When it comes to laundry, hot water is often praised for its ability to keep whites looking extra bright, eliminate bacteria from bedding and towels, and sanitize heavily soiled items.
Still, it’s not always the best choice for everything. Hot water is often more aggressive, shrinking certain fibers, fading bright colors, and even setting in some stains.
“Cold water is often the gentler choice, because it's less likely to cause dyes to bleed, fibers to shrink, or elastic materials to break down,” says Noah Pinsonnault, reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. “Advances in modern detergents also mean that many everyday soils can be effectively removed in cold water, so you don't have to sacrifice cleaning performance for most routine laundry.”
Before choosing the temperature setting for your next load, check this list for items that should always be washed in cold water, according to our expert.
Dark or Bright Colors
If you’ve ever done a load of whites and accidentally mixed in a sock or two, you know where this is heading. Washing vibrant clothing in hot water can cause the color to bleed, and as a result, transfer onto other garments. For that reason, it’s always better to wash these pieces in cold water.
“Dark or brightly colored garments are good candidates because cold water helps minimize color transfer and fading,” says Pinsonnault.
Delicates
Cold water is gentler on delicate fabrics like lace, silk, and satin. When laundering these items, make sure to use a mesh bag to avoid any snags or pulls, and check your machine’s settings for a delicate cycle.
Activewear
Activewear is often made with materials that can lose its elasticity when washed in hot water repeatedly. “Garments containing spandex or elastane benefit from cooler temperatures, which help preserve stretch and extend the life of the fabric,” says Pinsonnault.
If you’re concerned about extra smelly gym clothes, you can pretreat them or use an appropriate detergent for odor. Most detergents can handle extra soiled clothing, even on a cold water setting.
Swimwear
Treat swimwear like your delicates to prevent color fading or transfer and pilling. Just like activewear, swimwear is typically made of synthetic materials that can stretch out when washed in hot water over and over again.
Knits
Knitwear requires careful preservation and should always be washed in cold water (especially those made with delicate fibers such as wool, which can lose their shape and softness otherwise). “Knit sweaters are another good example, since warm or hot water can contribute to shrinking or distortion,” says Pinsonnault.
Washing knits in cold water will keep their fibers intact. To be safe, flip these garments inside out before throwing them in the washer.
Stained Items
While not every stain will come out after laundering, cold water is the safer starting point. Hot water can sometimes cause certain untreated stains to set in whereas cold water works to lift stains.
Denim
There are a few key reasons denim should be washed in cold water. One, hot water can lead to color fading and transfer, dulling out your favorite pair of dark blue jeans. Plus, when exposed to heat, denim fibers might shrink over time.
Jeans or denim jackets are an everyday staple for most people. These comfort items you reach for time and time again are generally best preserved with cold water since it’s gentler on most fabrics.
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
