Check your washing machine water temperature
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Check water temperature
Fill the washer as usual, but before the
agitator starts, check the water temperature
with a thermometer.
Water coming from the cold
water tap can be pretty chilly
during the winter (or year-round
if you have a well). According to
washing machine manufacturers, if the
water is colder than 65 degrees F, the additives
in laundry detergent won't work as
well—and powder detergents won't fully
dissolve. Cold water for washing should
be in the 65- to 85-degree range or clothes
won't get completely clean.
To find out if your clothes are getting a
good wash, check the water temperature
with a cooking thermometer (one that
registers low temperatures) when you do a
cold, a warm and a hot wash. If the water
temperature is below 65 degrees for cold
water washes, boost it by selecting warm
water for part of the initial fill cycle. If the
warm water wash is below 85 degrees (a
common problem during winter or when
the washing machine is at the opposite
end of the house from the water heater),
try the hot water setting instead for all or
part of the wash cycle. Or run the hot
water tap into the laundry tub until it gets
hot, then turn on the washer.
Always leave rinse settings on cold, no
matter what washing temperature you
choose. Cold water rinses are just as effective
as warm water rinses, and you'll save a
lot of energy.
