Should You Wash Clothes in Hot Water? | Consumer Reports

Think your clothes come out cleaner with hot water? Consumer Reports' appliance expert explains why it might not be necessary to wash your clothes at a higher temperature.

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[jukio]

I've been washing my clothes with cold water for years, and I think that because of this, my clothes aren't as clean as I would like them to be. They still smelly after it's all done. When I start to sweat just from it being hot or whatever, the clothes start to really start to smell afterwards.

When I wash my bed sheets and blanket with hot water, they smell a lot more fresher, more clean. So, I think hot water is better with washing clothes.

[wyzemann]

I agree about "especially soiled" clothes requiring hot water. However, my whites and white towels will always receive the Clorox/detergent/hot water combo due to far better cleaning results I've seen over the decades.

[DunhillX]

Yes but the machine needs hot water from time to time to prevent mould and muck build-up. The hotter temperatures are actually beneficial in keeping the machine and surrounding pipes clean. Just fyi

[nameynamename]

What a load of crap. What removed dirt better? No one asked about saving energy.

[socksumi]

Dirt breaks down much more effectively in hot water than cold. It's just a fact. Bacteria as well. Try washing your dishes or your body in cold water and observe the difference regardless of the soap used. No one says cold water can't work to some extent but the question is... which is MORE effective.

[foraloysius]

I'm certainly not going to wash my underwear in cold water. And anything related to sleeping should be washed in hot water too. Dustmites are not impressed by cold water washes.

[ScottyMac]

my hot water comes from the water heater.. not from the washing machine... ?

[marlon]

My mother always tells me to use the washer with hot water because she believes that its more effective to kill germs and bacteria.

[be.A.b]

Hot water is important for fully rinsing detergent out of clothes washing machine. Only using cold water will increase residue left over in machine, so clothes will never feel clean. Also, overusing detergent is an easy mistake to make. It’s kind of an art form

[socksumi]

Horse shit. Hot water dissolves dirt faster and more effectively all other things being equal. Try washing your dishes in cold water vs hot. You'll see pretty quick how much better hot works. Same goes for clothes.

[justinstojanoski-pearson]

What about washing detergent that says it only works at certain temps?

[apache-yaquibrown]

Cold water doesn't work, rather pay the 3 cents more per load to get my clothes clean so glad my washer is only hooked up to hit water, so rinse is hot too!

[amarmot]

There is cold water in parts of the US at 60 degrees, then there is cold water in Alaska, at 40 degrees. 40 degrees is not suitable for washing clothes and especially not towels or bedding.

[ShawnsterVideos]

So many variables ignored; like time, mineral content in water supply, detergent & bleach. Wasted a few silly jokes where you should have included temperature necessary to kill bacteria, or temperature required to lift that sebum oil out of the fabric.

[floof]

Fun fact for the algorithm: The temperature that laundry is done at doesn’t matter (for the most part). Cold and hot water work about the same, unless the clothes are very dirty, in which case use hot water. Cold water uses less energy though, so it’s cheaper

[bjs]

I am skeptical about the energy savings. My old washing machine only does additional heating of the already hot water that is connected to it when it is set to the Sanitary setting and I have a gas water heater in northern California where gas is relatively low cost. There would be energy savings for people who only have their machine connected to cold water and especially if the also had an electric water heater.

[triniwarrior]

this video is too quick can you elaborate more?
what about warm water? and cool?

[veggirl]

I never wash clothes in hot water. Finding clothes sized for a tall woman is hard enough without shrinking them up in the wash.

[efavuzza]

What about white clothes. I always was told color cold whites hot. True?

[cyrusjbeast]

My tide pods only dissolve in hot water