Can you wash colors in hot water

Delicate fabrics lace and silk and dark, colorful fabrics actually do best in cold water. Not all stains respond to warmer water. For example, blood and sweat can actually set into fabric in hot water. Also, hot water tends to shrink, fade, and wrinkle certain fabrics.

By not heating the water in your washing machine, you may reduce your energy costs with every load. An estimated 75 to 90 percent of all the energy your washer uses goes to warming up the water, so switching to colder water can lower your gas or electric bill.

Cold water can also reduce wrinkles, which saves energy costs and time associated with ironing. Sometimes, though, warm or hot water works better based on the fabric or the need. This decreases your laundry day energy use while reducing color-fade and the appearance of wear. And if you're appliance shopping , consider a high-efficiency washer instead of a standard deep-fill machine.

By Jessica Bennett January 29, Save Pin FB More. Comments 1 Add Comment. View Comments. March 18, This is a compelling reason for only buying clothes made from natural fibers. Comments 2 Add Comment. Martha Stewart Member. August 9, When dry, my clothes remained stiff and almost sticky. August 6, Such a myth. Back to story Comment on this project.

Tell us what you think Arguably one of the great inventions of our era, this device has freed up hours of time and energy. But even now, some questions remain. Namely, is washing clothes in hot water always the way to go? Or is all that heat doing your favorite shirt more harm than good? Hot water is the best option for clothes that have been lived-in—workout pants, socks, and boxers, for starters. Hot water has the most cleaning power because it speeds up the chemical reaction of the detergent.

This means decreased wash times and less detergent. If you want to guarantee your clothes will smell clean and fresh the next day, wash them in hot water.

Just got off an airplane? Washing clothes in hot water is a great defense against germs , bacteria, and viruses.