For most everyday clothes, 30°C is enough. Use 40°C for whites and moderately dirty loads, and 60°C for towels, bedding, tea towels and anything worn or used during a stomach bug, because higher heat is what removes germs. Wool, silk and delicates need a cold or 30°C wool cycle. The number on the care label is the maximum, so never go above it.
Most UK households already wash cool: an AEG survey found almost half wash at 30°C and around a quarter at 40°C. The question is knowing when cool is enough and when it is not. This guide goes item by item, and builds on our main guide to fresh, clean laundry in the UK.
What Each Temperature Is For
20°C and Cold
Lightly worn clothes that just need freshening, delicates and colours you want to protect. Cheapest to run, but weakest on stains.
30°C
The everyday default for most clothes, darks, brights, jeans and synthetics. Modern detergents are designed to clean well here.
40°C
Whites, mixed loads with visible dirt, and bedding between hotter washes.
60°C
Towels, tea towels, bedding, underwear and anything that needs hygiene rather than just cleaning.
Washing Temperature by Item
| Item | Temperature | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday tops, trousers, dresses | 30°C | Cleans everyday dirt and protects fabric and colour |
| Darks, brights and jeans | 20 to 30°C, inside out | Heat speeds up dye loss and fading |
| Cotton whites | 40°C, occasionally 60°C | Keeps whites bright and lifts body oils |
| Gym kit and synthetics | 30 to 40°C with biological detergent | Enzymes break down sweat without heat damage |
| Towels and tea towels | 60°C | Stay damp and collect bacteria |
| Bedding | 40°C weekly, 60°C regularly | Hot washes help reduce house dust mites |
| Underwear and socks | 40 to 60°C, per the label | Hygiene matters more than for outer layers |
| Wool, cashmere, silk | Cold to 30°C, wool cycle | Heat and movement cause shrinking and felting |
| Clothes and bedding soiled during sickness | 60°C, washed separately | Heat is needed to kill the virus |
For sickness bugs, the NHS norovirus advice is to wash clothes and bedding with vomit or poo on them separately at 60°C.
Is a Cooler Wash Really Clean?
For everyday dirt, yes. Detergent enzymes and surfactants do most of the cleaning at 20 to 30°C, which is why biological detergents are so effective in cool washes; our comparison of bio vs non-bio detergent explains how. Where cool washes fall short is hygiene. Which? advises 60°C with a good detergent when you need to remove germs, and found that cutting a cottons wash from 40°C to 20°C reduced running costs by around 62%, at the price of slightly weaker cleaning.
A sensible balance: wash most loads at 30°C, and keep 60°C for towels, bedding and illness. Running one hot wash a month also helps keep the machine itself fresh.
Stains Change the Rule
- Protein stains such as blood, egg and sweat: rinse in cold water first, because heat can set them.
- Grease and oil: warmer water helps, after pre-treating the mark.
- Old or set-in stains: pre-treat and soak rather than turning the temperature up, which risks damaging the fabric.
Our Pick for Cooler Washes
Stain Solution No.104 (16 fl oz)
Pre-treating marks like coffee, wine, blood and perspiration lets you keep everyday loads at 30°C instead of turning the dial up to shift a single stain.
View ProductShop Laundry Care
Detergents, stain removers and fabric care for every wash temperature.
Shop Laundry CareFrequently Asked Questions
Is 30 or 40 degrees better for washing clothes?
30°C is fine for most everyday clothes and uses less energy. Use 40°C for whites and loads with visible dirt.
Does washing at 60 degrees kill bacteria?
A 60°C wash with a good detergent is the standard advice for removing germs from towels, bedding and clothes soiled during illness.
Can I wash everything at 20 degrees?
Lightly worn clothes, yes. It is not enough for towels, bedding, underwear or anything that needs hygienic cleaning.
What temperature should I wash towels at?
60°C where the care label allows, as towels stay damp and collect bacteria between washes.
Sources: NHS, Norovirus; Which?, washing machine temperature guide and "Should I wash at 60°C?"; AEG, UK washing habits survey; Allergy UK, house dust mite guidance.