12 Items You Should Always Wash in Hot Water To Get Them Clean
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A clean home does indeed help make a great appearance and look, but there is more to it; your family’s health and well-being are on the line. You can clean items using cold or hot water, whichever you want.
Cold water is undoubtedly ideal in that it helps save energy and guarantees the safety of more delicate fabrics. However, some items still deserve the power of hot water to finish off germs, bacteria, and dirt.
Heat has value in destroying harmful microorganisms, as pointed out by the Centre for Disease Control; heat is important to hygiene, safety, and health. Here are 12 things worth washing in hot water and why that is so important.
Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are full of bacteria after contact with raw meat, fish, or vegetables. Non-porous cutting boards (plastic or glass) should be washed in soap and hot water and then sanitized by immersing them in a bleach solution, according to the USDA(United States Department of Agriculture).
Hot water loosens grease and grime and kills bacteria, so your kitchen remains safe for your food preparation. In most cases, wooden cutting boards are to be kept out of too much water, but these boards can still be quickly hand-washed in warm to hot water.
Kitchen Sponges
Sponges are notorious among bacteria. Kitchen sponges have been found by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) to contain more bacteria and harmful pathogens than the average toilet seat, including E. coli.
They should be washed in hot water to kill bacteria and prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.
Kitchen Towels
Since they are used for drying hands, wiping down kitchen countertops, and even picking up spills of food, kitchen towels are a breeding ground for bacteria. Hot water (above 140°F/60°C) washes their dirt, grease, and microbes away completely.
Only use cleaning products like a disinfectant or bleach (especially if the towel has been in touch with raw meat juice).
Bath Towels
Another breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and dead skin cells is bath towels. According to Everyday Health, dermatologists say cleaning bath towels in hot water after every third or fourth use will eradicate most bacteria and mold, which thrive in damp environments.
The hot water also ensures that the fabric is sanitized and that your towels are safe to use again.
Bedding
It is not just fabrics that can benefit from hot water but bedding, too. That includes sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases. Anyone prone to allergies will want to use hot water.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology says hot water (at least 130°F/54°C) is necessary to kill dust mites, allergens, and bacteria that build up over time. Washing bedding weekly in hot water can help with better sleep and respiratory health.
Clothes for Sick Individuals
If anyone in your household is sick, hot water washing of their clothing, linens, and handkerchiefs is essential to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appropriate cleaning of items for sick people includes washing these items in hot water whenever the fabric allows.
This will reduce the possibility of contamination and keep the environment clean.
Baby Bottles
With babies’ immune systems not developed well enough, proper sanitation is not up for negotiation. Baby bottles need to be thoroughly cleaned with hot water and a gentle baby-safe detergent.
Many parents also use boiling water or a sterilization device to complete the elimination of germs.
Baby Toys
Unfortunately, plastic baby toys, teethers, and soft toys are often dropped on the ground, handled by sticky hands, or sucked on. During a hot water wash, these items get rid of dirt, saliva, and germs.
Many soft toys may be machine-washed in hot water (check the care tag). If your toys are made of plastic, hand wash them in hot, soapy water or place them on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Pacifiers
Little mouths are constantly in contact with pacifiers, which act as hosting grounds for germs. They can be cleaned in hot water or boiled occasionally to prevent bacteria and virus spread.
Rinsing pacifiers gently in a quick dose of water isn’t good enough—pacifiers really need to be hot water washed to be properly clean and safe.
Reusable Water Bottles
Many reusable water bottles have gone unclean for an extended time, but many studies show that harmful bacteria and mold can build up in water bottle’s nooks and crannies. You may want to wash them in hot, soapy water and let them dry fully in the hot sun.
This will ensure they are sanitary and useable each day. If you really want to be thorough, you can consider using a brush to get into the corners of the bottle and the lid.
Pet Dishes
Clean dishes are as important for our furry friends as they are for humans. The same as human dishes, pet food bowls can get dirty and harbor bacteria as time goes by.
By washing these bowls with dish soap and hot water (or just after use, if used for wet food), your pets can eat their meals safely and be protected from harmful pathogens. Bowls made of stainless steel make it easier to sanitize, and they can bear higher water temperatures.
Dishcloths
Like sponges, bacteria are harbored by dishcloths through repeated use. Hot water washing is an effective means to get rid of grease, food particles, and even viruses.
In the event that dishcloths have been in contact with raw meat or raw dairy spills, it becomes particularly important to wash them in hot water to re-sterilize them.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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