Hot water can spoil these parts: 7 clothes that should wash in cold

Qwhen it comes to washing, hot water is widely used for its ability to keep white clothes and eliminate bed linen bacteria and towels

However, hot water is not always the best option for everything. In fact, it may even be more aggressive, shrinking certain fibers, fading vibrant colors and fixing some stains. 

“ Cold water is usually the softest option, as it is less likely to fade colors, choose fibers or deteriore elastic materials,” says Noah Pinsonnault of Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. 

In view of this, Good Housekeeping highlights the times when you should choose cold water. 

1. Colored or dark clothing

Washing color clothes in hot water can cause the color to fade and therefore stain other parts. Therefore, it is best to choose to wash these pieces in cold water. 

“ Dark clothes or vibrant colors are good candidates, because cold water helps minimize color transfer and fade,” Pinsonnault said.

2. Delicate clothing

Cold water is softer for delicate fabrics such as lace, silk and satin. When washing these pieces use a mesh bag to prevent the threads from being fastened and pulled. Choose the cycle for delicate clothing. 

3. Sportswear

Sports clothes are usually made with materials that can lose elasticity if washed often with hot water. 

“Elastane-containing parts benefit from lower temperatures, which helps preserve the elasticity and prolong the fabric’s service life,” Pinsonnault said.

If your clothes get very intense smells, then you can make a pre-treatment or use a detergent suitable for odors. 

4. Swimming clothes

Bikini, swimsuits or swimsuits should be treated in the same way as if they were delicate clothing. These are made from synthetic materials that can extend with frequent washing in hot water. 

5. Knitted or crocheted

Knitted pieces require special care and should always be washed in cold water, especially those of wool, which shrinks. 

Washing mesh pieces in cold water helps keep the fibers intact. To ensure durability, turn the parts inside out before placing them in the washing machine.

6. Clothes with stains

Although not all stains leave after washing, cold water should always be the starting point. Hot water can sometimes cause stains to get embedded in clothing and impossible to remove. 

7. Jeans or jeans

Hot water can fade the color of jeans, making them look more opaque. In addition, when exposed to heat, the fibers of the jeans can shrink over time (it may be a trick if they are too wide, however).