Con: Hot Water Can Damage Delicate Fabrics Hot water can set stains on delicate fabrics and can cause them to shrink, fade, and permanently wrinkle. These fabrics are sensitive to temperature and cleaning solutions, so use a detergent made for delicates.
You're not wrong, clothes really are cleaner when washed in hot water. Hot water is better at breaking down some stains and kills some germs. But it's harsher on clothes and also can set some stains, making them harder to remove.
It might be possible for hot water to shrink certain clothing items to their maximum shrinking capacity after just one wash. Besides shrinkage, washing your clothes with hot water can also damage items by permanently causing color fading.
While boiling might seem like a quick fix for a tough stain or funky smell, it's not worth the risk. Stick to regular washing methods (machine or hand-washing, for example) and follow the care labels on your clothes.
Hot water will set some stains, particularly protein based stains. Use cold or warm water on these before washing in hot water. Always test to be sure that a stain removal product will not damage fabric by applying to a small part of the fabric that is not easily seen.
Hot water removes stains by breaking down and dissolving the stain-causing substances. Cold water has a different mechanism – it prevents the binding between proteins from the stain and the fabric, making it better for protein-based stains like baby food or blood.
Good for Your Wallet
Check your garment care labels, and you'll see that many clothes specify to wash them in cool or cold water. This is because cold water is gentler on your clothes, and can protect them from fading, shrinking or bleeding.
Aggressive on textiles, we recommend using hot water to launder only heavily soiled or odorous items made from strong fiber like cotton, and durable synthetic fabrics. Never use hot water on delicate fabrics, as it can cause damage or shrinkage to the garment.
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.
Warm washing machine water between 90 and 110 degrees is ideal for most of your laundry needs. Most of your clothes can be washed in warm water including man-made fabrics like polyester, nylon, and rayon items, and spandex. The water temperature is also ideal for natural fibers like cotton.
Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. Washing clothes in cold water goes a long way toward preserving the “off-the-rack” size. Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage.
Both hot or cold water can be used for handwashing. Scientists have found that varying water temperature had no effect on pathogen reduction. That being said, most people prefer warm water over cold. However, water that's too hot could also do more harm than good when it comes to hand hygiene.
Washing in Cold Water Can Help Reduce Fading & Color Bleeding. Hot water is more damaging to fabric fibers. Washing dark-colored fabric in cold water can help keep rich, deep colors looking their best.
Wash jeans in warm water: Most of the time when you have something that you want to wash gently you wash it in cold water. But that's not the case when you are washing denim jeans. Warm water will help the color stay in the jeans and help keep the jeans from shrinking. Hot water is too hot and can destroy the fabric.
Washing your clothes inside out helps prevent fading by allowing the inside of your garments to take the brunt of agitation and color fading that occurs during a wash cycle. This helps to protect the outside dye of your shirt or pants by reducing friction and contact while still ensuring a thorough wash.
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.
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.
Temperature Makes a Big Difference
And typically, to kill the microbes and remove body oils and stains, towels should be washed in warm or hot water. Or, using chlorine bleach can sanitize white, cotton towels when added to a washer's bleach dispenser or diluted with water before adding to the washer drum.
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.
Avoid hot water – high temperatures will cause cotton to shrink, so opt for a delicate cycle or a cold wash to avoid your favorite cotton items from shrinking. Flip them inside out – to protect the outside of the garment from the abrasive agitation of the washing process, turn them inside out.
For household washing machines, the best temperature to wash towels at is at around 40 degrees. Washing at 40 degrees will ensure your towels stay feeling and looking their best for longer, whilst removing most of the germs that breed there.
Cold water is effective at removing surface dirt, dust and light stains, making it ideal for periodic cleaning. It is also more economical to mop with cold water, as you do not need to heat up water. Cold water evaporates less quickly and so will also leave fewer or no streaks when drying.
Use as directed. With coldwater detergents on the market, people often wonder if washing in warm or hot water is necessary anymore. My laundry research experience has always shown that when holding all other variables constant, increasing water temperature improves stain/soil removal and cleaning.