Bruno Pugh
While cold water might be great for shrinking those energy bills, some of your household items deserve a little more warmth. Throwing everything into a chilly wash could leave you with more than a few laundry regrets. Before you toss your wardrobe in the washer, let’s talk about the fabrics and items that definitely shouldn’t be washed that way.
Towels
Between absorbing water, oils, and dead skin, towels need more than a cold rinse to stay fresh. Laundering them in warm water helps kill bacteria and lift grime that cool water can’t fully remove. Over time, frigid washing towels can lead to that dreaded rough sandpaper texture.
Bedding
Cool water simply doesn’t efficiently remove accumulated dead skin cells, sweat, and dust mites. A hot rinse is essential for disinfecting your bedding and ensuring it’s truly clean. If you’ve ever wondered why your sheets don’t feel as fresh as they should, the culprit could be the temperature of your wash.
Underwear
Washing these garments in hot water eliminates body oils and ensures that they’re properly sanitized, helping you avoid unwanted odors and wear and tear. Sure, cool water might be gentler on delicate fabrics, but in the long run, warm scrubs will extend the lifespan of your underwear.
Workout Clothes
Sweat and bacteria build up in moisture-wicking fabrics, and cold water won’t effectively break down those elements. You might think you’re saving your workout gear, but you’re actually letting odors and grime linger. Warm water, on the other hand, helps release the trapped sweat and bacteria, keeping your gym clothes fresh.
Dish Towels
In the kitchen, dish towels tackle some of the messiest tasks. As they absorb food residue and bacteria over the course of the day, they deserve a thorough, warm wash. Frigid water won’t fully sanitize them, and that will leave behind bacteria that can make its way onto your dishes or hands.
Jeans
While cool water can help preserve the color of your denim, it’s not the best option for cleaning them thoroughly. Jeans absorb dirt over time, and a cool wash won’t effectively lift these impurities. Every once in a while, a heated cleanse is necessary to remove the buildup of dirt that your denim endures.
Baby Clothes
Baby clothes go through a lot, from milk spills to diaper disasters, and frigid water simply doesn’t have the power to break down these messes. Washing baby clothes in hot water ensures that you’re getting rid of food stains; plus, many baby-specific fabrics are durable enough to withstand a heated soak without shrinking or fading.
Socks
These poor items absorb sweat, collect dirt, and are constantly rubbing against your shoes all day long. Soaking them in cold water might freshen them up, but it won’t get rid of the bacteria and odors that build up. Why not scrub them in hot water to sanitize your socks and leave them smelling clean?
Pillows
You might not think about cleansing your pillows as often as your sheets. But over time, pillows collect dust mites, sweat, and oils, and cold water won’t do much to eliminate these allergens. It’s said that hot water can shrink pillows sometimes but a delicate cycle in warm water once in a while is okay for most types of pillows to keep them clean and fresh.
Curtains
Think about it: Curtains act as a filter for dust, pollen, and airborne particles that float through your home. Washing them in cold water might remove surface dust, but it won’t do much for deep cleaning. Warm water helps remove the layers of dust and grime that accumulate over time.
Napkins
Those fancy cloth napkins you pull out for dinner parties need a little more than a chill rinse. Cold water won’t cut through food stains the way warm water can. A hot soak helps break down food particles and grease, so your napkins come out looking as good as new.
White T-Shirts
White t-shirts are classic, but they’re also notorious for picking up sweat stains, deodorant marks, and other blemishes. Cool water will keep the fabric intact, but it won’t remove the discoloration that builds up over time. Only a warm cleanse is key to breaking down the oils and sweat that cause yellowing.
Shower Curtains
You may not think about laundering your shower curtain often, but when you do, make sure it’s in hot water. That mold and mildew need a stronger opponent than cold water can provide. If you want to avoid that musty smell and keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh, then a heated scrub is a must.
Washcloths
Cold water won’t sanitize washcloths properly and might leave behind germs that can lead to skin irritation. A hot rinse, however, helps break down oils, dirt, and bacteria. If you’ve noticed your washcloths starting to smell or feel rough, it’s probably because they haven’t been getting the warm water treatment.
Kitchen Rags
Much like dish towels, kitchen rags take on the dirtiest of jobs. Cool water just can’t remove all the grime that kitchen rags absorb. A warm wash will disinfect them properly, so if you want to avoid spreading germs, don’t skimp on the water temperature when scrubbing your rags.