Washing clothes with cold water

[kwicky]

Whatever happened to the idea of washing clothes in cold water. There was talk of this some time ago and would have thought today where we are trying to use less energy because of global warming they would be all the rage. Can anyone answer one or more of the following questions:
1. Are there any machines on the UK market that do this?
2. Is there any soap powder being sold to achieve this?
3. Why is it not widely advertised?
4 Has anyone out there tried it?
5. Has it any disadvantages?
Thanks.

[chakka35]

I raised this question some time ago on AB. My wife and I had just returned from visiting our daughter in North Carolina where we discovered that she washed her clothes on the COLD setting of her washing-machine, using cold-water detergent which is a routine item on US supermarket shelves. Her washed cothes were as clean, fresh and soft as if they'd been washed in hot water.
We thought we'd try it when we got home but could find no cold-water detergent here. I e-mailed Proctor & Gamble who make the cold-water Tide in the USA who replied to say that they do not market it in UK or Eire. They gave no reason.
I agree that it would effect a tremendous saving in energy if everyone did it except for very soiled or contaminated clothes, but no-one seems interested. I wrote to BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' which deals with such things but they didn't even reply. Please let us know if you have any ideas for promoting the idea.

[CT]

Try five live. Always seem to have debates about all sorts on there.

[kwicky]

If it is just the detergent it does not make sense to wash clothes in hot water. They talk about turning off the standby on TVs and using economy light bulbs but these ideas would only save a fraction of what this would achieve. The manufacturers of soap powder will probably say there is no demand for it. But as we know it is the government or the press or even five live that instigate its use.
It would be interesting to know the differences when using cold water detergent. I suspect it may create more lather!

[Solarjunkie]

Liquid detergent seems to work fine in a cold wash, most of the time - no disolving as with powder. Much of washing powder is filler, anyway, I wouldn't want it clogging up my machine!

[kwicky]

I know what you mean solarjunkie. That advert on TV showing Calgon to remove build up of powder for instance.

Looking at the knobs on my washing machine and note there is no selection for cold water only. Is this the reason why Proctor and Gamble did not reply for fear of causing a backlash with m/c makers?

[ardena]

JUST OVER FIVE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT AN LG WASHING MACHINE WITH A VARIABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL.I CAN WASH IN COLD ( i use it some times as an extra rinse) IN THOSE DAYS TESCO DID A COLD WASH POWDER (made in Denmark)NOW DISCONTINUED.IT WAS GREAT .NOT EXPENSIVE EITHER.IN FACT IT WAS SO GOOD IT WAS THE REASON FOR CHANGING MACHINES SO CHECK OUT LG AND SAMUNG . I HAVE NO CONECTION WITH THESE COMPANIES