Temperature & Cycle

by Marissa Zumbo, April 2021

It’s amazing that we learned the Pythagorean theorem in high school, but no one ever taught us how to properly do laundry. Even if your parents tried to instruct you on the ways of washers and dryers, methods change as technology advances.

It’s probably well known that you typically separate clothes into dark, light and white loads. But the temperature and type of cycle matters too.

TEMPERATURES

Hot: 130°F or above*

Warm: 90°F - 110°F

Cold: 50°F - 70°F

*For context: the average shower temperature is 105°F

CYCLES

Regular/Normal: fast agitation and a fast spin cycle

Synthetics/Permanent Press: fast agitation and a slow spin

Delicates: slow agitation and a slow spin

No two items are the exact same, so you should always check the tags before washing, but here are the general guidelines:

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE:

  • The Heavy/Heavy Duty cycle should only be used when clothes are excessively soiled, and would most likely be combined with hot water to get out stains, sweat, or germs.

  • Be selective in washing with hot water. It’s the nuclear option. Your synthetics and delicates typically won’t like it. If you are like the rest of us and only group into lights and darks, it’s much safer to choose cold or warm wash, and subcategorize from there.

  • Anything washed on a Delicate cycle should be treated similarly when drying. Some delicate items will need to be hang-dried, while others could go into the dryer, but only on a “delicate” or a “no heat” setting.

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Sources Cited for Article:

https://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/washing-different-fabrics-and-colors/how-to-wash-whites

https://speedqueen.com/washing-machine-temperature/

https://www.wash.com/washresources/washer-water-temperature-guide/#:~:text=When%20to%20Use%20Hot%20Water,before%20selecting%20the%20hot%20option.

https://www.thespruce.com/laundry-and-water-temperature-1900646

https://www.thespruce.com/wash-with-the-right-water-temperature-2146348#:~:text=In%20most%20clothes%20washers%2C%20the,(54.4%20Celsius)%20or%20above.&text=The%20warm%20water%20setting%20is,26.7%2D15%20degrees%20Celsius)