It’s undeniable that washing with hot water is often faster and ideal for tough fabric and against stubborn dirt. Sometimes, however, the heater may fail, or you may want to switch it off and save on energy. But, can you run a washing machine with just cold water?
Most modern washers are intended for cold and hot water use, letting you switch off the heater or run cold water when the heater fails. Others are cold-filled, which means they only run on cold water, provided you use cold-water detergents and wash delicate dark fabrics in less chilly conditions.
Generally, when deciding to run cold water with your washing machines, you must consider the detergent, fabric type and color, and climatic conditions. On that note, I’ll explain when it’s best to use cold water and when you should use hot water for your laundry.
But first, let me explain more about why you can run your washer with just cold water.
Why Can You Run a Washing Machine with Just Cold Water?
Generally, you can run a washing machine with only cold water because of the following two reasons:
1. Most Modern Washing Machines Are Intended for Cold or Hot Water Use or Both
Note that the keywords here are ‘most washing machines’ and not all washing machines. So, you must confirm from your washer’s manual if you can only run the washer with cold water.
If you cannot find the information, talk to the manufacturer. But generally, modern machines that allow cold water only use work just okay with most detergents.
Overall, these washing machines are what most people call hot-filled. That means these machines come with two hoses; one for hot water and the other for cold water.
When it comes to the hot water hose, it takes stored heated water from your home. That means its operation is dependent on hot water. But again, there is the cold water hose, which runs cold water.
Overall, these machines offer you the options of:
a) Running a Cold Cycle
Some washing machines with cold and hot water fill hoses allow you to pick the cold cycle and only run cold water. This advantage will enable you to save on energy costs when you don’t need heated water for the laundry.
b) Turning Off the Heater
While the mechanism is different from those washers that allow you to run on a cold cycle, the objective is the same here. Some washers let you switch off the heater and run cold water only.
If such a heater fails, you can still go on with the washing. The only downside is that the cold cycle may take longer than usual, which can be slightly frustrating.
It might only be a problem running the cold cycle if the water is freezing. Otherwise, you won’t have a problem using the correct detergent.
2. Some Washing Machines Heat Their Water (Cold-Filled Washers)
Cold-filled washers are mostly single-hose and only supply ‘cold water.
The words cold water are in quotes because these machines heat their water instead of getting it from a stored tank in your home. As a result, they don’t need you to provide them with hot water.
Overall, cold-filled washers work well with biological detergents, which require a temperature of about 60-400F to thrive. Their enzymes, unfortunately, get denatured with hot water because of the high temperature.
Conditions for Running a Washing Machine with Just Cold Water
Overall, here are four conditions for running cold water only on washing machines:
1. Biological ‘Cold-Water’ Detergents
Not all detergents perform well with cold water. So, ensure you only settle for cold-water detergent if you choose to run only cold water.
The detergents, which usually are biological, have enzymes that can work from 600F, which falls within the cold water temperature range (typically 80 – 600F).
Overall, cold water is not best for powdered biological detergents as the dissolution rate is much slower.
2. Washing Delicate Fabric
Cold water suits delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, acrylics, and acetate. You can wash sportswear, t-shirts, light summer wear, and blouses with cold water.
3. Dark/Colored Clothes
Cold water is not just best for delicate fabrics but also for the darkest and most colorful ones because the water doesn’t fade the clothes easily.
4. Less Chilly Conditions
Just because it’s okay to run cold water only on most washers doesn’t mean that the climate has to be icy. The colder the surroundings, the less effective the enzymes on the detergent are.
Remember, these detergents are best for climatic conditions with a temperature of at least 600F. If it’s colder than that, the detergents may never work.
Pros and Cons of Running Cold Water Only On Your Washing Machine
Pros
Generally, running your washing machine on cold water only comes with these advantages:
- Does Not shrink delicate fabric – Unlike hot water, which may shrink most delicate fabrics, cold water is less likely to shrink them.
- Doesn’t fade brightly colored clothes – While hot water is likely to fade brightly colored fabrics, cold water is the opposite. It allows the clothes to maintain their rich colors.
- Energy-saving – By using cold water only, you cut down on your energy bill, which is a big plus when running on a tight budget.
- Respond well to light dirt and stains – Unless the dirt is too deep and the stain is stubborn, you won’t have an issue washing with cold water.
Cons
Now, here are the downsides of running your washer on cold water only:
- Not best for stubborn stains or dirt – When running cold water, you may have difficulty getting stubborn stains like blood, sweat, ketchup, and oil or deep dirt off your clothes.
- Won’t sanitize your clothes – If you are hoping to kill possible germs on clothes, cold water won’t do the job. Yes, the water may clean your clothes, but as far as sanitization goes, you cannot count on it.
Does A Washing Machine Need Hot Water?
Now that we’ve cold-filled washing machines, which only come with one hose, which is just for cold water and can heat their water, you may wonder if washing machines need hot water.
Well, only cold-filled washing machines don’t need stored heated water from your tank, but hot-filled washers do. Since a cold-filled washer heats its water, you don’t have to worry about providing heated water.
The shortcoming is that they are slow-acting and may not guarantee the best wash when dealing with tougher fabrics and stains.
On the other hand, hot-fill washers take hot water from your house water heaters which means they need hot water. Most of these washers are in the US, while the self-healing options are popular in Europe.
So, the need for hot water generally depends on the washing machine’s hose configuration. If it’s one-hose, it doesn’t need to get hot water from your home heater as it can heat its water. But if it’s a double hose, then one hose is for driving hot water from your home heater.
Should A Washing Machine Be Connected to Hot or Cold Water?
Given that most washers are double-hose, you will likely ask if you should connect to hot or cold water. Well, the answer is both.
On the one hand, cold water allows you to wash delicate clothes and save energy, while on the other hand, hot water lets you wash the hardest laundry and get rid of stubborn dirt and stains.
Remember, you can always turn the heater off or choose the cold cycle if you only want to run cold water.
What Happens If You Only Have Cold Water for Laundry?
Having only cold water for the laundry is not a misfortune. You can still use it to clean your clothes. You, however, must be selective in choosing what to wash and the detergent to use.
Generally, you should wash delicate fabrics and things like t-shirts, blouses, sportswear, and light summer wear when washing with cold water. And when picking the detergent, go for liquid cold-water detergent.
Cold Water Vs. Hot Water for Washing Machine Compared
You probably are not sure if you should wash with cold or hot water when running your washing machine. Well, here’s how the two options compare:
| Comparison Factor | Cold Water | Hot Water |
| Fabric Type | Delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, acrylic, acetate, linen | Synthetic fabrics like nylon, rayon, polyester, and spandex |
| Clothes Examples | Shirts, blouses, sportswear, light summer wear, and light jeans | Bedding, towels, undergarments, clothes with deep stains and dirt |
| Laundry Color Preference | Bright and dark | White and less colorful clothes (light colored) |
| Detergent | Cold-water (biological) detergent | Hot water (biological) detergent |
| Temperature Setting | 80-600F | 1300F+ |
| Shrinkage | Less likely to shrink clothes | Likely to shrink delicate fabric |
| Fading | Less likely to fade clothes | Likely to fade delicate clothes |
| Energy Efficiency | Energy-efficient | Not energy-efficient |
| Action | Slow-acting | Fast-acting |
| Sanitization | Poor sanitizer | Better sanitizer |
| Damage To Clothes | Less likely to damage clothes | More possible to damage delicate fabrics |
| Stain Action | Less effective against stains | More effective against stains |
People Also Ask
1. Can You Use a Washer with Only Cold Water?
Generally, yes, you can use a washer with only cold water. However, you may not wash fast and can only wash delicate clothes with cold-water detergent.
So, it’s imperative to consider the fabric you want to wash and the detergent you plan to use.
2. Can You Use a Washing Machine If You Have No Hot Water?
Washing machines can run without hot water. They, however, won’t heat the water unless they are single-hose (with a self-heating design). But overall, a washing machine running on cold water is slower and less effective against stubborn dirt and stains.
3. What Happens If Your Machine Wash Cold Instead of Warm?
The problem with cold water is that it’s slow-acting. However, it’s less likely to cause shrinkage or fade the clothes. As a result, cold water is best for the most delicate and colorful clothes.
In Conclusion – Can You Run a Washing Machine with Just Cold Water?
As discussed, running a washing machine with just cold water is generally possible. However, you must use it on delicate darker clothes and cold water detergents. But overall, the wash won’t be that fast and may not be effective against stubborn dirt or stains.
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