How much can you save on a cold wash (and the best temperature to wash your baby's clothes)

Last modified on Tuesday 24 October 2023

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Louisa Sherlock

Associate Editor

You want your family’s laundry to be clean. But that doesn’t mean you need to turn up the temperature on your washing machine.

Washing clothes at lower temperatures can be just as effective, help them last longer and save you money on your energy bills. And using the right detergent, like Fairy Non Bio PODS® or Washing Gel, means you’ll get brilliant results every time.

The whole Fairy Non Bio range shifts stains in cooler temperatures and during shorter washes. No wonder it's such a favourite with parents!

For even more money saving laundry hacks, along with your ultimate guide for washing baby clothes, head to our Laundry Room hub.

What temperature is a cold wash?

Your washing machine will have lots of different temperature settings for you to choose from, usually going up to 90 degrees. All washing machines made since 2013 have a 20 degree option on the control panel.

A cold wash is 20 or 30 degrees and is ideal for an everyday wash of lightly soiled clothes.

How much money can I save doing laundry in cold water?

According to USwitch, you could save up to £40 a year on your energy bill by switching from a 40 degree wash to a 30 degree one.

Experts at the Energy Saving Trust agree and say washing at 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity over a year than washing at higher temperatures.

And research by Which? found turning down the temperature on your washing machine from 40 degrees to 20 degrees reduces running costs by an average 62%.

All of which sounds like a no brainer to us!

What are the benefits of doing a cold wash?

There are loads. Not only will it save you money on your energy bills, washing clothes at 20 or 30 degrees will prevent them from shrinking. It will also stop dark or brightly coloured clothes from fading.

Can I do a cool wash on a short cycle?

Yes. Check your washing machine guide but you should be able to select a quick wash and set the temperature for a cool wash.

To use even less water and energy, USwitch recommends washing clothes on the shortest practical cycle.

What is the ‘wash at 30 degrees’ symbol?

Before you wash anything, always check the fabric care label. For anything that needs a cool wash, the symbol will look something like this …

Always check the fabric care label before washing

Which detergent works best in a cool wash?

Fairy Non Bio PODS® contain the exact amount of detergent needed to get your clothes clean and work brilliantly in a cool wash.

Or try Fairy Non Bio Washing Gel and Washing Powder, both of which gently clean clothes at lower temperatures. The Fairy Non Bio range is also your family laundry go-to for anything that’s stained or needs to be washed at a higher temperature.

For extra softness, add a splosh of Fairy Fabric Softener. The all-new Fairy Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner gives your laundry a lovely scent of drying outside, even when it’s drying inside.

Meanwhile Fairy In-Wash Scent Booster adds long lasting freshness to your family’s laundry.

What’s the best temperature for washing baby clothes?

For lightly soiled baby clothes, washing at 20 or 30 degrees is fine. Fairy Non Bio PODS® and Washing Gel both work brilliantly on cool washes and will remove the day’s mess for less. For clothes that have poo or baby sick on them, they should be washed separately at higher temperatures (see below).

When it comes to which laundry products to use, the whole Fairy Non Bio range is perfect for your baby’s delicate skin, even newborns. It uses clever technology that makes fabrics super soft and stops them rubbing on your family’s skin. It's so good, it's been voted number 1 for sensitive skin*.

For added softness, use Fairy's Non Bio Sensitive Skin Dream Team – Fairy Non Bio PODS® and Fairy Fabric Softener.

Here’s our complete guide to washing baby clothes.

*Online panel of 7,413 adults among which Fairy Non Bio laundry products were voted most often as the #1 laundry brand for sensitive skin.

What temperature kills bacteria in a washing machine?

According to the NHS, a wash of 60 degrees will stop the spread of bacteria.

If you’re doing lots of cool washes, you’ll need to do a monthly maintenance wash with a washing machine cleaner to get rid of any bacteria and mould that might be growing inside.

What laundry shouldn’t you do a cool wash?

Germs can be spread through dirty clothes and towels. While a normal wash will reduce the risk of these germs being spread, some of your laundry will need to be washed at higher temperatures.

Towels, underwear, household linen and clothes (including baby clothes) that have poo or vomit on them should be washed at 60°C to prevent the spread of germs.

Head to our Laundry Room hub for more laundry tips and tricks to leave your clothes clean AND save you money.