Use hot water to get rid of germs and soil that has been packed down. But before you choose hot, check the labels on your clothes because hot water could shrink, fade, or even ruin some of the fibers. When to Use Warm Water: Use warm water (90°F) for jeans, knits, and man-made fabrics. Most of your things can be cleaned with warm water.
Wrong! Your “lived-in” laundry, which is likely to be a place for bacteria to grow, should be washed in warm or hot water. This has kitchen towels, bed sheets, socks, and underwear, among other things. Warm water is also good for most of the clothes kids wear because it helps get rid of dirt and makes bacteria and viruses weaker.
Most of the time, you should wash delicate things like lace, wool, or silk in cold water. Hot water can set stains and cause delicate materials to shrink, fade, and get permanent creases. Use a detergent made for delicates because these things are sensitive to changes in temperature and washing chemicals. If you don’t wash these things by hand, you could wash them in cold water on the gentle cycle.
Most people think it’s better to do their laundry regularly with water that is less than 80 degrees. Even though it uses 90% less energy than hot water, it still gets your clothes clean and fresh. In fact, cold water can get rid of most food stains. Also, cold water is less likely to cause colors to fade or run, fabrics to pill, or fabrics to wear out over time. Also, modern detergents clean much better, so you don’t need hot water to do the whole job.
By washing clothes in both hot and cold water, you can get rid of any dirt that is still stuck in them. But because some detergents don’t dissolve well in water below 15°C, you’ll need to use more detergent if the water is cold.
Warm water cleans well and doesn’t damage things too much. It works well on strong synthetics, cotton, and things that are only lightly stained (for heavily soiled items, use hot water). Dark or colorful clothes, soft synthetics, and lingerie should all be washed in warm water.