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6 Things You Should Always Wash in Cold Water to Help Your Fabrics Last Longer by Lauren Jarvis-Gibson

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If you have a large load of laundry you’ve been procrastinating on, I get it and let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. But before you jump in, you may not realize some items that you should actually wash with cold water instead of hot water.

Let’s dive in and see what garments to wash with cold water.

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Dark colors

To keep your dark-colored clothes looking their best and continuing to have their deep dark color, it’s actually recommended to wash them with cold water.

Washing your dark garments with cold water as opposed to hot water will ensure they keep looking in top shape.

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Delicates

For your delicate items, hot water will actually damage these fabrics (especially lace and silk) and wear them down over time.

Delicates are called delicates for good reason! To keep your delicate garments looking as good as the day you bought them, wash them with cold water.

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Jeans

For your beloved jeans, especially darker washes of denim, cold water is best to help keep them in tip-top shape.

Washing your jeans with cold water prevents the color from bleeding onto your other clothes, and also helps prevent them from shrinking. I would hate to have my favorite pair of jeans ruined by using the wrong temperature of water.

Bright Colors

For clothes and garments that are bright and bold, cold water is the way to go when you are loading up your laundry.

Cold water helps stop bright colors from bleeding and also helps preserve the colors. Hot water will cause the colors to run, which is a big no-no in our book.

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Clothes With Wrinkles

If your clothes are wrinkled badly, cold water will do the trick to smooth out every single crease. Cold water is way less damaging to fabric, especially compared to hot water which can easily tear fabric and wear it down faster.

Here’s a quick tip when you’re in a pinch and don’t have an iron in sight: throw a few ice cubes in your washer with your wrinkled shirt or clothing item and it will take the wrinkles right out. Voila!

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Heavy Stains

One of the worst things that we all can be guilty of is ruining a perfectly nice dress or shirt with stains from food and beverages. Get pesky stains out from clothes or other items like dish towels or sheets with the help of cold water.

Cold water can be super effective for stains like coffee, food, red wine, and more. Say goodbye to throwing away stain-filled items and hello to stain-free laundry. You can thank me later!

Read the original article on The Spruce.

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