'm not sure how much you would actually save. The only cost of hot water than I can think of is the amount of power or gas it takes to heat the hot water tank. I don't think it would be that significant.

I don't really care for cheap detergents, so we usually use Gain or Tide.

By Marcia on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 01:55 pm:

I wash in warm, rinse in cold. I use bleach in my whites, and bleach for the unbleachables in the rest. I used to always use Tide, but I've been using Purex or Gain. They both seem to work just as well.

By Colette on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 02:25 pm:

I wash most things in cold water. Unless bleaching, or washing towels or sheets. I only use Tide.

By Feona on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 02:28 pm:

I wash everything in cold. Longest wash. I use tide too. I had no problems.

Bleach the whites in the summer.

By Tunnia on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 03:45 pm:

I mostly use warm or hot water. I only use cold when the load is very dark colors or colors that can bleed.

As for detergents, I usually use Arm & Hammer liquid. It works really well and our clothes smell and look clean and fresh.

By Tink on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 04:13 pm:

Count me as a vote for Arm & Hammer detergents. We use the Free version because we all have sensitive skin. I usually use cold unless it is towels or I'm bleaching. I don't think it saves much money to use cold water, I just don't want my clothes fading. We have hard water so that is already a problem.

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 08:39 pm:

I like Gain or Purex detergent. I usually wash in warm, but it really depends on what I'm washing.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 09:47 pm:

I wash in lukewarm, rinse in cold except for whites, which I wash in hot and rinse in cold. Your dh is right, it would save money. But, I always use liquid detergent because I think powder detergents need hot water to dissolve thoroughly.

When I say I wash in cold, I actually use the warm setting on the washer but have the hot water turned down so low that it is really just room temperature water. So when I want to wash in hot water I have to turn the hot water faucet up.

By Coopaveryben on Saturday, August 7, 2004 - 10:07 pm:

I have always used Tide (my mother has always used Tide) and my husband bought Gain and I love it. From my experience the "off" brands never clean as well as name brand.

By Paulas on Sunday, August 8, 2004 - 12:28 pm:

I use Tide and when I buy the powder I buy original but use the ultra scoop. I read somewhere once that detergent companies have you use too much so you have to buy more. It works for me.