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Hot Water versus Cold Water: Which Is Better for Washing Clothes?
Remember the good old days when clothes were boiled with lye soap, leaving them grey, stiff, and scratchy? Thank goodness those times are long gone! Modern detergents, stain removers, and washing machines have made laundry a breeze, even at lower water temperatures.
Say goodbye to the myth that hot water equals cleaner clothes. After chatting with laundry pros, we've learned that the efficacy of using cold water versus hot water in laundry isn't as straightforward as we thought. So let's dive into the deets.
enter Zach and Jerry Pozniak, owners of Jeeves New York, a luxurious dry-cleaning company, and authors of The Laundry Book.
Can Cold Water Wash Your Clothes?
Absolutely! Not only can cold water get your clothes clean, but it also offers advantages over hot water. Cold water is gentler on fabric fibers, dyes, and helps prevent certain stains from setting. Zach Pozniak, one of the experts we talked to, shares that "hot water causes fabric shrinkage, fading, color loss, and premature deterioration." In most cases, hot water isn't necessary with modern laundry detergents.
Ever-increasing utility bills got you down? Switching to cold water for laundry can help lighten the load. According to the American Cleaning Institute, about 90% of the energy used by the washing machine goes towards heating the water. Using less energy not only saves you money but also reduces carbon emissions and is better for our planet.
Unless you're dealing with heavily soiled, dirty, or bacteria-ridden clothes, you can wash most items successfully in cold water. To ensure the best results, use an enzyme-based high-quality detergent specifically designed for cold water. Also, don't forget to use cold water for the final rinse cycle to help prevent wrinkles as your clothes spin.
The Pros and Cons of Using Cold Water for Laundry
The Benefits:
- It's more fabric-friendly
- Helps prevent dye-bleeding
- Less fabric shrinkage
- Reduces set-in wrinkles
- Saves on utility costs
- Reduces carbon emissions
The Downsides:
- May not remove greasy stains as effectively
- Doesn't sanitize fabrics
- Doesn't kill mold or mildew spores
- Doesn't kill insects, such as lice and bed bugs
When to Opt for Hot Water
There are times when hot water is a better choice for laundry. Jerry Pozniak, the other expert we chatted with, recommends hot water when sanitizing laundry, re-cleaning heavily soiled garments, or removing mold. Any item contaminated with blood or bodily fluids should be washed in hot water to kill bacteria.
If you're battling head lice or bed bugs, hot water should be used for laundry to eliminate the insects (as part of a comprehensive pest management plan). For tough stains like grease and ground-in dirt, using a higher water temperature during the wash cycle will produce better stain removal results.
Ace Your Cold-Water Laundry Game
- Pretreat stains with an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of high-quality cold water laundry detergent.
- Wait at least 10 minutes after pretreating stains before throwing the item in the washer, allowing the enzymes time to attack the stain.
- Go for liquid laundry detergent instead of pods or powder that may not dissolve fully in cold water, especially in freezing temperatures. If you prefer pods or powder, dissolve them in hot water and add the mixture to the washer drum before loading in the dirty laundry.
- Use a longer wash cycle if your laundry load has stains or lots of soil.
- To clean clothes gently and help prevent stains from setting, you can use cold water in your washing machine at home.
- According to the experts at Jeeves New York, hot water can cause fabric shrinkage, fading, color loss, and premature deterioration, making cold water a better choice for most items.
- Using cold water for laundry can not only save money on utility bills but also reduce carbon emissions, making it more environmentally friendly.
- If you're dealing with heavily soiled or bacteria-ridden clothes, or if you're trying to sanitize laundry, hot water may be more effective in killing bacteria and stains.
