Water guidelines
Selecting water temperatures
WASH WATER
TEMPERATUREt SUGGESTED FABRICS COMMENTS
HOT l Work clothes l Best cleaning for heavily soiled items
54°C (130°F) l Sturdy whites/colourfast l Removes oils, perspiration, greasy
or above pastels soils and stains
l Diapers l Prevents graying or yellowing
WARM l Dark/noncolourfast colours l Best for moderately soiled to lightly
32-44°C l Permanent press items soiled items
(90-l 10°F) l Safe for most fabric finishes
l Nylon, polyester, acrylics,
silks, woollens l Less fading and dye bleeding
l Knits/delicate fabrics l Reduces wrinkling
COLD l Extra-sensitive colours l Best for very lightly soiled items
21-32°C l Noncolourfast items l Saves hot water
(70-90°F)
l Hand washables l Best rinse water temperature
t The washer features cold rinses for all wash temperatures.
Checking hot water Water hardness
temperature Many poor washing results can be traced to
Your hot water should be 54°C (130°F) or the hardness of the wash water. To check
above. If you do not know your hot water your water hardness:
temperature, you can check it easily. You l City water - ask the city water company.
may need to raise the temperature of your
l Well water - ask the local water authority.
water heater. To check your hot water:
Ask for the mineral content in grains/gallon
1. Fill a pan with the hottest water available
or parts/million. If your water is more than
from the faucet that fills your washer.
8 grains/gallon or more than 137 parts/
NOTE: If you do not have a faucet at your
million, you should consider:
washer site, collect the water from the
l Installing a water softener.
faucet closest to your washer.
l Using more detergent.
2. Place a candy thermometer or cooking
l Using a packaged water conditioner.
thermometer in the water to check the
temperature. l Not using soap.
NOTE: In wash-water temperatures colder
than 21 ?C (7O?F), detergents do not dissolve
well. Also, soils may be difficult to remove,
and some fabrics may retain wear wrinkles
and may have increased pilling.
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ACEC
