Is Hot or Cold Water Better for Stains? We Asked a Laundry Pro for Tips (original) (raw)

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

We all get stains on our clothes from dribbled liquids, dropped food, or contact with grimy surfaces. When you discover the stain, promptly taking action will give you the best results. But should you use hot or cold water to treat the stain?

The safest action is to use cold water because it won't harm fabrics or set in stains. However, there are times when hot water is a better choice. Learn more about removing stains and washing stained clothing in cold or hot water.

Should You Use Hot or Cold Water for Stains?

If you aren't sure what caused the stain, always start with cold water when treating the stain or washing the entire garment. Hot water can set protein-based stains like milk, egg, or blood, "cooking" the protein into the fibers and making it much more difficult to remove.

If you know the problem is an oily/greasy stain, warm or hot water will be more effective in removing the stain. However, always read clothing care labels before taking action. Never wash a garment in water that's hotter than the care label recommends. Hot water can cause fabrics to shrink and release dye. Stick with warm water to wash stained garments if that's best for the fabric.

Advances in enzyme-based laundry stain removers and detergents have made them much more effective in removing stains at any water temperature. Stains are removed in the washer with a combination of thermal action (water temperature), chemical action (laundry detergents), and physical action (tumbling or agitation in the washer).

For the best results, work the stain remover or detergent into the stain with a soft-bristled brush or your fingers. Letting it work for 10 to 15 minutes to begin breaking apart the stain. Wash the garment in the water temperature recommended on the care label.

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Tips

Always inspect wet laundry before tossing it into the dryer. If a stain is still evident, do not place the garment in the dryer. The heat of the dryer makes the stain harder to remove or permanent. Instead, reapply a laundry stain remover to the stain, let it work for at least 15 minutes, and then rewash.

How to Wash Stained Clothing

  1. Pretreat the stain. Even the smallest stain will be easier to remove if you pretreat it first with an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of heavy-duty laundry detergent. Work it into the fabric with your fingers or a soft-bristled nylon brush and let it work for 10 to 15 minutes before adding the stained item to the wash load.
  2. Start with cold water. Unless the rest of the laundry load is heavily stained with grease or oil, use cold water. Heavy-duty laundry detergents are formulated to be effective in cold water.
  3. When to use warm or hot water. If you have a load of laundry with oily stains, warm or hot water is beneficial to help break apart the oily molecules. Be sure all of the fabrics in the load can withstand exposure to hot water.
  4. Do a post-wash check. As you remove the wet laundry from the washer, check for traces of stains. If they remain, treat the stains again, wait, and rewash. Do not place a stained garment in an automatic dryer. If you don't have time to tackle the stain again right away, treat the stained area and allow the fabric to air dry. Wash as soon as possible.

4 Tips for Washing Stained Clothing