Know The Difference Between Cleaning with Hot Water Vs. Cleaning with Cold Water

Studies show that nearly 80% of people believe that they should be cleaning with hot water versus cleaning with cold water. Of course, hot water helps kills bacteria. But is that enough? Well, that depends. It all comes down to which type of task you are working on. Some household cleaning tasks actually call for cold water instead of hot water in order to produce the desired results.

Chemicals

When it comes to diluting a chemical solution such as bleach or a multi-surface cleaner you should be using cold water. Why cold water? Because hot water will break down the solution preventing it from doing what you need it to do. You might think you need to use hot water to help the chemicals work better but if you use hot water you are actually stopping the chemical from doing what it’s supposed to do.

Dishes

You should be cleaning your dishes with hot water. In fact, you should let them soak in hot water with dish soap for at least 5 minutes before washing to ensure a proper cleaning. Washing your dishes with hot water helps to kill the germs that lie in your dirty dishes. And in your sink for that matter. That being said, you should always spray your sink with surface cleaner, let it sit for 1 minute, and then rinse it off with hot water after each load of dishes you wash.

Laundry

Now here is where the tricky part comes in. When washing your laundry you can use either hot or cold water depending on the garments you have in the machine. If you’re trying to remove a stain or stench from a garment you want to wash it with cold water. Refrain from using hot water when washing these items as the hot water can push the stain deeper into the fabric instead of lifting it out like you want.

A regular load of laundry can be washed in either cold or warm water. Whites should be washed in cold water. And any sheets, blanket, and towels can be cleaned in hot water.

Floors

Nine times out of ten the same cleaner that goes on the countertops also gets used as a floor cleaner. Hence the name multi-surface cleaner. So the same principle applies for diluting the solution, use cold water. The best thing you can use to clean your floors is cold water and vinegar. Cleaning vinegar is safe for all floors (except marble or stone floors). It helps keep them clean, prevents them from getting sticky, and kills any bacteria harboring there.

Fun Fact: Did you know that cleaning with hot water accounts for 10-15% of your energy bill? The more you know!

5 Comments

  • Jen Smith

    Unless the hot water is at a rolling boil for one minute, it is unlikely to kill all the germs on your dishes. It is the action of rubbing the dishes with a soapy cloth and rinsing them that sheds the dirt and bacteria.

  • Catherine Ranucci

    Well, you proved me wrong! No more boiling water on my kitchen floor – thanks!

  • Adriana Kn

    Clorox works is fine. This cleaner is my favorite cleaner.

  • Clair Wayman

    I always use cold water and vinegar to clean the floors.

  • Anonymous

    I always use vinegar thanks for letting me know about the cold water on floor! Clorox is so bad for your lungs! In My cleaning I use 3 things Dawn , Vinegar, Baking Soda my Lung Specialist says these are the only safe cleaning that doesn’t harm you!

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