Written by Angela Reviewed by Daniel

90% of People Wash Clothes at the WRONG Temperature – Here’s How to Get It Right

Laundry is not exactly the most glamorous topic. But unless you want to walk around in a funk, you’ve got to wash your clothes. The real kicker? Most people are doing it WRONG. Yeah, you heard me.

Chances are, you’re using the wrong temperature and either ruining your favourite shirt or not getting your gear properly clean. But don’t sweat it (pun intended), I’m here to set you straight.

In this article we’ll finally answer the big question: what’s the best temperature to wash your clothes? Spoiler alert: it depends… but I’ll break it down for you.

Table of Contents

Always Read The Label

Before you even think about chucking something in the wash, check the care label. It’s like a cheat sheet for laundry. Look for the little bucket with a number in it. That’s the temp it’s happy to be washed at.

If it says 40, wash it at 40. If it says 30, don’t go cranking up the heat or you’ll end up with doll sized socks. Trust me, no one wants that.

The 20°C Wash

Since 2013, all new washing machines have to have a 20 degree wash cycle.Turns out, it’s not just for green living. A 20 degree wash saves energy, saves cash, and is super gentle on your clothes (great for washing delicates). But here’s the catch: it’s pretty useless for proper grime.

Use it for lightly dusty stuff, like that jumper you wore for 10 minutes and then chucked on the chair. But don’t expect it to kill bacteria or tackle stains.

And heads up, if you ONLY use the 20 degree setting, your washing machine might start to smell like a wet dog. Worse still, it can cause mildew and mould to grow in your washer. So, do a hot service wash every month to clear out the gunk.

The 30°C Wash Cycle

This one’s a crowd favourite. It’s great for delicates, stuff that might shrink, or colours that’ll run faster than you dodging a gym session. It’s also easy on the electric bill.

BUT… it’s not the magic cure all. Stubborn stains and germs might laugh in your face if you stick to 30. Pretreating stains is a must, and for the germaphobes out there, whack in a laundry sanitiser to keep things hygienic.

Plus it’s gonna cost more to run your washer at 30 than it would at 20. Having said that, it uses less energy than any of the hotter washes. But the 30 degree wash will need a specially formulated detergent to remove germs at this lower temperature.

The 40°C Cycle

Not too hot, not too cold… 40 degrees is just right, Goldilocks would approve. It’s warm enough to clean properly but gentle enough for most fabrics. You can use it for cotton, synthetics, and even your favourite pair of jeans (denim’s tougher than it looks).

It’s also great for bedding, coloured towels, and baby clothes. But don’t get too excited. Heavily soiled stuff might need a hotter wash, and delicate fabrics still won’t thank you for it.

The 40 degree wash cycle uses more energy than the 20 or 30 degree cycles and runs for longer too. So if time is tight, you might want to use a cooler wash.

The 60°C Wash Cycle

This is the heavy duty setting. Perfect for towels, bedding, and anything that’s seen some … let’s call it “extra activity” (looking at you, gym gear). It’s also the NHS’s recommended temp for killing germs.

But here’s the deal: 60 uses more energy, costs more, and can shrink your clothes faster than a dodgy first date can shrink your confidence. So, stick to fabrics that can handle it. Plus it’s not as environmentally friendly as washing at lower temperatures.

The 90°C Cycle

The 90 degree wash is basically a flamethrower for your laundry. It’ll obliterate stains, viruses, germs, and any chance of your white towels looking grubby. But use it sparingly, it’s not for everyday clothes unless you like faded colours and shrunken T-shirts.

The 90 degree wash is also the least environmentally friendly cycle on your washer. It uses more energy, costs more to run and it can damage more delicate fabrics.

Pro tip: This setting is best for kitchen towels, mattress protectors, and a monthly service wash to keep your machine smelling fresh.

When To Use A Cool Wash

person changing the program on washing machine

Cool washes are a lifesaver for black clothes (no one wants them fading to a sad grey), delicates, and stuff that’s only lightly dirty. But don’t be tight, add a sanitiser to kill germs. If you’ve got a stain, pretreat it first or it’ll just sit there mocking you.

The boffins say that switching from 40 to 30 degrees can reduce running costs by 57%. With even more savings at 20 degrees.

The cool wash is ideal for washing; shirts, shorts, tee shirts, socks, black clothes, jeans (denims), delicates, synthetics and cotton.

When To Go For A Warm Wash

A 40 or 50 degree wash is considered to be a warm wash in the world of washing machines. This cycle is best used for clothes that might shrink and dark or highly coloured clothes that could bleed if the temperature is too high.

Ideal for washing; coloured towels, bedding, baby clothes, underwear, wool and cotton clothes.

When To Crank Up The Heat

Save the hot washes for when it really matters: towels, bed sheets, and heavily soiled stuff. The heat blasts away bacteria, sweat, and the evidence of whatever spill happened at 2 a.m. after one too many drinks.

But be warned, hot washes take much longer than cooler washes with some lasting for up to 4 hours! Plus hot washes can be too much for some clothes to handle, fading and shrinkage could be the problem here.

Ideal for; really soiled items, towels, tea towels, mattress protectors, sheets and terry nappies.

What Temperature For Whites?

Here’s a hot take (pun intended): it’s not about the colour, it’s about the fabric. For tough whites like towels or sheets, go 60°C or higher. For delicate whites, stick to a cool wash or risk turning them into a crispy mess.

The type of stain makes a difference as well. Blood and milk based stains get baked on if washed at high temperatures and need a cool wash to get rid of them.

What About Coloured Clothes?

Keep it cool, like 30 or even 20. This stops colours from running and keeps them bright. Modern machines will have a 20 degree cycle which is great for washing brightly coloured clothes, but be sure to use the right type of detergent and laundry sanitiser.

But if they’re filthy, try a warm wash (40 max) with a detergent that’s good for colours.

What About Removing Germs & Bacteria?

If you’re obsessed with killing every germ, you’re going to need heat. The NHS says 60 degrees for the win. But for stuff that can’t take the heat, use a laundry sanitiser.

Oh, and don’t forget to blast your machine with a 90 degree service wash once a month, because there are some germs and mould spores that can withstand 60 degrees. No one wants to deal with mouldy, smelly laundry.

Your Turn!

So there you have it, everything you need to know to wash like a pro. Got any laundry horror stories? Or a tip your nan swears by? Drop them in the comments and share the love.

And hey, if you know someone who keeps shrinking their clothes or has stinky gym gear, send this their way. Let’s all wash smarter, not harder!

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