What's the Right Temperature to Do Laundry?

What's the impact of water temperature on clean clothes? Consumer Reports lead tester Pat Slaven joins Tanya Rivero with tips for cleaner laundry. Photo: Corbis Images
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[@ivankirola2707]

In Europe We use: 90C/95C for bedding and towels 40C for coloured laundry 30C/40C for wool

[@johnbarron4843]

We prefer Freedom Units

[@jansteyaert1]

I have NEVER washed anything above 60C (140 freedom units). There is no use, pure waste of money to wash anything on 90 (194f).

[@blacksmith44]

I could possibly see using a warmer temperature to wash your towels and wash clothes in, but anything hotter,to me is a bit much. I think I'll stick with a cooler temperature with everything. But thanks for the info!

[@socksumi]

No one asked whether cold water works. It works... adequately enough for lots of people. The question is... which works better? In a direct comparison all other factors being equal, which is faster and more effective at removing dirt, stains, bacteria, etc... hot or cold water? This is where the evasion and obfuscation happens much the way politicians answer a question.

[@rhyca4804]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGS4eHtvjKqWjtk That answers your question. Cold water is suitable for most people most of the time unless your clothes are particularly dirty, as with urine, feces, or blood stains.

[@mulliganstew72]

Thank you! My thoughts exactly.

[@creamycrimson]

You have to find the sweet spot between having clean clothes and not destroing them.

[@fearless6947]

Yep, I'm trying to find the answer lol. I guess I have to take a guess. For me bath towels, cheap socks and cheap underwear, will be warm or hot water (tumble dry). For clothes I care about, jumper, shirts, t shirts and jeans will be cold water (air dry)

[@lisaleone5128]

It also depends on the stain. Blood, for instance would never be washed in warm or hot.

[@benjaminfowler3532]

I did a live test at a workplace health and safety training. We washed our hands as per below 4 options and used a black light and some luminescence spray visually see bacteria. We used -Cold water only. -Cold water + soap -Warm Water only -Warm Water + Soap. Warm Water and Soap is significantly better at cleaning. Almost all bacteria was gone. Warm water only, actually increases bacteria. Cold water + soap does have a small effect say 30% of bacteria killed, but not even close to warm water + soap. Conclusion. Nothing beats warm water and soap that is still safe to use.

[@kar2194]

Thank you for your sharing. Can I know more about your experiment and temperature used ? Cheers!

[@agirlwithdreams15]

Hand soap differs from laundry detergent. You also didn't specify what temperature you used.

[@aaronwilson9465]

Laundry detergent is massively different to hand soap. Skin isn't fabric so the item being washed is wholly different and the method of washing isn't anywhere near the same. Hand soaps are made for skin, not for clothing.

[@PaulHojda]

Lol, on European machines, hot water is 60 degrees Celcius (140F), not 90F. And all European machines can reach 90C. I often wash dirty towels, rags and underwear at 90C

[@vylo_kripzy9590]

U inbred it’s 90F 33C

[@math1182]

@@vylo_kripzy9590 No! He's right! British machines have a top temperature of 90c. That's 10c lower than boiling.

[@apostolosfilippos]

My candy washing machine has a 95 celcius setting. omg why?

[@uhohhotdog]

Warm water is not hot water. My hot water option is also very hot

[@liamhartley1533]

@@vylo_kripzy9590 it's in Celsius, I'm in U.K. and our machines reach 95 Celsius (203 Fahrenheit). Boil wash as it was called was a very regular thing.

[@tinathompson1129]

I thought you never do warm because it breads more bacteria. Hot for towels or bedding or something you really want to sanitize.

[@fearless6947]

its so confusing

[@maroan1073]

@@fearless6947i agree

[@denobarrey]

I been doing it at 40 not working at all now 60 it’s works amazing 🤣🤣

[@Deklectic]

Fast forward to 2020 and new washers have fancy sanitizing cycles and downloadable cycles.. Its funny how 5 years ago a sanitizing cycle was considered rare on a washer.. 🤣🤣

[@ilovegoodsax]

My 2010 Sears Kenmore Elite front load washer had a sanitize cycle.

[@mulliganstew72]

Everyone’s just trying to save energy. You need HOT water for certain things, End of story.

[@handianus]

All the machines I have seen here in Sweden have 30, 40, 60, 90 Celsius temperature settings. Etc. I guess Americans really love mold and bacteria from their underwear and towels.

[@WilliePeck]

Natz Sloshenheimer America is a 3rd world country wearing 1st world clothes.

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

Willie Peck As an American I can confirm that this is very true.

[@VAPORCHROME]

@@WilliePeck nah

[@uhohhotdog]

Why would you get mold? We put them into a dryer

[@garyflowers8372]

Well, most of us, especially our parents, grandparents and their parents always washed cotton, linens and sheets in hit eater that was the way that it was done 60, 70 & so many years ago but I know that things have really changed over the years including appliances and other things that have technologically advanced but for a lot of us me included I'm s man and u still adhere ti the idea of doing laundry in the hottest eater setting that the fabric will allow!

[@michellemarie1197]

During cold and flu season you wash in hot water but normally I just use cold

[@dudinho7348]

Very helpful and informative. Thanks

[@rashmimathur5318]

Question: what about active wear? Instruction says to wash in cold water. But those are the clothes that need warm water because more germs. How to do that protect them and clean them? Active wear is expensive.

[@apAvocado]

Wash them with Defunkify or another detergent that’s specifically made for athletic wear. Personally, I washed all of them in warm water and I add 2 tablespoons of OxiClean. I have had better success with powdered laundry detergent. Tide powder detergent is excellent!

[@fgrau7376]

This women is referencing Celsius and she's reporting from Yonkers NY.

[@apAvocado]

Agree. I’m in Louisiana, so…. I prefer Fahrenheit temperatures. Thank you.

[@apostolosfilippos]

Why can't the systemic media provide correct information even for trivial matters as this

[@Alexanderthegreatjones]

Because all they do is lie

[@T_vEg]

90°c/95°c is for very soiled white cotten and towels 50°c/60°c is for bedding 40°c is for coloured towels 30°c is for regular daily clothes and underwears 20°c is for lightly soiled clothes and delicates

[@apAvocado]

86 degrees Fahrenheit (30°C) for most loads, then, that’s a warm water setting!!! Lightly soiled is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, that’s kinda cold. Is that enough to dissolve body oils and funk in teen boy clothing???

[@T_vEg]

@@apAvocado if you use the right detergent and cycle, it should do the job

[@apAvocado]

@@T_vEgthank you

[@karenloo1201]

She said bleach! No way!

[@hybridangel3403]

Is a sanatize cycle a pre wash cycle?

[@diallo6197]

Yep just an extra wash cycle.

[@dominikb4617]

Cold 👌

[@seana806]

A good way to ruin the machine and clothing, unhygienic washing in cold.

[@sarfrajmansuri2537]

its better for the environment? lol no better for the person who is taking shower 🚿

[@ilovegoodsax]

Not true about only European machines having a sanitize cycle and rare for washers here in the U.S. My 2010 front load Sears Kenmore Elite had a sanitize cycle.🙄