Laundry is often sorted prior to washing to optimize cleaning and to prevent damage to the fabric.
Wash Temperature |
Temperature Range |
hot |
>= 130°F, >= 54°C |
warm |
90 - 110°F, 32 - 45°C |
cold |
< 90°F, < 32°C |
Parameters for sorting clothes:
(1) color
(2) amount of soil
(3) fabric and construction
Parameter |
Finding |
Wash Temperature |
color |
white |
hot |
|
colorfast |
hot |
|
noncolorfast |
warm |
|
bleeding or fading colors |
cold, separate |
amount of soil |
heavy and/or greasy |
hot |
|
moderate or normal |
warm |
|
light |
cold |
fabric and construction |
permanent press |
warm or hot |
|
synthetics |
warm |
|
towels and sheets |
hot |
|
jeans and denims |
warm, may bleed |
|
synthetic knits |
warm |
|
delicates |
cold, by hand |