Knowing proper clothes care can maximize the lifespan of your clothes. It can also save you from spending money buying new ones and save your time from unnecessary time-consuming laundry and stain removal procedures.

Water Temperature

The right water temperature when washing your clothes offers a great deal of protection on your clothes. The water temperature allows you to wash your clothes effectively without having to compensate its fabric condition. Below are some tips on when to use different water temperatures when washing your clothes.

Hot Water

Hot water cleans better than tap water. Hot water helps eliminate stubborn stains faster and can significantly reduce germs in your fabric. White clothes washed in high temperature water actually display better result than any other water temperature.

The downside of hot water is that it fades, wrinkle, and even sometimes shrink certain types of fabric.

Warm Water

Warm water is the most popular water temperature used in washing clothes. Some machines can automatically mix equal amounts of hot and cold water to achieve warm water temperature. Warm water temperature can clean almost as well as water without reducing the size of your clothes or fading it. This water temperature is very suitable for denim type of clothes.

Cold Water

Delicate types of clothes are mostly washed in cold water. Unlike hot and warm water temperature, cold water takes time to thoroughly clean stains and dirt, which may require you to soak stained clothes first before resuming to the actual washing procedures.

Choosing the Right Water Temperature

1.Check the clothes tags or labels. Most clothes include a tag of do’s and don’ts or washing instructions together with the clothes label. This is the best way to determine which water temperature is best for your clothes and what steps are necessary to get the best washing results. It is best to separate clothes that require special washing instructions, which would help remind you how to wash them.

2.Determine the temperature of your water using a thermometer. The ideal cold-water temperature is 26.7 to 15 degrees Celsius. Water colder than this temperature has minimal cleaning ability. Water is considered hot at 54.4 degrees Celsius and warm at 43.3 to 32.2 degrees Celsius.

3.Pre-treat stains to avoid permanent damage on the clothes. Pre-treated stains have better chance of wearing off and save you from repetitive washing that can eventually damage your clothes.

4.Clothes that require cold water for washing must be soaked first to get a satisfying washing result.

Stain Removal Tips

Removing stains from your clothes requires a combination of many different factors such as stain removers, water temperature, and stain removal methods. Deciding which stain treatment is best for your clothes depends on the nature of the stain. Below are some stain classification and treatment tips.

Protein-based stains

Protein-based stains are dairy products, formula milk, blood, mud, baby food and eggs. Rid of the solid particles or flakes on the stain first. It is important not to use hot water on this type of stain. Hot water can aggravate protein stains on your clothes. It is best to use cool water when washing this type of stain. It may take several applications of stain remover before you can take it all off.

Dye-based stains

Inks, grass, mustard, and fruits are the usual cause of dye-based stains. This type of stain easily grows on your shirt but can also be removed fast if treated immediately. However, if the stain is already set, several soaking treatments may be required. Hot water works best on this type of stain.

Tannin-based stains

Tannin-based stains are from coffee, tea, fruit juice, softdrinks, and the like. It is easy to remove this type of stain while it is still fresh. You may wash the stained clothe in a cold water and rinse it with hot water. Dried tannin-based stain is a different story as it requires intensive stain removal treatment and may even leave greater damage when washed with a bar soap.