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Water
Water temperature guide
Wash
Rinse Use
For
Comments
HOT
13O’F (54%)
or above
COLD
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Sturdy whites and
colorfast pastels
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Diapers
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Heavy soils
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Work clothes
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Normally soiled permanent
press and synthetic items
WARM COLD
go”-11 O’F
(32’-44%)
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Light and moderate soils
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Dark or noncolorfast
colors
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Knits and delicate fabrics
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Nylons, polyesters,
acrylics. silks, woolens
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Prewash, soak
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Gives best cleaning for heavy soils.
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Removes oils, perspiration, greasy
soils and stains.
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Prevents graying and yellowing.
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Helps remove wrinkles from
permanent press.
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Safe for most fabric finishes.
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Less fading and dye bleeding.
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Reduces wrinkling.
COLD
70”-90°F
(Zl’-32%)
COLD
l
Rinsing, for all fabrics
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Extra sensitiie colors
(non-colorfast)
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Very lightly soiled items
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Moderately soiled items if
extra detergent is added
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Saves hot water.
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Less effective cleaning than hot or
warm
water.
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Use liquid detergent, or dissolve
powdered detergent in warm water
before adding to cold wash water.
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Pretreat spots, stains and heavy or
greasy soils.
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Use longest wash time in cycle
selected.
To check your hot water temperature with a candy or cooking thermometer:
1.
Fill a pan with the hottest water available from the faucet that will fill your washer.
2. Place a candy or cooking thermometer in water to check the temperature.
NOTE: In wash water temperatures colder than 70°F (21°C):
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Detergents do not dissofve well.
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Soils are dfffiiuft to remove.
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Some fabrics will retain wear wrinkles and may have increased pilling.
Water hardness
Many poor washing results can be traced to wash
water hardness. To check your water hardness:
If your water is 9 or more grains-per-gallon or
more than 153 parts-per-million:
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City water-ask your city water company.
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Well water-call your Cooperative Extension
Service.
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Consider installing a water softener.
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Use more detergent.
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Use a packaged water conditioner.
Ask for the mineral content in grains-per-gallon or
parts-per-million.
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Do not use soap.
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