Question about changing "warm" temp on washing machine

[CathyA]

Anyone know if I can increase the temp of the "warm" setting? Its barely warm, and sometimes its not warm enough to dissolve the powdered soap.
Its a 34 year old Maytag, with "cold/warm/hot" temp selections. I'm thinking that's something that's set in the factory and I probably can't change it.

[Jilly]

At that age, probably not. But, you can pre-disolve the powdered soap and then add it to the machine. Even if you use really hot water to make the granules into a liquidy mess, it will not be to hot when you add it.

Not much more work, and you get to keep using that lovely old machine.

[Jilly]

...too hot...

My fingers are quicker than my brain.

[CathyA]

Thanks Jilly. What I do now is put the temp on hot for 30 seconds and then change it over to warm. I could use liquid soap, but I like the idea of using a cardboard box that I recycle....rather than plastic.

[Birdie]

If you don't already put the powder in the bottom of the washer first, you might try that. Otherwise, dissolving it in warm/hot water might be the only solution. I still use powder for a variety of reasons. I refuse to encourage the use of all those plastic bottles that the liquids come in.

[jp1]

The other thing you could do is partly turn down the cold water faucet that feeds into the machine so that when you use warm it will get a larger amount of hot water and a smaller amount of cold.

[SteveinMN]

The other thing you could do is partly turn down the cold water faucet that feeds into the machine
... and/or, if the feed line also runs into a utility sink, draw water from that hot tap until it is hot, and then start the machine. The washer will fill with room-temperature water already in the line but then will start filling with hot water.

[Gregg]

What temp is your water heater set at CathyA? Our previous washer provided a pre-set ratio of hot to cold water to come up with "warm". If I set my water heater at 140* then warm will be a lot warmer than if I set it at 120*. I believe newer models have temperature sensors that help get around that issue.

[spirit]

Often there are filter screens on the supply lines for clothes washers or on the inlets of the clothes washers (especially old washers). If a filter screen gets clogged with debris (often minerals) the flowrate may go down. If that clogging occurs on the hot water supply line, the clogging may effect the ratio of hot water to cold water and could effect the outcome of your warm setting.

[Gardenarian]

We don't have a way to set it on the machine, just the faucets on the feed line - just fiddle with them until the temp is right.
I only use cold water wash...I always read that things get just as clean in cold water. Is your experience different?
DH and I disagree on this; he always want warm or hot.

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone!
Nope, don't have a utility sink.
Gregg......our water heater is set around 130.
The idea to check the wire screen on the incoming water lines to the washer is a good idea. I've actually been meaning to do that for a couple years!
Gardenarian........it seems like my soap doesn't dissolve with just cold water. In fact, the repair guy that was here awhile back said something about how they make the powders to dissolve at a certain temp.....which isn't cold.