Laundry temperature

Vonners It's certainly worth experimenting.
I think our powders are formulated for cold, so yours might not dissolve well, as the plumber said.

The answer is to put your powder into a bowl of hot water first and let it dissolve properly, then bung it in the machine with the clothes.

I'd be interested to know if you get good results - it would save the UK (and you) an absolute fortune in power and energy if it does.

Or use a liquid laundry detergent

"Towels and bedding at 60, clothes mostly at 40 and some times 30.
I also use quick washes 14 and 30 mins when clothes not really dirty."

I do likewise, Buffybee.
I also do a dummy run at 60 short wash with washing soda followed by another with bleach approximately three monthly.

This has been an interesting thread for me. For the last two years DH's failing health meant our washing load increased dramatically. Now I am on my own I have been making an effort to economise on electricity. I do all my washing at 30 deg with a 1000 spin unless DGS is having sleepovers and I need to up to a 40 deg occasionally. I have never used a tumble drier - we live quite high up and there is always a good wind blowing.

Wellbeck's and Bradford Lass's especially interesting as they introduce ideas of household and personal hygiene .

I don't trust 'disinfectants' except for their pleasing smells.
I do put dish towels in the machine and boil or at least scald them after the wash, before drying.
My personal wash cloths are machine washed and dried after each use, i prefer old thin wash cloths anyway.

Does anyone know if a machine that is supposed to weigh each load and adds water accordingly scrululously does so , or does it just guess half load or full load?

Scrupulously

Alexa ours is an "intelligent" washing machine and it definitely takes a minute or two at the start of each wash, tumbling the clothes around, to work out how much water is needed.

Good link SirChengin.

Gonegirl, is that what it is doing!I had wondered.

Mine does the same - thinks about it for a minute and then does its magic. I don't like to argue, I try and keep on its good side!