Yes, washing jeans at 40°C (around 104°F) is generally okay, especially for cleaning, as it's a warm wash that balances hygiene with protecting the fabric, but washing at 30°C or cold is often recommended to prevent shrinking and fading, so always check the care label and turn jeans inside out. For new or raw denim, colder water is better, while 40°C is a good compromise for general use, but use a low spin cycle and hang them to dry to minimize damage.
What temperature should I wash denim jeans at? Denim can shrink and colours will fade, so to avoid shrinkage and to keep your blue jeans blue, don't wash them at higher than 40°C. It's especially important to use a cold setting when cleaning stretchy jeans.
At this slightly warmer temperature you may be able to see better results when washing cotton, acrylics, acetate or blended fabrics like wool mixes and polyester blends. 30°C washes softer fabrics better than 40°C, which is why 40° is better for your everyday clothing, and fabrics that are harder e.g. wool.
40 degrees, or a warm wash, is the perfect compromise between a hot wash and getting tough stains or dirt out of clothes as long as you use a good detergent.
To help prevent shrinking or bleeding, only use cold water to wash your jeans, and wash them separately or with similarly-colored denim. If you decide to hand wash your new jeans, don't wring them out when you finish rinsing them. Instead, fold or roll them before squeezing out the leftover water.
Denim is tough – but when temperatures get too hot it becomes completely different. The cotton fabric is secretly sensitive and can hardly withstand washing temperatures of over 40 degrees.
Helping your clothes stay vibrant and last longer - Washing with a warm water temperature − on cycles at 40°C or higher – is more suitable for heavy soiling, but can come with a few downsides such as colours fading and shrinking fabrics. Washing at 30 degrees can help keep your colours vibrant an minimise shrinking.
At 40 degrees Celsius, a temperature that's typically regarded as 'warm' in washing machines, you might expect the risk of cotton shrinking to be moderate. Nonetheless, this temperature does not guarantee to shrink cotton garments.
Washing at 40 degrees Celsius is ideal for most everyday garments and textiles, such as cotton t-shirts, trousers, underwear, and coloured clothing. This temperature is high enough to effectively remove dirt while being gentle on fabrics and colours.
The numbers 30, 40, 50 and 60 reference water temperature in degrees Celsius. A cold wash is around 30°C (85°F), warm is 40°C (105°F), warm/hot is 50°C (120°F) and hot is 60°C (140°F). These temperatures should be considered the maximum recommended for safely washing that garment.
40°C is not a cold wash although it is the most common wash temperature. It is the temperature most garment labels recommend as it is warm enough to clean soiled clothing and get rid of tougher stains such as makeup, without being too harsh on the fabric.
If your towel continues to smell after a longer wash, it usually signifies that bacteria is still in your washing machine - or hiding somewhere on your towel. By running the cycle again with bleach or washing your towels for a second time, you can remove any stubborn bacteria left behind.
Synthetic fabrics can shrink at high temperatures, but a cold or delicate wash program is not necessary for polyester. We advise you to wash your polyester fabrics at 40 degrees. You do not need special detergent for polyester, and you can choose whether or not to add fabric softener.
Absolutely. If you need to perform stain removal on any of your clothes, then it is totally fine to opt for 40 degrees instead of 30 degrees on your washing machine. However, if you need to wash incredibly delicate fabrics like silk, then we would recommend sticking to 30 degrees.
The "two-finger test" for jeans is a simple way to check for a comfortable waist fit: you should be able to slide two fingers (index and middle) between your natural waist and the waistband of the jeans, indicating enough room to move and sit without feeling too tight or cutting into your skin, but not so loose that they'll sag. It's a quick gauge to see if there's room for a meal or bloating without needing a belt immediately.
Washing jeans at a low temperature
As a rule, you should always wash jeans at a low temperature. Depending on the material composition, 30 or 40 degrees is sufficient to clean your jeans and at the same time protect the fibres.
So there you have it, washing mould from your clothing is possible with the proper water temperature. Dr Jones reiterates: “The key way of getting rid of fungi on textiles is to use a hot wash at 60 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Celsius for an extended period.”
Off-Peak Energy Hours
In many parts of the U.S., electricity is cleaner and more efficiently distributed during off-peak hours. That means washing early in the morning (before 10 a.m.) or later at night (after 8 p.m.) can ease pressure on the grid and help reduce the emissions linked to your laundry routine.
Wash with low temperatures
Always read the labels, but generally low temperatures (30-40°c) are optimal for maximum protection.
If the temperature of the water is below 60°F, no soap or detergent performs well. But don't make the water too hot. Washing heavily soiled articles with hot water can set stains. For heavily soiled clothes, prewash them in cool water, then wash them again in water that is 130°F or higher.
Relaxation Shrinkage
Occurs when fibres that were stretched during manufacturing (like cotton or linen) relax once exposed to water. Clothes may feel tighter immediately after washing, but sometimes loosen again with wear.
Not all stains respond to warmer water. For example, blood and sweat can actually set into fabric in hot water. Also, hot water tends to shrink, fade, and wrinkle certain fabrics. By not heating the water in your washing machine, you may reduce your energy costs with every load.
The American Cleaning Institute recommends washing your bath towel every three to five uses and hanging it up to dry in between. This helps stave off germs and contaminants that can cause serious infections.
Warm washes (40°C) are best for items that have come into contact with body fluids, such as underwear. Wash such garments on warm temperatures with Ariel. Cold washes (15-30°C) should be used for lightly- to moderately-soiled daily items.
Optimal Water Temperature
While cold water is great for preserving fabric quality and colors, warm or hot water is better at killing bacteria and removing stubborn odors. For particularly smelly loads, consider using warm or hot water settings to help eliminate bacteria.