Cold water is a great option for many loads of laundry. It uses less energy, can lower your utility bill, and is often gentler on clothes that are prone to shrinking or fading. Since heating the water is the biggest energy expense during a wash cycle, it’s easy to see why cold water has become the default setting for many people.
That said, cold water isn’t the right choice for every load. Some fabrics hold onto sweat, body oils, grease, bacteria, and heavy dirt that are much harder to remove without warmer water. In those cases, switching to a warm or hot cycle can leave your laundry cleaner, fresher, and more sanitary.
Here are 10 things I never wash in cold water.
Towels
Bath towels soak up sweat, body oils, and moisture every time they’re used. If they aren’t washed thoroughly, they can start to smell musty or feel stiff over time.
A hot wash does a better job of breaking down oily residue and killing germs that can linger in the fabric. It also helps keep towels soft and smelling fresh.
Bed Sheets
Your sheets collect sweat, skin cells, body oils, and dust every night. After a week or two, all of that buildup can leave bedding feeling less than fresh.
Washing sheets in hot water helps remove those residues more completely. It’s an especially good idea if anyone in your home has allergies, since hotter water is better at reducing dust mites and other allergens.
Underwear
Underwear spends all day in close contact with your skin, so it naturally picks up more bacteria than most other clothes.
Using warm or hot water gives it a much deeper clean than cold water alone. It can also help remove lingering odors that sometimes stick around after cooler wash cycles.
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers need more than a quick rinse to come out truly clean. They hold onto stains, bacteria, and strong odors that cold water often struggles to remove.
Most cloth diaper care instructions recommend washing them in hot water to keep them clean and safe for repeated use.
Kitchen Towels and Dishcloths
Kitchen towels wipe up everything from greasy hands to food spills and messy countertops. Before long, they can become one of the germiest items in the house.
Hot water helps dissolve grease and wash away bacteria more thoroughly than a cold cycle.
Gym Clothes
Workout clothes absorb sweat every time you exercise. Many athletic fabrics also trap odor-causing bacteria deep inside the fibers, which is why they can still smell after they’ve been washed.
A warm wash often does a better job of removing those odors and leaving activewear smelling clean again.
White Clothes
White shirts, socks, and other light-colored clothing slowly collect body oils and sweat that can make them look dull.
Washing them in warm or hot water once in a while helps lift that buildup and keeps whites looking brighter for longer.
Socks
Socks spend hours inside shoes, soaking up sweat and moisture throughout the day. That makes them a common place for bacteria and odor to build up.
A hot wash helps freshen them up and removes more of the germs that can remain after a cold cycle.
Baby Clothes
Baby clothes go through plenty of spills, spit-up, food stains, and diaper leaks. While the fabrics are often soft and gentle, they still need a thorough wash.
Warm or hot water helps remove stains more easily and leaves baby clothes cleaner after messy days.
Washcloths and Loofahs
Washcloths and reusable loofahs stay damp between uses and collect dead skin cells every day. That’s exactly the kind of environment where bacteria can multiply.
Running them through a hot wash helps keep them clean and ready to use again.
