GarmentCare Guide 
Cold and Warm Wash Comparisons
Water temperature works alongside detergent, time, and mechanical action. The warmer option is not automatically better for a garment, and the colder option does not remove every restriction on washing. Match the process to the label and the type of soil, while keeping dye transfer and fabric distortion in mind when deciding which items can share a load.
Separate material from color
Whirlpool's guide explains that whether clothing shrinks in warm or hot water depends on its fabric. Cotton, wool, linen, and other materials do not all respond identically, and a bright or dark color adds a separate concern about dye transfer. Color alone cannot settle the appropriate temperature.
Use the finished garment's directions
The source recommends checking care labels rather than adopting one hot-wash rule for a category of clothes. A lower temperature may protect suitable dark or delicate items, but treatment also depends on soil and construction. Distinguish the goal of stain removal from the garment's maximum permitted temperature when choosing the actual cycle.
