Why do we hear that we must wash clothes in cold water ?
Regularly when I do laundry, I wonder if this is a good idea.
It’s true… Is washing in cold water really effective?
To get to the bottom of it, I asked the question to a friend who sells household appliances.
And I didn’t expect his response.
To be honest, things are not that simple.
Here’s why you should wash your clothes in cold water…
And when not! Explanations:
Washing in cold water does not damage clothes
Many of our clothes love cold water!
What does it mean ?
This means that many textiles do not tolerate being washed at high temperatures.
By washing them in cold water, they stay in good condition more easily.
The fibers do not stretch. Colors retain their vibrancy.
And it avoids shrinking your clothes.
As a result, your clothes last longer.
And you save money in the long run.
Cold washing saves 50% electricity!
On the savings side, you will be served!
Washing clothes in cold water is the best way to save electricity.
Because you probably know that what consumes the most electricity when you start a machine…
It is to heat the water.
Washing at 30°C instead of 60°C saves 50% electricity!
And lowering the temperature of the laundry by 10°C means saving 30% on electricity.
I don’t know what you think, but personally I think it’s worth it!
And if you also run your machine during off-peak hours, you’re 100% a winner!
Is cold washing effective against stains?
But the question we all ask ourselves is is it really effective to have clean linen?
Because it’s good to save money.
But if the laundry comes out of the machine as squeaky as when you put it in…
We do not see the interest!
Well can you imagine that according to my appliance expert buddy, there is no problem washing clothes in cold water in most of the cases.
T-shirts, pants, shirts…
If you’ve only worn them for a day or if they’re not very dirty, don’t hesitate!
You can wash them with a cold water program.
Nowadays, recent machines are more efficient.
And they are effective even for cold washes, thanks to new technologies.
It’s like for detergents…
Some of them are effective even at low temperatures, most often even when cold.
Moreover, the manufacturers do not hesitate to let us know in the pubs!
When should you NOT wash clothes in cold water?
However, you shouldn’t push the envelope too far.
And in some cases, it must be recognized that washing with cold water is ineffective.
If you have to wash clothes that are dirty or stained (stains of mud, grass, grease, etc.), or soiled with poo, urine, or the laundry of a sick person…
Choose another program at 60 degrees or more that allowsalso eliminate bacteria.
Likewise, if you need to wash sheets, towels or tea towels, washing in cold water is not suitable.
They should also be washed at 60°.
Why ?
Simply because washing in cold water cleans, but does not eliminate bacteria.
It is necessary to use hot water to kill them.
Conclusion, they must be washed at least at 60°.
How to sanitize your laundry by washing in cold water?
In some situations, we are quite annoyed.
Because we would like to disinfect the laundry, but it does not support washing at high temperatures.
Do not worry !
Fortunately, there is an effective grandmother’s trick to sanitize laundry washed at low temperatures.
Just put about ten drops oftea tree essential oil in the detergent drawer with the detergent.
Its properties purifying, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic help sanitize laundry.
Want a little something extra?
If you regularly do laundry in cold water, your machine must remain clean and mold-free…
Don’t forget to wash at 90° once a month with baking soda and white vinegar.
Your turn…
And you, do you sometimes wash with cold water? Comment in the comments to find out if it worked for you. We can’t wait to read you!
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Also to discover:
At what temperature should you wash your clothes? The Guide to Stop Making Mistakes
What Do the Symbols on the Washing Machine Mean? The Essential Guide!
