Hot or cold temperature to wash cottons?

Is it better to wash cottons on a hot or cold wash? I've read conflicting information.

Asked by Karen on 7th Mar 2023
Expert Trade Answers
"It all depends on stains and dirt
You can wash cotton in cold water, in fact I will be better than warm however warm water is not particularly bad unless you wash in a temperature over 60°"
Answered on 22nd Sep 2023 - Member since Aug 2023 - report
"It best to wash the cotton in warm water,to take off the dirts faster."
Answered on 7th Mar 2023 - Member since Jan 2022 - report
"For perfect washing in a washing machine, it is important to know that white cotton can be washed at up to 95°C, while the temperature for coloured cotton should be no higher than 60°C, with a short rinsing period and the minimum possible spin cycle"
Answered on 7th Mar 2023 - Member since Feb 2022 - report
"Chemical, agitation, heat, time. These four words equal an effective cleaning process. Remove one of them means you should increase something else to compensate. Although this could save you money, using heat in harmony with chemicals (washing powder) agitation (machine spinning and laundry rubbing together) heat (water temp in the washer) time (enough time to allow the chemical heat and agitation to work)

If you can afford it and it’s save to do so use heat in your cleaning processes 🙂"
Answered on 12th Mar 2023 - Member since Nov 2022 - report
"Warm water is best to wash white cotton ,if the cotton is coloured with cold water is ok"
Answered on 7th Mar 2023 - Member since Jan 2023 - report
"The choice between hot or cold water for washing cotton fabrics depends on several factors, including the type of cotton garment, the level of soil or stains, and your personal preferences. Here are some guidelines:

1. Hot Water (Warm to Hot):
• Use hot water (typically around 120-140°F or 49-60°C) for white cotton items, especially if they are heavily soiled or stained.
• Hot water can help remove oil-based stains and kill bacteria and dust mites more effectively.
2. Cold Water:
• Use cold water (around 60-80°F or 15-27°C) for colored cotton items to prevent fading and color bleeding.
• Cold water is gentler on fabrics and helps preserve the vibrancy of colors.
• Cold water is suitable for lightly soiled cotton items.
3. Warm Water:
• If you’re unsure, using warm water (around 90-105°F or 32-40°C) can be a good compromise for most cotton fabrics and colors. It combines the benefits of both hot and cold water.
4. Check Care Labels: Always check the care labels on your cotton garments. They often provide specific temperature recommendations.
5. Pre-Treat Stains: For heavily stained cotton items, consider pre-treating the stains with a stain remover before washing. This can help remove stains effectively even in cold water.
6. Consider Energy Efficiency: Using cold water is generally more energy-efficient since it requires less electricity for heating. This can also help reduce your utility bills.

In summary, the choice between hot and cold water for washing cotton depends on the specific circumstances. It’s generally⬤"
Answered on 18th Sep 2023 - Member since Nov 2022 - report
"It depends what the cotton is soiled with. So can be either. For daily washing, warm is fine. For stains, soak in cold water first with a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda, then a cold wash. Then a hot wash!"
Answered on 15th Mar 2023 - Member since Jul 2022 - report
"Depends on the detergent you will be using but I always wash on 30"
Answered on 19th Sep 2023 - Member since Sep 2023 - report
"Cold water is best for clean the cotton because of the temperature to no damages the cotton"
Answered on 16th May 2023 - Member since Apr 2023 - report
"It depends on what washing detergent you're using. Is use persil at 60 with a prewash and that seems to get paint out of my work clothes"
Answered on 1st Nov 2023 - Member since Sep 2023 - report
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