Scott McCrea wrote: I doubt the average washing machine will maintain a temp high enough for 15 min.
Really.....I'm surprised you haven't tried an experiment yet.
Not really wanting to waist too much hot water for this test, I filled my basic top loading washing machine with 3" of hot water and recorded a starting water tempature of 135 F deg. That is what my hot water heater is set at. My house is set at 69 degrees F. It snowed this morning and the wind is blowing and my outside thermometer is reading 41 degrees F. My washer is inside my house. Here are my very scientific results that prove to me....an average washing machine will maintain the proper decon temp for the correct amount of time. Save your dishwasher for dishes boys and girls. Wash your clothes and be done with it. Decon is no longer for dummies.
o minutes = 135 F
5 minutes = 132.9 F
10 minutes = 129.6 F
15 minutes = 127.7 F
20 minutes = 126.0 F
25 minutes = 123.3 F
30 minutes = 121.7 F