5 Stains You Should Never Treat With Hot Water, According to a Laundry Expert The right temperature matters—especially for these stains. Close Credit: towfiqu ahamed / Getty Images When it comes to laundry, hot water can often feel like an optimal option: it can kill germs, dissolve hardy detergents, and make fabrics feel extra clean. However, it isn’t always the right choice for stain removal. In fact, with certain types of stains, heat can do more harm than good by setting the mark deeper into the fibers instead of lifting it out. "Hot water can cause some stains to set or harden—especially protein-based ones like egg, blood, sweat, grass, and food stains—making them tougher to remove," explains Jackie Ashley, co-founder of Ashley & Co. Everyday Launder. "It can also cause dyes to bleed and spread." To prevent removable mishaps from becoming permanent ones, here are the stains you should always treat with cold water first. In these cases, a cooler wash with a mild enzyme detergent is a safer bet, says Ashley. Jackie Ashley, detergent expert and co-founder of Ashley & Co. Everyday Launder, a modern day scent company providing laundry detergents, surface cleaners, candles, and more How to Keep Laundry From Piling Up, According to Professional Organizers 01 of 05 Protein-Based Stains Protein-based stains—such as blood, sweat, dairy, eggs, breastmilk, and meat juice—are some of the most common and should always be treated with cold water. "Cold water first is best for protein-based stains, like dairy, blood, sweat, and many foods," says Ashley. "Hot water can spread or 'cook' these stains in, making them harder to remove." 02 of 05 Grass and Plant-Based Stains Credit: Farknot_Architect / GETTY IMAGES Grass, mud, and soil are also best tackled with cold water. They contain organic compounds that behave similarly to protein stains when exposed to heat. "Start with a cold rinse to stop stains from setting or spreading," says Ashley. If you’re dealing with mud, allow it to dry fully before brushing or chipping away the excess dirt before treating and washing the fabric. 03 of 05 Inks and Paints Paints and oil-based inks can also worsen with hot water. To treat, place the stained fabric face down and rinse with cold water from the back to prevent the pigment from spreading. Launder separately to prevent bleeding on other garments. 04 of 05 Wine and Beverages With Tannins Credit: igorr1 / Getty Images Red wine and tea stains are notoriously tricky—and hot water only amplifies the challenge. Heat can lock in the tannins (the natural compounds these bevvies may include), making the pigment more difficult to remove fully. How to Get Red Wine Out of Your Carpet in 4 Easy Steps 05 of 05 Fruit Credit: Halyna Romaniv / Getty Images Like wine, tomatoes and berries contain similarly hard-to-remove compounds that give these foods their naturally vivid hues. Washing them with hot water will only set them into the fibers (much like natural fabric dyes). Gentle stain removers like mild dish soaps and distilled white vinegar, plus cold water, are effective options. While it may be tempting to blast every laundry mishap with hot water, patience and cooler temperatures often yield better results. For protein-based stains and the others above, stick with a cold rinse, an appropriate stain remover, and wash with care to give yourself the best shot at saving your garments. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Laundry & Linens