Myths About Washing Temperatures

Cold washing (20–30°C) is effective enough for everyday laundry, as long as you don’t overload the washing machine, use a good detergent with enzymes, and the clothes aren’t heavily soiled. Modern detergents are designed to work optimally at low temperatures, which means your laundry gets clean without unnecessary fabric damage or energy use. At Bali Laundry Lab, we use filtered water, a water softener, and eco‑friendly detergents to ensure every wash performs at its best — even at low temperatures.

Cold washing is also effective when clothes smell sweaty or musty. Odors usually don’t come from low temperatures — they come from synthetic fabrics holding onto bacteria, overfilled machines, poor rinsing, or clothes staying damp for too long. With an enzyme‑rich detergent, sweat molecules break down even at low temperatures, leaving your clothes fresh without the need for high heat.

Fabric softener might seem like a good fix, but it only masks odors and leaves a coating on the fabric that can trap smells over time. It can even reduce the effectiveness of enzymes. A better approach is to give your laundry enough space to move, use a detergent with enzymes, dry immediately, and add an extra rinse when needed. For stubborn sports odors, washing at 40°C occasionally can help — but only when truly necessary.

If you’re curious about the results, feel free to come in and try it for yourself. We’re happy to tell you more about our daily laundry process. You can also explore our services and pricing here.