Washing machine temperature guide

Many of us wash the bulk of our clothes at 40°C. But cooler or hotter temperatures may be best for some items.

Our washing machine temperature guide will help you to decide which temperature is best for jeans, whites, colours, baby clothes and more.

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Can I wash clothes at 20°C?

Yes, depending on if your clothes are stained.

All washing machines in the UK must, since 2013, have a 20°C option on the control panel to help save energy.

Our tests found that turning the temperature down on the cottons program from 40°C to 20°C reduced running costs by an average of 62%. This is because washing machines need to use less energy to heat water to lower temperatures.

Cleaning power was slightly worse at 20°C but switching to a liquid detergent helped, and it should still be enough for everyday cleaning.

If you wash at low temperatures, it becomes even more important to run a regular monthly maintenance wash with a washing machine cleaner.

Benefits of washing at 30°C

Washing at 30°C uses 38% less energy than washing at 40°C, so you make a substantial saving on your bill and help the planet.

More than a quarter of Which? members regularly use a 30°C program. It's the recommended setting for a lot of delicate clothes - such as wool and silk – always check the label, though. 

Lower temperatures are also good at helping preserve colourfully dyed fabrics and a good-quality laundry detergent can help with this, too.

Difference between washing at 40°C and 30°C

Lower temperatures will be fine for everyday cleaning, but a 40°C wash will be better for tougher stains. And as most Which? members we asked frequently use the 40°C temperature setting, we base our own testing on the 40°C cottons and synthetics wash programs.

It’s also the temperature most clothes - such as cotton, linen, viscose or acrylics - are recommended to be washed at.

In our tests, a washing machine that scores five stars for cleaning removes 30% more stains than a one-star model on a 40°C washing cycle.

What to wash at 50°C?

This wash is suitable for polyester/cotton mixtures, nylon, cotton and viscose, but there isn't a good reason to switch to 50°C. 

Most stains will be shifted at 40°C and increasing the temperature will eat up more energy.

Cost of washing at 60°C

The 60°C program generally cleans slightly better than the 40°C program, especially on greasy stains, and is ideal for bedding and towels. But running costs increase by more than half. 

You might be washing at 60°C because you've heard it kills bacteria, but the temperature on its own doesn't. Some bacterial spores and viruses are resistant to washing at 60°C. 

You need to combine your 60°C wash with a good detergent to blast that bacteria. You might be better off choosing a good detergent, treating stains and washing at 40°C to get a great clean that doesn't cost a lot to run.

Which? reveals the running costs for washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, fridge freezers and more. Find out how much your appliances cost to run

Does washing at 90°C kill bacteria?

This is the hottest wash program you’ll find on most machines and is only suitable for a few items – a lot of labels won't recommend washing at such a high temperature. 

But will washing at 90°C kill bacteria? The NHS website states that you should wash underwear, towels and household linen at 60°C to prevent the spread of germs or at 40°C with a bleach-based laundry product (we suggest bio washing powder). It says nothing about washing at as high as 90°C to kill bacteria. 

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.

If your washing machine has a specialist jeans program – and you have the time to split and separate your wash like this – it will use more water to flush away detergent and spins more gently to avoid creasing. 

Find out how to wash denim jeans, baby clothes and underwear properly in our comprehensive guide to how to wash clothes

What temperature should I wash bed sheets at?

Select the 60°C cottons program for cotton bed sheets. By washing bed linen, such as sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers at 60°C – and by using a best washing powder and laundry detergent – you give yourself a better chance of getting them clean without using the highest temperature setting.  

Find out how often you should wash your bedding to keep it free from dirt, dust mites, dead skin cells and sweat 

What temperature should I wash baby clothes at?

Aim for a 30°C or 40°C wash program for baby clothes. Any hotter and you risk shrinking what can be quite delicate clothes. 

You can wash your baby’s clothes with the rest of your laundry, or try the baby program if your machine has that option. 

This will be a little hotter, but rinses more thoroughly – more so than a normal wash setting – to make sure as much detergent as possible has been rinsed away.

What temperature should I wash underwear at?

If you end up with a pile of pants to wash, set your machine to wash at 60°C for the best results. If your load is very heavily soiled, wash at the highest temperature, which is 90°C on most machines.

Is 30°C a cold wash?

No, a cold wash should involve no heating of the water at all. Some detergents won’t be as effective at low temperatures. A cold wash is an option if you’re washing delicates or your clothes are brightly coloured and just need to be refreshed a little.

What temperature is warm in a washing machine?

40°C will feel warm and, with some exceptions, most laundry will end up being washed at 40°C.

What temperature is a hot wash?

Think about 60°C as a hot wash and 90°C as a very hot wash. Reserve the latter for occasions where your clothes’ fabrics are robust enough to stand up to the heat, but need the temperature to help shift the stains.

What temperature should I wash white clothes at?

Separating whites from coloured clothes is more important than the temperature you wash them at. If you separate them, you give yourself the best chance of avoiding colours from other clothes bleeding into them.

The temperature you wash at will depend on how robust the terms are - and how dirty.

If you’re washing white bed sheets and other linen, 60°C will be fine. If you have a filthy white rugby or a football kit stained with mud, blood, grass and everything else a Saturday morning on the playing fields has to offer, similarly opt for a higher temperature.

What temperature should I wash mixed coloured clothes at?

Washing a mixture of bright colours together is fine and only becomes a problem if any whites end up in the load. 30°C would be a good temperature to wash and this will help the fabrics to retain their colour.

Other commonly used washing machine programs

Washing machines often have as many as 20 programs for washing, rinsing and spinning. These can include a baby clothes wash that has several rinses to make sure as much detergent is removed from the garments as possible, an easy iron program and intensive programs to help shift stubborn stains.

More washing and drying tips

Which? has tested and researched washing machines and tumble dryers for decades. We've also tested washer-dryers, heated clothes airers, different types of laundry detergent and steam irons.

So we're a good bet if you want to know how to keep your clothes clean and looking good for as long as possible. 

Take a look at our reviews and advice to help you buy the right product and use it to the best of its abilities.