What temperature do you wash your laundry in?

Whites, and sheets are washed in hot water, colored in warm water, and delicates in cold.  All rinses are cold.  There are those who wash only in cold water, but I don't think cold water gets rid of any cooties! (germs) and I would rather my whites be somewhat sanitized.  Delicates in cold water and hang dry to give them a longer life.
Patrink

Brandy:

What temperature do you wash your laundry in?

Cold wash and cold rinse. 

There are a couple of things these articles do not address. What about vinegar? It is a mild disinfectant. What about the disinfecting abilities of sunshine? They also do not mention ironing as a method of disinfection as well. If a double rinse of cold water is best, then why is it necessary to wash in any other temperature? Just double rinse in cold.

I understand that years ago, hospitals disinfected mattresses by putting them out in the sun.

Bacteria is everywhere. Our hands, no matter how much we wash them, contain many. Even if we have the cleanest laundry going, we handle it with our hands. Just one touch to our face and then the laundry, and we are going to transfer much. I found that by reducing hand shaking and washing my hands frequently, I was able to prevent most of the illnesses that went through our church. I apply this to the laundry. I would rather frequently wash something that use it multiple times before washing, especially toweling. I would rather air dry in the sunshine than any other drying method. Due to the toxic effects of chlorine bleach and other types of disinfectants, I would rather use them the least.
 

http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218391156&cat=2_3 

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20070521/hot-water-removes-allergens-best

http://www.mrscleannw.com/tips/laundry-tips.html 

warm wash and cold rinse.

I wash towels, dish clothes, sheets etc in hot water. I used to wash in warm but noticed odours growing on the towels.  If sickness, potty accidents was involved, I always washed on hot. Since the kids, too many funky things, food need to be cleaned up.  Clothes in warm or cold depending how fast I want the laundry to be done and colours.  Warm fills up faster. All rinses cold.

Re: germs...washing hands! or using lysol wipes on the kids hands helps a great deal! My dh bought home lots of bugs until last year cus he started washing his hands at work a lot more. Computers and phones (dh does computer support) have so many germs you don't see.  We went from being sick every few weeks to maybe once or twice a year and that is from our homestay students  (boys...get the picture :) bringing bugs home from school.

 Cold water always.  I do presoak in hot water though.

hot for towels and white underwear. I have a 9 year old DS who waits until the last second to go to the bathroom. Makes me crazy!

Cold for everything else. Soap does a good job of zapping germs, as does the hot dryer or sunshine.

 for 30 years--cold water wash and rinse, some loads with bleach, recently, using vinegar as a softenening rinse agent

exception: hot water during those loooooonnnnnggggg  cloth diaper years

Never died of the cooties yet!

Bleach and vinegar both are bacteria killers.  

 Cold water and cold rinse for most loads. I will wash in warm and rinse for towels and bedding if anyone is sick. I wash my husband's work clothes in warm.