When you want to save energy and are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly when washing your clothes, you may have heard that washing with cold water is a good step to take. Cold water may work well for most types of clothing, but it may not always be the perfect solution. Here’s what you need to know about washing in cold water when next visiting your Chula Vista laundromat.
When to Use Cold Water
Cold water is an energy-efficient way to get clothes clean and keep them looking fresh and bright. All delicate fabrics such as lace, satin, and silk should be washed in cold water to preserve their material and color. Bright colors tend to work best in cool washes so that the ink does not fade. A cool wash is also ideal for new clothing that have dyes that may bleed during the first, or first few, washes.
Cold water works just as well as washing in hot water for most clothing and stains. There is even specially formulated laundry detergent for cold water cycles that you can use. In fact, some stains respond better to cold water. For example, with hot water, blood and sweat stains can actually set into the fabric further, making them harder to get out. Cool water also helps to reduce the wrinkles in fabric which can save you time and energy by not having to iron clothing once it is out of the wash and dry.
Using cold water to wash a load of clothing uses up to 90 percent less energy from not having to heat up the water. If you are concerned about the size of your carbon footprint, then opting for cool water in washes can help you consume less energy.
When Not to Wash Clothing in Cold Water
Although there are many benefits of using cold water for your next wash cycle, there are many times when you want to wash in warm or hot water to get the results you desire. Fabrics such as spandex, nylon, and synthetic fabrics can be easier to wash in warm water, however, they don’t work well in hot water which can lead to shrinking of these fabrics.
If you are concerned about sanitization or the spread of germs, then hot water can help to kill bacteria present on clothing. If you have heavily soiled clothes, consider using warm water to get the grime out without worrying about shrinking, fading, or damaging your items.
In general, hot water is perfect for your load of whites since it can fade color. It also ideal for items such as cloth diapers or grimy work clothes that need a lot of love to look their best again.
Next time you head to your local laundromat, remember these tips for when you should wash in a cool cycle and when to shift the dial to warm.
At Fresh & Clean Laundry, we are open and ready to help. Whether you need to use our jumbo machines for a faster clean, a drop off laundry service, or a laundry delivery service, we have you covered in these trying times. We have a supportive team on hand to help, sanitizer and cleaning products, and contactless payments to make your trip to the laundromat as safe as possible. For more information, contact us today.
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