Should you wash your clothes in hot or cold water? Expert weighs in on the pros and cons of both methods
- Experts suggested cold water could be better for your clothes and your wallet
- A textiles teacher said washing in hot water makes your clothes fade faster
- Most of the cost of laundry comes from the energy used to heat the water
- Cold water is just as good as hot water when using good quality detergent
Is it better to wash your clothes in hot or cold water?
People are divided on the issue, and now the experts have weighed in to explain the benefits and the drawbacks of both.
New data shows hot washes are preferred internationally, but Australians could have it right with an overall preference for washing clothes in cold water, ABC reported.
Experts suggested cold water is not only better for your clothes, but for your energy bills as well with the greatest cost of laundry coming from the energy used to heat the water.
‘You do get a slight performance improvement washing in warm, but we found it’s not worth the extra energy cost,’ said Ashleigh Iredale, the whitegoods expert for consumer group Choice.
Is it better to wash your clothes in hot or cold water? Experts weighed in on the great laundry debate and suggested cold water could extend the life of your clothes
‘If you have solar hot water or solar electricity then washing in hot water is free, but it might not be great for all your clothes.’
He also said the main difference comes from the quality of the washing machine and the detergent you use, rather than the water temperature.
‘We’ve found that with enzyme-based detergents, the gap between performance of washing in cold and washing in warm is negligible.
‘We suggest you use a good quality detergent that you know will work – it’s often not the most expensive detergent.’
Experts also suggested water temperature is not only better for your clothes, but for your energy bills as well with the greatest cost of laundry coming from the energy used to heat the water
But Mr Iredale also explained the rules change when a family member is sick, when trying to get rid of dust mites, or to expand the life of the machine.
‘Even if you’re a cold-water devotee, run a hot water wash occasionally to get rid of the detergent residue and mould as well as giving the machine a longer lease on life.’
Brisbane textile teacher Yvonne Ritson agreed that hot water makes clothes fade faster.
‘People should also pay attention to the care tag on their clothes, so they know how to treat their clothes to get the most life out of them,’ she said.
Comments on social media confirmed that most users prefer to wash their clothes in cold water
While comments on social media confirmed that most users prefer to wash their clothes in cold water, one user graphically outlined why cold is not always best.
‘I once took care of an incontinent lady with severe lymphedema,’ wrote the user.
‘Let me say that was the last time I ever tried to wash anything in cold water.’
One user graphically outlined why cold is not always best. ‘I once took care of an incontinent lady with severe lymphedema,’ wrote the user. ‘Let me say that was the last time I ever tried to wash anything in cold water’