Relationship of wash/rinse water temperatures to soil removal

Abstract

Samples of cotton, polyester and nylon fabrics were soiled by application of synthetic sebum and clay and then laundered at various combinations of hot, warm and cold wash and rinse water temperatures. The temperature of the rinse water did not affect the amount of soil removed from the fabrics. More soil was generally removed with hot wash water than with warm or cold water. The soil was more readily removed from the nylon than from the cotton or polyester fabrics. All wash/rinse treatments removed soil to a level that would probably be acceptable to most consumers.