"David" wrote in message
...
The recommended wash these days for clothes is low temperature - 30C to
35C I think - and this is often quite a quick wash.

Concerns have been expressed, however, from time to time, over the low
temperature not killing bugs/germs/whatever. Sometimes a recommendation to
add a disinfectant to a wash from time to time.

So - my dishwasher has various options including a fast low temperature
35C wash. We are currently using the "daily" program which goes to 65C and
takes over two hours.

Killing germs on food items is probably more important thank killing germs
in your woolly jumper. However in the old hand wash days the water was
probably not much higher than 35-40C unless you were dead 'ard and/or
wearing thick Marigolds.

So - what does the team think about low temperature washes in a
dishwasher?

I note that there is an "auto-sensing" program which washes at between 40C
and 65C but I have no idea how it makes up its mind.

I can't understand this modern idea of sterilizing everything, eat some
dirt, you'll feel better!

I'm not an expert, but i don't think germs can thrive without moisture, so
providing the plates / cuttlery are dried before use, anything that was left
on them has long since croaked.