Choosing hot or cold water for stains
Some stains dissolve best in hot water and others in cold. Many need both. Learn what water temperature to use for which stains with this infographic.
MATCH THE STAIN TO THE WASH TEMP
Find out if you need cold or hot water, or both, for common stains like these.
THESE NEED COLD WATER
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Blood
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Toothpaste
THESE NEED HOT WATER
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Lipstick
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Grass
THESE NEED COLD THEN HOT
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Red Wine
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Mud
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Perspiration
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Spaghetti Sauce
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Chocolate
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Baby Food
Why hot or cold water matters for stain removal
Hot water sets some stains while dissolving others. For instance, when choosing hot or cold water for blood stains, selecting hot could cause the stain to “cook” into your clothes.
Many stains respond best to a rinse or soak in cold water, then a wash cycle in warm or hot. See this guide about pretreating and removing multiple types of stains.
How to get a dual-temperature wash in one load
The Extra Power button by Maytag boosts stain-fighting performance on any wash cycle with a dual-temperature wash.
- A ten-minute blast of cold helps lift stains that dissolve best in cold water and prevents the rest from setting.
- A higher temperature targets stains that need warmer water.
More ways to master laundry
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How to Do Laundry Step by Step Master laundry basics and learn the proper way to do laundry with this 7 step guide to how to wash clothes. -
How to Remove Stains from Clothes Learn the how to remove stains from various fabrics with this step-by-step guide. This guide will help you remove ink, blood, and other common stains. -
The Guide for Decoding Laundry Symbols Get clarity on clothing care symbols. Learn how to read wash care symbols so you can properly care for your clothes. Our washing symbols guide can help.
