Cold washing and when it is enough

Short answer: Washing cold at 20 degrees works on light soiling and saves most of the electricity. It does not work on sweat, grease and smell.

What cold cannot do

The enzymes in detergent are slow below 20 degrees, and grease is not dissolved. That is why socks and activewear often smell again soon after a cold wash.

Where it works well

For clothes worn for a single day indoors, for anything that just needs rinsing free of dust and for coloured clothes whose colour you want to keep as long as possible. See bamboo clothing for women.

How to do it better

Use a detergent made for low temperatures and let the programme run longer rather than hotter. Time can partly replace heat. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo underwear for men.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity do you save

Most of it. Heating the water is by far the biggest item in a wash.

Does the machine get dirtier

Yes, over time. Run a hot programme with no laundry once a month.

Is cold washing better for the colours

Yes. Colour fades more slowly at a low temperature.