At what temperature should I do the laundry?

Sometimes we doubt if it is better to use hot or cold water. It seems that hot water cleans better but has other disadvantages (as shrinkage of the garment). Instead cold water maintains strong colors but would not be appropriate if the clothes are very dirty. Here are some guidelines that should be taken into account when washing. Normally washing machines set to each tissue type a variety of temperatures what temperature choose in each moment?

Water temperature is one of the most important factors in the laundry. If the temperature is high the water molecules tend to ionize- hydrogen-bridges are cut and this lowers the surface tension. This same ionizing power acts on the detergent molecules and more rapidly binds particles of dirt and water.

The advantage with high temperatures (as shown in the next table) is that they soften the dirt in the weave, decreasing the tension of the fibers and facilitating mechanical action. Thus dirt is better removed.

To decide which washing temperature must take into account three factors:

1) The resistance of textile fibers (For example cotton has greater resistance than silk)

2) The resistance of the dyes (strong colorsshould be washed lower temperature so they do not discolor)

3) Characteristics of detergents and washing aids (for example any temperature is not optimal for each type of detergent, because it depends on their chemical composition and washing aids in the same way to work best in certain temperatures, for example sodium perborate, acts to minimum 60 °, and bleach at 30-maximum)