Washing in Warm Water Vs. Cold Water

Warm Water

• Warm, or hot, water is often necessary to use for items that contain stains. Other items that require warm water are greasy clothing and baby diapers. The warm, or hot, water penetrates the stains, eliminating them more easily than with the use of cold water.

Cold Water

• Many companies have created detergents that are eco-friendly and are designed to remove stains with cold water. According to a website called About Green Living, rinsing clothes in cold water is actually more effective than rinsing in warm water when it comes to stain removal.

Considerations

• If a washing machine is not located near the hot water tank, a lot of the heat in the water is lost when the water is transferred through the pipes. With warm or cold water, be sure to avoid overloading the machine because the extra weight causes problems to the components within the machine.

Energy

• If a machine is overloaded, the machine operates less efficient than otherwise. It requires a lot of energy to operate a wash cycle that uses warm water. According to Volunteer Guide, approximately 90 percent of the total energy used in a wash cycle is attributed to heating the water used. This energy that is used is considered wasted, because cold water appears just as effective for clothes washing. The effects of the energy used contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, which are directly associated to global warming.

Efficiency Tips

• There are several ways to save money and reduce the amount of energy used. One way is to purchase energy efficient appliances, including a hot water heater. Use cold water for all loads of laundry, except the times when there are exceptional stains or oil on garments. Another way to help with this is to make sure that the loads are always full, but not overfull.