My laundry research experience has always shown that when holding all other variables constant, increasing water temperature improves stain/soil removal and cleaning. Overall laundry performance always goes from (best) HOT > WARM > COLD (poorest).
Con: Hot Water Can Damage or Discolor Clothing
Hot water can cause bright colors to run and fade, and can shrink certain types of fabric. Hot water can also damage certain synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and vinyl. The heat breaks down the fibers and can ruin the fabric.
The Best Way to Clean Clothes
To kill the germs in your laundry, wash your clothes on the hot cycle, then put everything in the dryer for 45 minutes. Wash whites with bleach, and use peroxide or color-safe bleach for colors. Do your laundry in water that's at least 140 F to kill any viruses or bacteria.
-- HOT water is more effective at removing odors than warm or cold water. I used to be a heavy user of cold washes, but like the cleaning results so much better now that I put colorfast cottons into the HOTTEST wash I can get, regardless of what the garment care tag says.
Using Fabric Softener:
Fabric softeners are specially designed to add a soft, pleasant scent to your clothes while reducing static and making them feel cozy. Simply add fabric softener to your laundry during the rinse cycle and let it work its magic.
Wash in hot water
Extra hot water, like that used in a Sanitize cycle, can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria and germs, especially for fabrics that can handle higher temperatures.
60°C is the perfect temperature for killing bacteria, viruses and removing stains. This wash setting is also highly recommended for washing towels and bedding, but obviously this setting is going to increase running costs as the higher the temperature the higher the cost.
White Vinegar
To use vinegar to disinfect your laundry, try adding 1 cup to the rinse cycle. Not only can it kill germs and bacteria, but it's also a great natural deodorizer. White vinegar can be used on colors and whites, keeping clothes bright, and works as an effective fabric softener, too.
This process involves connecting the washing machine to the hot water supply, allowing it to fill with hot water for certain wash cycles. However, not all washing machines have this capability, and many modern machines are designed to be more energy-efficient by using cold water.
When to Use Warm Water – For man-made fibers, knits and jeans, use warm water (90°F). Most of your clothes can be washed in warm water. It offers good cleaning without significant fading or shrinking. When to Use Cold Water – For dark or bright colors that bleed or delicate fabrics, use cold water (80°F).
Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle. A sanitizing cycle can also be used, but may not be recommended for every wash, depending on the towel fabric.
Hot water is more damaging to fabric fibers. Washing dark-colored fabric in cold water can help keep rich, deep colors looking their best. For added fade protection, use a detergent made to help protect clothes from fading, such as ARM & HAMMER™ Plus OxiClean™ Fade Defense.
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover works in any temperature water, but best in warm to hot water. Do NOT use boiling water.
A: In studying laundry issues, we consistently find you get more survival of fecal bacteria in cold [water washing than] hot water washing. Hot water is very important in killing off these organisms.
Sheets should be washed at a warm temperature to kill bacteria. A good temperature to wash bed sheets is 40 degrees but a 60-degree wash will be better at killing germs and should be used if someone in the house has been ill. As always, it's best to consult your bedding care labels for guidance on temperature.
Hot water is generally the most powerful option for deep cleaning everyday fabrics.
Soaking socks in hot water can lead to shrinking, fading, and permanent wrinkling (nobody likes that). Using cold water helps preserve the quality of your socks by thwarting color fading and fabric fiber shrinkage.
Although there are several fabrics that fare better in cold water washes, you can sort your items by fabric type and care instructions, allowing you to wash items like underwear and undershirts in hot to eliminate odors and stains.
Adding baking soda to your wash load can boost cleaning ability, help remove stains and also help neutralize odors, leaving your items looking brighter and smelling fresh.