It’s that age old question – what water temperature do I use to wash my clothes? Should I use the same temperature for each wash? Does the temperature of the water help get stains out?
A lot of people wash with cold water because it’s just how they were taught to do the washing years ago. Whilst washing with cold water is the most beneficial for the planet in terms of energy efficiency, it may not be the best for washing all types of clothes.
Understanding the benefits and disadvantages of different water temperatures, will help to elevate your wash results.
Cold water is usually around 20 °C, warm water is usually around 40 °C and hot water is above 60 °C. This may vary slightly depending on where you live, the time of year and your washing machine.
The easiest way to find out what the recommended temperature for washing your clothing is to check the care label on each garment.
The care label will show a wash tub with a number or a set of dots. The number indicates the maximum temperature at which you should wash your garment (Note: this is the maximum and using cooler temperatures is acceptable). The different number of dots indicates either a cold, warm or hot wash. One dot indicates a cold wash, two dots indicate a warm wash and three dots indicates using hot water.
Benefits
Hot water is extremely effective at removing dirt and oil from heavily soiled fabrics and has the potential to kill germs. For heavily soiled clothing soaking with a Pre-Wash Soaker or using a Pre-Wash Spray is recommended.
Disadvantages
Using a hot water cycle will not only cause your energy bill to increase it also has the potential to fade clothes faster and cause some fabrics to wrinkle or shrink. Hot water is not recommended for certain stains such as blood and sweat as it may set these types of stains.
Benefits
Cold water is generally suitable for all colours and it is suitable for delicate fabrics such as lace and silk (that are deemed machine-safe). It is the best option if you are looking to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your electricity bill.
Disadvantages.
Both liquid and powder detergents generally take longer to dissolve in very cold water. This can potentially lead to dull clothes and detergent particles. Cold water may also be less effective at removing greasy and oil-based stains.
Benefits
Warm water is generally considered to be the default option for washing as it is effective on commonly soiled fabrics (e.g. cotton, linen, polyester and nylon) and offers a balance between wash performance and energy savings.
When using warm water, if the garments are heavily soiled or stained using a Pre-Wash Soaker or Pre-Wash Spray is recommended before washing to achieve the best results.
What about shrinkage? While 40 °C might sound quite hot (like a very hot summer day) it is unlikely to cause shrinkage of your clothes as it is only just above body temperature and for most fabrics this temperature is suitable for washing.
Disadvantages
Warm water is not recommended for some delicate fabrics and this option is also less energy efficient than a cold wash.
If you plan to wash with cold water, you should choose a detergent that is suitable for use in cold water (like Tri Nature’s Laundry Liquid or Laundry Powder). These products dissolve completely in cold water to ensure that you are getting the best performance even at cold temperatures.
Whatever wash temperature you choose, you can be sure that you will get the best results for washing your clothes with Tri Nature’s range of eco-friendly, phosphate-free, laundry products.
