What Temperature to Wash Clothes?

What would our ancestors think, who washed clothes by hand in the river, if they saw how this task is handled now? People have long since stopped washing things with their hands. It is hard to imagine a modern apartment without a washing machine. Manufacturers of home appliances come up with new technologies and all modes of washing.

Care for things has become much easier thanks to a wide choice of washing modes, from delicate to intensive. You can throw in a wool sweater, press the right button, and get a clean sweater of the same size after washing. It would seem that all this makes the life of a modern people very much easier. No more wasting precious time on rinsing out laundry. But there are details that no professionals in the world will tell you about.

We rarely think about the choice of temperature for washing - usually, we just throw the clothes into the drum and start the usual mode. Your favorite sweater has shrunk after washing, your white T-shirt has turned gray or some wired colors, your black jeans have faded, and your lacy lingerie has lost its shape. Many have probably faced such consequences of washing. But if you wash them correctly, your favorite thing will not only keep its color and shape but will last a long time.

In fact, washing is a simple science, if you follow the recommendations. For those who have not yet mastered all the subtleties of washing machines, we offer to learn them better. We will tell you about the proper tempertatures to wash your clothes in the following blog.

When it comes to washing, choosing the right temperature seems a little confusing, but it's actually what helps keep your clothes in good condition and even extends their lifespan. Each item in your closet has its own “preferences” regarding washing, and these “preferences” are usually indicated on a tag that may be sewn on the outside or inside of the item, on the seams, or on special loops on the garment. For example, if you see a picture of a basin with a temperature, it means that it is recommended to use the temperature that is indicated. And if you see a hand in the basin, it means that it's best to hand wash those clothes to keep their shape and color.

So if your clothes are precious to you, it's best to follow the recommendations on the temperature tag to make sure you're doing it right. However, many people like to cut off the tags for the sake of comfort and choose a random temperature mode when washing clothes. So what exactly is the best temperature to wash clothes?

Despite the presence of all kinds of washing modes and temperatures, most people still prefer to wash at a temperature of 40 ° C. And if you ask why this is so, you will hardly get a definite answer. And if you ask why exactly so, you are unlikely to get a definite answer.

Frankly speaking, we do it too, because, at first glance, 40 degrees is quite a normal temperature for everyday clothes and underwear. But in fact, not every fabric and not everything is suitable for such a temperature mode of washing. If your closet consists mostly of cotton and synthetic products, then 40 degrees is a normal choice for you. However, if you look closely at the labels on everyday clothes and even home textiles, you will find that in most cases the recommended washing temperature is 30 degrees.

The fact is that today almost all good washing powders can effectively remove dirt as early as 30 degrees. Therefore, everyday things without heavily embedded stains, such as T-shirts, blouses, shorts, and other things without any doubt can be washed at this temperature. So why waste water heating up to 40 degrees for lightly soiled items? Because in fact, using a temperature of 30 degrees is more economical because you don't have to heat water 10 degrees more for nothing, wasting additional energy. In addition, using a lower wash temperature helps to reduce the wear and tear of fabrics, and as a result, increases the life of the clothes.

In addition, there are fabrics that cannot be washed at temperatures above 30 degrees. These include natural wool and silk. Washing at 40 degrees you can spoil the product. Wool, for example, can lose its shape, and silk - its presentable appearance. Embroideries, and appliques, applied on things, also require a careful attitude and are washed only at 30 degrees.

The first thing to realize is that most fabrics used to make clothing tend to shrink when exposed to water and heat. Even if the garment has been pre-treated to reduce shrinkage, some dimensional changes may still occur after the first wash.

One of the main factors affecting shrinkage is the temperature of the water in which the clothes are washed. What kind of water makes things shrink? The higher the temperature, the more likely it is that the fabric will shrink. This is because high temperature activates the processes associated with fiber resizing. In addition, some fabrics are more prone to shrinkage than others. Which fabric shrinks the most? Natural fibers such as cotton, linen or wool shrink more often than synthetic fibers.

Almost every person has jeans. However, not everyone knows that they cannot be washed at high temperatures or use ordinary powder.

Jeans are relatively easy to care for 30 or 40 degrees is usually enough to wash jeans and hygienically clean the fabric. But before your jeans go into the washing machine, it's worth looking at the label. The care label on every piece of clothing contains important information that must be observed. Here you can also see whether your jeans are made of pure cotton or a blend of fibers with a synthetic component. Higher temperatures should be avoided because the fibers become thinner with frequent washing, the fit is lost over time and the color fades faster. You should only wash jeans at higher temperatures if they are heavily soiled.

It is recommended that you wash your jeans as little as possible so that they retain their optimal fit and color for longer.

Colored items are special not only because they best convey our personality and mood, but also because they can lose their luster incredibly quickly if not cared for properly. They can become faded and lose color much faster than lighter or darker items. Proper washing and care will help keep the colors of your new colored items much longer.

First of all, linens should be sorted by color - this is the most important point. Depending on the composition of the fibers choose the washing temperature on the automatic machine. Light and colored things are washed at a temperature of about 40 degrees. You can choose a delicate washing mode for cotton. If there are persistent stains on colored cotton linen, you need to choose a temperature of about 50-60 degrees. Wash in the mode for cotton.

Washing not very dirty daily clothes, which we do often, it is better to carry out exactly in cold water, so as not to damage the structure of its fibers. Cold water in the washing machine can be used very successfully because of the presence of new functions in modern-style washing machines. It will also save you time. Delicate fabrics are everyday items that can be simply refreshed with a minimum amount of detergent with cold water.

Things with blood stains should definitely be washed with cold water, as it is better to wash. In hot water, the hemoglobin contained in the blood will simply begin to coagulate, and the stains are hopelessly fixed on the fabric, actually ruining the clothes. Laundering blood stains that have dried up is very, very difficult.

Advantages: The most economical and energy-saving water temperature, reduces the likelihood of shrinkage and fading, and acceptable water temperature for any washable fabric.

Disadvantages, how to minimize them: Less effective at removing stains; does not disinfect clothes. For best results, pre-treat stains before washing in cold water. Directly for washing, use a powerful enzyme-based liquid detergent or a laundry detergent specifically designed for cold water. Soak heavily soiled items in a solution of water and detergent to give the solution more time to remove stains from the fabric.

Temperatures above 60°C kill germs and bacteria. But 90 ° C is the hottest washing program found in the most washing machines, but it is not suitable for all clothes since many labels on clothes do not recommend washing at this high temperature.

You can wash underwear, towels, and household linen at 60°C to prevent the spread of germs, or at 40°C with a special bleach-based laundry detergent (we recommend Bio laundry detergent).