Doctor warns: these two washing machine temperatures should be forgotten

Many people wash clothes at the wrong temperature, damaging fabrics and creating extra expenses. A doctor explains which washing programme temperatures are harmful to clothes and your wallet, and which setting saves the most energy.

Laundry washing habits affect both the lifespan of clothes and monthly electricity bills. Doctors and home economy specialists have begun paying increasing attention to the fact that incorrectly selected washing machine temperature can be significantly harmful to both clothing and your wallet.

According to experts, there are two temperature settings that should be abandoned: very high temperature, 90 degrees, and the frequently used 60-degree programme for everyday clothes. High-temperature washing destroys fabric fibres, deforms clothes and consumes significantly more electricity. Many people use these programmes out of habit rather than necessity.

Doctors recommend using 30- or 40-degree programmes for washing most clothes, which is sufficient for removing everyday dirt and saves both fabrics and energy. 60- and 90-degree programmes should be reserved only for washing bedding, towels and clothes used during illness.

Energy efficiency is also an important argument. Washing at lower temperatures reduces electricity consumption by up to 60 per cent compared to the 90-degree programme. This means a noticeably lower electricity bill and a smaller carbon footprint.

Specialists emphasise that modern detergents have been developed specifically for low temperatures and work just as effectively at 30–40 degrees as earlier products did at high temperatures. Therefore, there is no longer any reason to use high temperature from a detergent effectiveness standpoint either.