Should you wash sheets and towels in hot or cold water?

Author: Pearlie Turcotte  |  Last update: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Wash with the hottest water temperature setting listed on the care label. Polyester blends are best washed using warm water, while cotton can toleratehot water. Hotter water kills most germs and also takes care of dust mites that thrive in bedding. Wash at least once every other week.

Is it better to wash bed sheets in hot or cold water?

What temperature should you wash bed sheets? For a thorough clean that kills germs and dust mites, washing bed sheets in hot water--around 130°F (54°C) or above--is generally recommended. This temperature is effective for removing allergens, bacteria, and any lingering oils or sweat.

Is it better to wash towels in hot or cold water?

Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.

What is the best temperature to wash sheets and towels?

Water Temperature and Detergent - The best overall temperature to wash your sheets in is warm water. Hot water will fade colors and can be harsh on fine threads. Cold water may not clean your sheets as well as you would like. Choose your favorite detergent or a mild one that will help you care for your sheets properly.

What should you not wash in hot water?

Hot water can ruin delicate fabrics like rayon, rayon blends, wool, or silk by shrinking or breaking the fibers.

Is washing clothes in cold water better that warm water?

What are the cons of washing with hot water?

Con: Hot Water Can Damage or Discolor Clothing

The next time you're doing laundry, consider what kind of clothing you're washing. 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.

What setting do you wash bed sheets on?

Bed sheets should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric, using a sheets cycle or the cycle recommended in your washer's use and care guide. If there isn't a cycle specified, a normal or regular cycle will usually suffice for cotton, polyester or linen sheets.

Is it okay to wash towels and sheets together?

Don't Wash Your Sheets and Towels Together. Linens and towels should be washed separately for the following reasons: Material Weight: Different material thickness means sharing a wash cycle can cause damage! Different Material: Pilling can be prevented by washing with similar materials and textures.

What temperature do hotels wash sheets?

Hotel laundry uses hot water which is Step 2 – Temperature. It's hotter than your residential washing machine can handle. It's hotter than a washing machine at a laundromat can handle. It is washed at 160°F.

How often should I change bed sheets?

To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most.

Is it okay to use the same towel for a week?

Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels.

How to get towels really clean?

Wash Every Few Days

The best way to wash colored towels is with warm water and color-safe bleach, if necessary. For white towels, use hot water and non-chlorine bleach as needed. White towels should be washed separately or with other white items to avoid subtle discoloration over time.

Should blankets be washed in hot water?

If your blanket is acrylic, washing it in hot water can damage the fibers and ruin its soft feel. Cotton and wool blankets washed in hot water can shrink, and colors can run on cotton fabrics. All blankets should be washed in warm or cold water.

Why do my sheets say to wash in cold water?

“Cold water is still very effective at killing germs, especially when combined with a good quality detergent,” says Hollis. Cold water also reduces the risk of colors fading or bleeding, particularly for sheets with vibrant colors.

Do I wash towels on hot or cold?

“We recommend washing your towels in cold water—we promise it kills just as much bacteria as the hot water,” she says. If you do choose to wash your towels in hot water, Richardson says that cotton is probably the only type of fabric that can withstand the high levels of heat.

How many sets of sheets can I wash at once?

Probably at least 3 sets of queen sheets at once, dry possibly more.

How do hotels keep their sheets so crisp?

After washing, proper drying is pivotal. Hotels tend to employ the following methods: Tumble dry sheets on a medium to high heat setting to achieve a crisp feel while minimising wrinkles. Sheets should be removed promptly to avoid setting wrinkles and to use less ironing effort.

What is the best temperature to wash towels and sheets?

Wash with the hottest water temperature setting listed on the care label. Polyester blends are best washed using warm water, while cotton can toleratehot water. Hotter water kills most germs and also takes care of dust mites that thrive in bedding. Wash at least once every other week.

What temperature kills bacteria in a washing machine?

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.

How many times should you use the same towel before washing it?

"Bath towels and hand towels should be laundered after every three uses," says Dr. Maender. "This helps remove the contaminants that can cause infections and reduce odor-causing bacteria." No one likes a funky-smelling towel, but potentially harmful microbes represent the important health concern.

Can I wash sheets and towels in the same load?

While washing towels and sheets together might save you time, it can cause more harm than good given these differences. Because of the different water temperatures, detergent types, and wash times that towels and linen sheets require, it's usually best to wash these items in separate loads.

What setting should I wash sheets on?

In most cases, cold or cool water is a perfect setting for washing your sheets. It's also the best option for delicate fabrics, like silk. But even if your fabric isn't delicate, washing with cold water can help preserve the color of your bedding.

How to deep clean bed sheets?

Laundry Stripping for Deep Clean

This technique involves soaking your sheets in hot water borax and washing soda and laundry detergent for several hours. This process can help remove any dirt, sweat, and oil buildup that regular washing may not remove.

What's the best wash cycle for bedding?

For the very best results, always wash your new bedding before first use. Most modern washing machines have a dedicated cycle for washing bed sheets - alternatively, it's best to use a normal, gentle cycle. Using a heavy duty cycle will cause the sheets to get tangled and can damage the fibres.

Should you wash white sheets in hot or cold water?

The rules of laundry care may seem overwhelming at first—all those symbols on the tag! —but it's easy to remember the right temperature for washing different loads: whites on warm, colors on cold.

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