When I moved into my current house about ten years ago, the water heater was too small for my family’s needs. As a family of five, only a couple of us could take showers without waiting at least an hour for the water to heat back up. Since I didn’t want to waste our precious hot water on anything other than showers and baths, I started washing laundry in cold water.
At first, I was skeptical of whether my clothes would come out clean compared to hot water cycles. But I soon discovered that I preferred washing in cold water. Not only did my clothes come just as clean, but there was no shrinkage or damage to delicate items. Now, I’m a decade strong into cold water washes. If you’re considering making the switch, there are a heap of benefits.
The Benefits of Washing Clothes in Cold Water
Washing clothes in hot water used to be the norm for one main reason: older laundry detergents weren’t effective in cold water. The high water temps were necessary to activate the laundry detergent, helping it to break down dirt, oil, and stains. Today’s laundry detergents are more advanced. While powder detergents still need hot water to be their most effective, liquid detergents and pods work wonderfully in a cold cycle.
Since high temperatures are no longer necessary to receive cleaning power, the only real benefit of using hot water is for sanitization purposes. However, the heat from the dryer can aid in sanitizing, so that’s not much of a worry unless someone in your household has been sick.
- Washing clothes in cold water prevents fading and helps delicate fibers keep their shape, keeping your garments in the best condition for longer.
- Protein-based stains (like blood and pet urine) are best treated in cold water. If you wash them in hot water, it can “set” the stain in your clothing.
- Clothes are less likely to bleed color in cold washes.
- Skipping a high-temperature cycle can reduce electricity costs and save you hot water.
- Cold washes prevent wrinkles, so skip the hot cycles if you’re sick of ironing or steaming all your garments.
How to (Properly) Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Washing your clothing in a cold cycle isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things you need to watch out for. First, make sure you’re using a liquid detergent, pods, or laundry soap specifically formulated for cold water. Skip the powder detergent—it requires hot water to fully dissolve.
Second, you don’t need as much detergent as you’ve been using. Follow the instructions on the laundry detergent label and avoid overuse.
Otherwise, you can do your laundry normally, pretreating stains and sorting as usual.
Are There Any Drawbacks to Not Washing Clothes in Hot Water?
Washing in cold water will keep your clothes in the best condition. However, there are a couple of instances when it makes sense to run a hot cycle.
- Someone in the house has been sick, or you’re worried about germs. In this case, wash everything on the hot cycle for full sanitizing benefits.
- You have very dirty items. (Think: cloth diapers, very sweaty towels, dirty sheets, or mud-caked clothing.) Hot water will more effectively clean heavily soiled garments.
