What temperature to wash what at

Short answer: 40 degrees covers almost everything in an ordinary household. 30 degrees is for delicates, and 60 degrees only for illness. A higher temperature rarely makes clothes cleaner, but it always puts more wear on fabric, elastic and colours.

30 degrees for delicates

Tights, bras and fine knits are best washed at 30 degrees in a laundry bag. At that temperature, the fabric moves and stretches least, and the bag protects against hooks and zips from the rest of the load. A gentle cycle with a low spin helps too. Read more under washing and care.

40 degrees for everything ordinary

Underwear, socks, T-shirts, nightwear and bed linen come clean at 40 degrees with a decent detergent. It is the temperature most things in the wardrobe are made for, and it keeps colours and elastic in good shape. Wash most things at 40 and you are well covered. See bamboo underwear for men.

60 degrees for illness

After an infection in the household or with a dust mite allergy, a hot wash is justified. It is about hygiene, not getting clothes cleaner. Check the care label first, because not everything handles 60 degrees. Bed linen and towels are usually the items worth washing hot. See bamboo bed linen.

Why hotter is not better

Grease and dirt loosen at 40 degrees. Above that, no more is removed, but elastic breaks down faster and colours fade. Every hot wash takes a little off the lifespan. That is why it makes sense to save hot washes for situations where there is a specific reason.

Detergent matters more than degrees

A decent detergent in the right dose at 40 degrees does more than a poor one at 60. Enzymes and soap loosen dirt, not heat alone. Dose for your water hardness and do not overdose, because residue in fabric can irritate skin. See all bamboo socks for men.

Read the care label

The label shows the highest temperature the fabric can handle, not the one it has to be washed at. If it says 60 degrees, you can still wash it at 40 day to day. That is gentler on the fabric and usually enough. Save the higher settings for when you need them.

Sort by colour and weight

Wash light and dark separately, especially the first few times, when a new item can bleed. Heavy items like towels and jeans rub against light fabrics when washed together. Sort by weight as well, so underwear and thin T-shirts are not scrubbed against rougher items.

Give the machine room

An overloaded machine washes worse, whatever the temperature. Clothes need to move in the water for dirt to release and detergent to rinse out. Fill the drum to about three quarters and leave a hand's width at the top. That gives a cleaner result.

Drying after washing

Hang clothes up as soon as the cycle ends. Wet laundry left in the machine starts to smell and has to be washed again. Air drying is gentlest on elastic and fibres. If you use a tumble dryer, choose low heat for underwear and socks.