40 degrees Celsius isn't considered a cold wash or a hot wash. It is actually straight down the middle – a warm wash. And it's ideal for a lot of your laundry. As with anything, there are pros and cons to washing your clothes, towels, or bedding at 40 degrees.
A good temperature for washing towels and sheets is 40 degrees, but a 60 degreewash will be better at killing germs. Changing your sheets and towels once a week can help to keep them fresh and clean**.
Warm washing (40 degrees)
The benefit of warm washing is that it requires shorter wash cycles than a hot wash, as little to no heating is required.
Generally 40°C and above can be classed as a warm wash and most clothing can be washed at these temperatures.
Hot water is typically about 130 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Between 90 and 110 degrees is considered warm water. And water temperature between 60 and 80 degrees is cold. If your cold water is below 60, it's likely too cool to wash your clothing well.
Overall, we've found that washing on a lower temperature does conserve energy and will save you money, but if you have fabrics which need a little extra stain-removal power then you might see a better result washing at 40 degrees.
Best water temperature for quenching thirst: Lukewarm (40°C / 104°F)
Is 40 Degrees Hot or Cold for Laundry? The number 40 corresponds to 40°C, or 104°F. This is a warm wash setting that is often used for a colored wash. The number on the wash symbol indicates the maximum temperature the item should be washed at.
Machine washing at 40 degrees Celsius is likely to shrink natural fibres such as cotton, wool and silk, unless they have been pre-shrunk. Once cotton clothes have been shrunk the first time, they will not shrink much in subsequent washes.
If you're just washing your own bedding, it should be fine to wash it at a lower temperature of 40°C. If the bedding is particularly dirty, 60°C will be better for killing germs. Using a cooler temperature can be more effective when using a stronger detergent or a brand that has antibacterial properties.
Answers to your 30-degree wash questions
No, a 30ºC wash is generally considered a warm wash. A cold wash is below 20°C and is usually reserved for clothes that are very delicate. Washing at 40ºC is also considered a warm wash, while 60ºC is a hot wash and 90ºC is a very hot wash.
When washing bedding you want to wash at 60 degrees on a long wash ie 2 hours plus to make sure that any sweat, dander, dust or other nasties are killed and then removed. Wash all bedding on a full cycle 60-degree wash. Colder temperatures may not kill all the bacteria or remove sweat as effectively.
The washing symbol with two dots in the tub stands for laundry that can be washed at 40 degrees Celsius. The tub symbol with three dots indicates laundry that can be washed at hot temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.
Washing at 60°C will not shrink every type of clothing, but may shrink items made of natural fibres such as cotton and wool.
I'd wash at 40 unless it has two lines underneath the washing symbol on the label - from your description (polyester) it should be ok. I have made the mistake before and shrunk clothes as more clothes seem to be getting these special care labels these days, so now if I'm in any doubt I wash on a hand wash cycle.
A 40°C wash usually takes between 1 hour and 30 minutes and 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on the size of the load.
Yes! the wash temperature rating on clothing is the MAXIMUM temperature the item can be washed at, so using a lower temperature is fine. A bigger problem is often the mix of items in a load, especially colored items. Lower wash temperatures help protect more delicate fabrics and also tend to have lower spin speeds.
When to Use Warm Water – For man-made fibers, knits and jeans, use warm water (90°F). Most of your clothes can be washed in warm water. It offers good cleaning without significant fading or shrinking. When to Use Cold Water – For dark or bright colors that bleed or delicate fabrics, use cold water (80°F).
To help preserve dark items' original colors and prevent bleeding onto lighter clothes, wash darks together using the cold-water cycle (60 to 80 degrees).
If it heats up to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C, heat exhaustion is likely - and above 41C, the body starts to shut down. Chemical processes start to be affected, the cells inside the body deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure.
Is 40 degrees considered cold? Yes, 40 degrees is considered cold, especially if you are not dressed appropriately. Your body's exposure to cold temperatures can lead to hyperthermia. This dramatic drop in the core body can occur at 40* F.
Generally, a person can survive in 41-degree F (5-degree C) water for 10, 15 or 20 minutes before the muscles get weak, you lose coordination and strength, which happens because the blood moves away from the extremities and toward the center, or core, of the body.
Generally 40°C and above can be classed as a warm wash and most clothing can be washed at these temperatures.
Remember, washing with a warm water temperature – on cycles at 40°C or higher – can come with a few downsides: It can cause colours to fade. It can damage certain fabrics over time. It can cause items to shrink in the laundry.
It indicates a fine wash. LoveToKnow. 40°C (104°F) The bucket has two horizontal lines underneath it. It indicates a very mild wash.