A clean home looks good, but keeping things clean also matters for everyday health. Water temperature can make a difference during laundry and household cleaning, especially for items that regularly come into contact with food, bodily fluids, dirt, or germs.
Cold water is useful for many clothes and helps reduce energy use. It is also gentler on fabrics that can shrink or fade. Some household items, though, benefit from a hot-water wash because higher temperatures can help loosen grease and remove microorganisms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes heat as an important part of cleaning and sanitation. The key is knowing which items can handle hot water and following the care instructions for anything made from delicate materials.
Here are 12 everyday items that can benefit from a hot-water wash.
Cutting Boards
Cutting boards can pick up plenty of bacteria after being used for raw meat, seafood, vegetables, and other foods. Plastic and other nonporous boards can be washed with hot, soapy water after use.
The USDA recommends washing cutting boards with soap and hot water, followed by sanitizing when needed. Hot water also helps loosen greasy residue that can cling to the surface.
Wooden cutting boards need a little more care. They should be washed by hand and should not sit submerged in water for long periods, since excess moisture can cause the wood to crack or warp. After washing, dry the board thoroughly before putting it away.
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Kitchen Sponges
Kitchen sponges can become surprisingly dirty. They stay damp, collect food particles, and are reused over and over, creating a good environment for bacteria.
Washable sponges can be cleaned with hot water and dish soap, though replacing an old sponge is often the better choice once it starts to smell, fall apart, or stay dirty after washing.
For kitchen cleaning, it also helps to keep separate sponges or cloths for different jobs. A sponge used around raw meat should never be used to wipe down an area where ready-to-eat food is prepared.
Kitchen Towels
Kitchen towels have a busy life. One towel might dry your hands, wipe a countertop, grab a hot pan, and clean up a spill before the day is over. That repeated use means they can collect food residue and bacteria.
Wash kitchen towels regularly in the hottest water allowed by the care label. A suitable laundry detergent can help remove grease, food particles, and microorganisms.
Towels that have been exposed to raw meat or poultry juices deserve extra care. Keep them separate from other laundry until they can be washed properly.
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Bath Towels
Bath towels absorb water from your body every time you use them, so they can stay damp for hours. Dead skin cells, body oils, and moisture can collect in the fibers.
According to Everyday Health, dermatologists commonly recommend washing bath towels after about three or four uses, with more frequent washing if they remain damp or are used after heavy sweating.
A hot wash can help remove buildup and microorganisms, provided the fabric can handle the temperature. Check the care label before turning up the heat.
Bedding
Sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers come into contact with sweat, skin oils, dead skin cells, and other debris every night. People with allergies may also be dealing with dust mites and other indoor allergens in their bedding.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology recommends washing bedding in hot water at 130°F (54°C) or higher to help control dust mites.
Washing sheets regularly can make the bed feel much fresher. If your bedding is made from a material that cannot tolerate high temperatures, follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions instead.
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Clothes and Linens Used by Someone Who Is Sick
Clothing, towels, bedding, and other washable fabrics used by someone who is sick can contain germs. Washing these items properly helps reduce the chance of spreading contamination around the home.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends following the garment or fabric care instructions and using the warmest appropriate water setting when laundering items from a sick person.
There is no need to wash every piece of clothing on the hottest setting. Pick the highest temperature that the fabric can safely handle, and dry the items completely after washing.
Baby Bottles
Baby bottles need careful cleaning because milk and formula can leave behind residue where bacteria can grow. Bottles should be washed thoroughly after each use with hot water and dish soap.
Some bottles and feeding equipment can also be sterilized using boiling water or a steam sterilizer. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions first, since plastic components and nipples can have different temperature limits.
A bottle that still has milk residue after washing is not ready for another feeding. Pay close attention to nipples, caps, valves, and other small pieces where liquid can collect.
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Baby Toys
Baby toys spend a lot of time on the floor, in little hands, and in babies’ mouths. Plastic toys, teethers, and washable stuffed animals can pick up dirt, saliva, and germs during everyday play.
Plastic toys can usually be washed with hot, soapy water, while some can go on the top rack of a dishwasher if the manufacturer allows it. Washable stuffed animals can sometimes go into the washing machine, but check the care tag before using a hot cycle.
Toys with batteries, electronic components, or glued decorations should be cleaned according to their specific care instructions rather than soaked in water.
Pacifiers
Pacifiers go straight into a baby’s mouth, so keeping them clean matters. A quick rinse may remove visible dirt, but it does not provide the same level of cleaning as a proper wash.
Wash pacifiers with hot water and soap according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some pacifiers can also be boiled or sterilized.
Inspect them regularly for cracks, tears, discoloration, or other signs of wear. Damaged pacifiers should be replaced rather than kept in use.
Reusable Water Bottles
Reusable water bottles are easy to forget about. You fill one, take a few sips, refill it, and repeat the process without always giving it a proper wash. Moisture left inside the bottle can allow bacteria and mold to build up, especially around the lid, straw, gasket, and other small parts.
Wash reusable bottles with hot, soapy water after regular use. A bottle brush can help reach the bottom and corners that a sponge cannot.
Take the lid apart when possible and wash each removable piece separately. Let every part dry completely before putting the bottle back together.
Pet Dishes
Pet food and water bowls deserve the same attention as other frequently used dishes. Wet food, saliva, and leftover food can leave behind bacteria if bowls are not cleaned regularly.
Wash pet dishes with hot, soapy water after meals, particularly when serving wet or raw food. Stainless steel bowls are especially convenient because they are durable and easy to wash.
Give water bowls regular attention, too. A bowl can look clean while still developing a slimy film on the surface.
Dishcloths
Dishcloths can collect food crumbs, grease, and bacteria with every wipe. Since they are often left damp between uses, they can become dirty surprisingly fast.
Wash reusable dishcloths regularly using hot water and laundry detergent, provided the fabric allows it. Give them a full drying cycle afterward rather than leaving them damp in a pile.
Dishcloths that have been used to clean up raw meat, poultry, seafood, or dairy spills should be washed promptly. Keeping several cloths in rotation makes it easier to replace a dirty one instead of continuing to use it throughout the day.
Hot water is useful for many of these household items, but hotter is not always better. Fabric type, manufacturer’s instructions, and the kind of contamination involved all matter. For anything that cannot tolerate high temperatures, use the warmest safe setting and clean the item thoroughly with an appropriate detergent or cleaning product.
