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Although it’s common knowledge that you need to adjust the water temperature depending on what clothes you’re washing, it can still be confusing to know what temperature to wash white clothes. Whether you’re washing bedding, regular clothes, or delicate items, the white fabric should stay bright and clean looking after each wash.
Though a relatively simple process, there are several factors that can help ensure the brightness of your clothing as well as avoid any damage to the fabric or color. From your white clothes wash temperature to some tips on washing whites, here is your guide to washing your white clothes.
What Temperature Do You Wash Whites?
Using the correct water temperature when it comes to washing whites is critical to ensure effective cleaning. Not only can it ensure effective cleaning, but it can also help reduce color bleeding or damage done to the fabric.
First, you should wash white clothes separately. This will help retain the whiteness, keeping your white clothes just as bright. Dirty clothes should always be sorted by color to prevent any color transfer.
Now the common question: do you wash white clothes in hot water? Short answer: Yes, but it depends.
White clothes should generally be washed using hot or warm water. Using higher temperatures for whites can effectively help remove stains and bacteria. However, the most effective temperature depends on the fabric as well. Some fibers will shrink and become weaker in hot water, so the best course of action is to use lukewarm water, ranging between 90 to 110 degrees.
Warm water is ideal for fabrics that will weaken in hot water but won’t be clean in cold water. Not only will warm water effectively clean your clothing from dirt and body oils, but warm water will also help minimize the chance of shrinkage.
When to Use Hot Water for Laundry
Not using hot water when washing white clothing may come as a shock, as the common advice is to wash your white clothing in only hot water. Washing your clothes in hot water is still an option, but you should keep in mind that doing this will lead to faded colors, setting stains, and shrinkage.
However, other types of situations are useful for using hot water. Using hot water for laundry is beneficial when washing:
- Bed and kitchen linens
- Sickbed linens
- Bath towels
- Sweaty garments
Hot water can effectively clean up oily stains and sanitize linens, so it’s best to use this temperature for laundry containing heavily soiled garments
Related: How To Wash A Weighted Blanket
Guidelines to Washing White Clothes
When it comes to washing different types of clothes, there are general guidelines to follow to ensure the best quality clothes even after throwing them in the washing machine.
Pretreat Stains
First, it’s important to pretreat clothing with stains. Stains from grease or perspiration can be treated with liquid detergent by gently rubbing using a clean toothbrush. For any other colored stains, you can try using undiluted liquid oxygen bleach immediately before doing laundry.
Brighten Dull Whites
If you’re looking to brighten dull or old white clothing, washing them with a color remover or using boiling water and oxygen bleach can help give you brighter white fabrics. However, it’s important to keep in mind that every piece of clothing is different, so you should ensure that you’re following the care instructions.
Consider the Fabrics
Certain types of fabrics require different care instructions. For example, you will probably need to separate delicate undergarments from things like white towels or sheets. Sorting laundry by both color and fabric is the best way to avoid damaging your clothing.
Delicates Are Separate
Although we’ve already covered what temp to wash whites in, another general guideline is to wash most delicate whites in cold water. Hot water can easily damage certain fabrics, so using a gentle cycle paired with cold water should suffice for delicates.
Read the Instructions
This tip is important enough to repeat throughout any laundry guide. One of the most important tips is to read and follow the care tag instructions on your clothing. Although these general guidelines inform you how to wash white clothes in what water and what to do with stains, the instructions on your clothes should be followed regardless.
Where to Find Professional Laundry Services
Knowing what temperature to wash white clothes and how to clean your clothing can be difficult and confusing. Turning to professionals can help take the weight off your shoulders and bring some relief knowing that your clothes are properly taken care of.
Martinizing Dry Cleaning is a trusted business for all things dry-cleaning in the East Bay area. With over 15 years of experience providing quality and reliable dry cleaning services, Martinizing Dry Cleaning offers the highest level of standards when it comes to cleaning and customer service. We use green and eco-friendly cleaning methods, ensuring our cleaning experience is good for both your clothes and the environment.
If you’re looking for quality laundry services in the East Bay, get in touch with our highly experienced and professional team at Martinizing Dry Cleaning.
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