Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
If you come from Europe or North America, washing at 40–60°C is probably normal for you. Japanese household machines, though, almost all wash in cold tap water, and most have no heater. Newcomers worry that a Japanese wash does not get clothes clean; Japanese readers worry that hot water ruins clothes. Here is how it works, along with what the numbers on a care label mean.
| Water temperature | Cleaning | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around 10°C (winter tap water) | Detergent may not dissolve; skin oil solidifies and is hard to remove | — | Use liquid detergent, or dissolve powder in warm water first |
| 20–25°C (summer tap water) | Enough for everyday soiling | Everyday clothes in general | — |
| 30–40°C (leftover bath water, warm water) | Skin oil and sweat come out more easily. Oxygen bleach also works better | Yellowed shirts, towels, underwear, socks | Wool, silk and colours: check the upper limit on the label |
| 50–60°C | Effective against mites (50°C for 20–30 minutes) and many bacteria | Bedding and towels (cotton, label 60 or above) | Shrinkage, colour loss, creasing in synthetics. Check the machine's heat limit (many are rated to 50°C) |
[Verify] Seasonal tap-water temperatures, mite-kill temperatures and machine inlet limits vary by region and model. Check the sources and the manuals of common models.
It is a maximum. Anything up to 40 is fine. Washing a "30" garment in 10°C winter water is no problem.
Everyday soiling comes out perfectly well in water at around 20°C with detergent. Only items with skin-oil yellowing or smells need warm water, and only for the wash cycle.
Bath water in the rinse leaves skin oil and bacteria on the laundry. Rinse with tap water.
Hot water only helps the detergent work; it is no substitute for the surfactants that break down skin oil.
That leads to shrinkage, colour loss, creased synthetics and a broken machine. Keep 60°C for bedding, towels and other items that need it.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/laundry_symbols/
https://jsda.org/w/03_shiki/
https://www.waterworks.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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