Does cold water actually clean clothes?

Most clothes and other things that can be washed safely in a washing machine can be done so with cold water. Grass stains on your child’s jeans and mascara smudges on a sweater may both come out with this method. Cold water is best for delicate fabrics like lace and silk, as well as for fabrics that are dark and colorful.

You can wash your clothes in cold water without worry. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), which is made up of cleaning product manufacturers, says that washing clothes in cold water as suggested on the care labels helps keep the colors bright and the clothes from shrinking. The same is true for household textiles, many of which can be machine washed at home, like linens and other fabrics.

When washing clothes, cold water is always the best choice. When it comes to getting stains out of clothes, cold water works better than hot water, even on the toughest stains. With hot water, every stain, like sweat, will be harder to get rid of than with cold water. Clothes don’t get stains deeper into the fabric when they are washed in cold water.

Some of the time, it’s better to wash clothes in cold water than in warm or hot water. Stains can be set into fabric by hot water, making them harder to get out. Because it is kinder to the fabric, cold water is less likely to damage your clothes.

A load of clothes washed in cold water will get rid of some bacteria, stains, and dirt, but it won’t get rid of any pathogens that could be dangerous. Keep trying new things with cold water! Molds and germs that cause lung infections, colds, and the flu are not killed by most water temperatures or even hot water cycles. Running your dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes is the easiest way to get rid of all those nasty bacteria. This method also kills lice and dust mites.

Using cold water to wash clothes is good for more than just saving money and energy. Cold water is better for clothes because it doesn’t damage the fibers as much as hot water does. However, hot water locks in stains, especially protein-based stains like blood.

Even though it won’t kill germs, dirty clothes can be cleaned with cold water. When using reusable diapers or if someone in your home is sick and could spread illness to others, it’s important to clean clothes and other items.