Whether it’s everyday dust, sweat or minor stains, some clothes need frequent washing, especially during warmer months. Cold-water washing can be a practical way to clean garments like thobes, abayas, hijabs, T-shirts and school uniforms, as it can be gentler on colours and fabrics. Not only does the cold water protect colour and fabric, but it also saves energy while ensuring thorough cleaning.
Key Highlights
Most everyday clothes will clean well with a cold wash. This includes cotton clothes, uniforms, delicates, and dark colours.
A cold water wash for clothes will retain both colour and longevity of clothes.
Sweat and dust can be cleaned with cold water. Oily marks and heavily soiled items will need hotter water.
Carefully measure your detergent, as under-dosing shows up sooner in a cold wash.
How To Wash Clothes in Cold Water: A Step-By-Step Guide
1. Check care label
Before washing, check the care label. If the label recommends a certain temperature, washing at a lower temperature is generally fine, but avoid going hotter than the recommended limit.
2. Sort clothes by colour and fabric
Keep whites, colours and darks separate. For the first few washes, wash new dark or brightly coloured clothes separately to help prevent colour transfer.
3. Pre-treat visible stains
If there are any visible stains or marks, pre-treat them first. Check for these marks around the collar, underarm regions, etc., before loading the machine.
4. Use the right amount of detergent
The amount you need depends on the load size, how soiled the clothes are and the hardness of your water. Following the detergent instructions can help avoid using too much or too little.
5. Add your detergent correctly
Ariel Platinum Clean Gel and Ariel Ultra Pods dissolve easily at low temperatures. If you use Ariel Platinum Clean Powder, measure it with the scoop and add it to the detergent drawer so it dissolves completely.
6. Avoid overloading the machine
Make sure there is enough room in the machine for the water and the clothes to move around.
7. Choose a cold or low-temperature cycle
Select a temperature that is 30°C or lower. On most machines, this is a setting marked as “cold.”
8. Remove clothes soon after the cycle ends
Remove the clothes soon after the cycle ends, as leaving them in the machine will cause them to smell.
Six Reasons to Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Modern detergents can effectively tackle everyday dirt, sweat and stains in cold water, making it suitable for frequently washed clothes such as thobes, abayas, T-shirts and school uniforms.
Colours stay brighter for longer as the temperature is gentler on the dye, so this can help reduce fading over time.
Compared to hot water, cold water wash for clothes is better for fabrics such as cotton and blended materials, making them last longer.
It is less likely for cotton to shrink in low temperatures, which is great news for shirts, thobes, uniforms and everyday cotton clothing.
It is a comparatively greener solution, as heating the water is the most energy-consuming part of a wash.
What to Wash in Cold Water
Item List | Why Cold Water Works |
|---|---|
Everyday wear, cotton, and t-shirts | Lightly dirty clothes wash well without heat |
Coloured and dark clothes | Less fading and colour transfer |
Abayas, chiffon, silk, and lace | Gentler on delicate fibres but always check the label |
White shirts and thobes | Good for daily wear with light marks |
School uniforms | Better for holding colour as it is frequently washed |
When Cold Water is Not Enough
Oily and greasy stains
Oil is not properly dissolved in cold water. For oil-stained clothes, read the label and opt for a hotter temperature wash.
Heavily soiled clothes
In the case of workwear or any other clothing that has collected an entire day’s dust and sweat will come out cleaner from a warm wash.
Bedding and towels
Since these items hold moisture, sweat, and dust, a warmer wash ensures more thorough cleaning.
Washing in Cold Water Through the Warmer Months
Warm weather, dust and daily sweating can mean clothes need to be washed more often. Garments such as thobes, abayas, T-shirts, shirts and school uniforms may go through many wash cycles over time, making gentle fabric care important.
Here are some helpful tips for a thorough cleaning:
Shake the garment before loading it in the machine to brush off dry dust and keep it from working itself into the fabric.
Treat sweat marks on the same day. Check for stains on the collar and underarms, as these are harder to clean once the mark has dried in.
Finally, when the air is warm and humid, you cannot leave a damp load in the machine for too long, as it will begin to smell within hours. Make sure you dry the clothes right after the washing cycle ends.
FAQs