The days of boiling dirty laundry like Sunday soup are over – thank the laundry gods. But the question remains: which water really wins when it comes to washing? Cold or hot? Experts have finally stopped beating around the bush and offered a clear answer.
We once believed that for proper hygiene laundry high temperatures are required. However, 21st century technology and smart detergents prove that you don't have to "bake" your laundry at 90°C to get it clean. In fact, you can do it at much lower temperatures - without drama, without steam, and best of all - with a lower electricity bill.
Cold water: Yes, your laundry is in for it!
Surprise, surprise – cold water is not only refreshing in the summer, but also a perfectly legitimate option for washing most of your cheap and even more delicate pieces. In fact, it has quite a few advantages. It reduces wear on fabrics, colors stay as they were the day you (unwisely) bought them, and there's even less chance of your favorite sweater shrinking to dog size.
Hot water causes fabrics to shrink, colors to fade, and accelerates the breakdown of materials. With modern detergents, heat is simply no longer necessary for most everyday laundry.
Plus, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint (because there's only one planet, and it's currently overheating), washing in cold water is one of the easiest and laziest eco-wins. According to the American Cleaning Institute, it's 90 % washing machine energy for – you guessed it – water heating. So, lower temperatures = lower bills + less CO₂. And all while you're sitting on the couch.
Benefits of washing in cold water:
- Gentle on fabrics (your silk pajamas will thank you)
- Colors stay vibrant longer
- Less shrinkage (so you finally won't be blaming the dryer anymore!)
- Fewer permanent wrinkles (in clothes, not on the face – we still need cream for that)
- Lower electricity costs
- Lower environmental impact
Disadvantages (so that no one says we are embellishing):
- Not the best for oily stains
- Does not disinfect
- It doesn't kill mold (and even less lice or bedbugs – you need heavy artillery for those)
When to include it anyway?hardcore” hot water?
There are certain situations that are no joke. Hot water remains your ally when it comes to serious matters: blood, bodily fluids, bacteria, mold, and anything that sounds like a crime scene to you. Medical uniforms? Hot. Bed linen after a virus? Hot. Children's clothes after playing in a muddy puddle? Hot.
And if they go around the apartment bed bugs – then there's no more debate. Heat, and concrete heat. And call the experts, because the washing machine itself is unfortunately not trained for pest control.
How to get the most out of cold washing?
It's not enough to just turn on the "cool" button and trust the universe. Here are some tricks for optimal results:
- Pretreat stains with an enzymatic stain remover (or at least a good detergent)
- After application, leave it on for at least 10 minutes (coffee time, that is)
- You'd better use liquid detergent – powders and capsules behave like stubborn children in ice water: they refuse to dissolve
- If you insist on powder or capsules, dissolve them in warm water first and only then add them to the drum.
- For really dirty laundry, use longer wash cyclebecause yes, enzymes also need time to do their job
Conclusion? A washing machine is not a sauna. And that's good news.
If you're not exactly on a mission to kill bacteria or are dealing with stains that would make a CSI give up, then don't worry, switch to cold. Your laundry (and your money) will thank you. The world won't stop if you leave the hot water alone - in fact, you'll be taking the opposite: one small, freshly laundered step towards a greener future.
And here's another thing: if you've only washed your laundry at 60+ until now, don't feel bad - evolution is also coming to the laundry room. Just to make it smell good.
