Why Water Temperature Matters When Washing White and Colorful Laundry

Do you wash whites in hot or cold water? Using the right temperature for washing different loads is important because it will keep your clothes, linens, and delicates looking bright and new for the long run. When doing laundry, keep this general guideline in mind—wash whites in warm and colors in cold. However, there are some variations to that rule. Read on to learn how our laundry experts break down this rule and why it's critical to set your washer to the proper temperature.

Why Water Temperature Matters for Clothes

Selecting the proper water temperature is important for many reasons, but it's not always an exact science. "Water temperature determines the strength of the cleaning process, and selecting the appropriate water temperature for a particular fabric is essential to minimizing damage over time," says Gwen Whiting, the co-founder of The Laundress. "The correct water temperature ensures a more effective cleaning and can reduce the chance of color bleeding, warping, or damage to the fabric."

How to Wash Whites in Warm Water

While the common wisdom is to wash all white clothing in hot water, this isn't always the best course of action. Certain fibers can shrink and weaken in hot water that is above 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Here's what to do instead.

• Use lukewarm water: "Wash white linens in lukewarm water, which generally falls between 90 to 110 degrees," says lifestyle and laundry expert Cheryl Nelson, the founder of Prepare with Cher. These fabrics won't get a deep, thorough enough cleaning in anything considered too cold—between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use warm water: Warm water can effectively lift the accumulation of dirt, body oils, and stains while minimizing the risk of shrinkage, says Lindsey Boyd, co-founder of The Laundress. "Both hot and warm water may cause certain fabrics to fade or shrink," she says. "However, hot water shrinks items to their maximum shrinkage capacity after one wash, whereas warm water will shrink them more gradually over multiple washes."
• Use a gentle cycle: Ensure your white clothes get a deep, thorough cleaning in warm water by washing them on the gentle cycle with similarly-hued fabrics, says Nelson.
• Avoid mixing whites: "Don't wash them with colorful fabrics or else the colors may bleed," says Nelson.

How to Wash Colors in Cold Water

The dyes in colorful fabrics can fade, bleed, or transfer in hot and warm water. It's best to wash bright and dark colors in cold water to avoid the issue of dye transfer., says Whiting. Here's what else you can do for colorful fabrics:

• Pretreat: "If you have stains on colorful fabric, you can pretreat the item as you would with white linens," says Whiting.
• Prepare garments: "To keep the longevity of your vibrant colors, it also helps to turn your bright linens inside out before washing," says Nelson.
• Use the gentle cycle: Give colorful garments a deep cleaning by washing them on the gentle cycle with as much cold water as possible so the items can move around freely in the machine, says Nelson.
  
• Fixing dye transfer: If a white garment sneaks into a load of brights or a red shirt ends up with your whites, don't fret, says Boyd. "Soak the white linens in a basin or sink of hot water with two capfuls of a bleach alternative and wash as normal with hot water," she says.

When in Doubt, Wash in Cool Water

While most fabrics of densely woven fibers, like cotton and linen garments and bedding, can typically be washed in warm water without the risk of shrinking or fading, Nelson says it's best to use cool water if you're unsure of the care requirements.

Hot water can also put excessive wear and tear on delicate fabrics, like cashmere, wool, and silk. "Not only can cold water minimize the chance of damage, but it requires less energy, so it's great for the environment and saving money," she says.