Why Pros Think You Shouldn’t Boil Your Laundry

Sometimes, we want to refresh our clothes and linens beyond just setting a normal washing machine cycle.

So, people have turned to boiling their laundry—a practice with some history—to try and brighten the whites and fend off bacteria. However, while boiling your laundry might seem well-intentioned, it could actually cause more harm than good.

So, before filling a pot full of water and placing it on the stove, here’s what experts say about what boiling your laundry does to your clothes.

Why Are People Boiling Their Laundry?

Boiling laundry seems like it can give laundry a more effective clean and kill germs. Indeed, it can sanitize and remove stains.

“People think boiling laundry is useful because it kills bacteria and viruses, removes tough stains, and ensures a deep clean,” says Lina DaSilva, the founder of Toronto Shine Cleaning.

However, putting clothes or linens in boiling water to clean them is no longer necessary, even if it is a laundry method with historical precedent.

“While this was historically a routine practice dating back to Medieval times—the practice of boiling clothing pre-dates laundry machines,” says Kathy Cohoon, Operations Manager at Two Maids. “The push button ease we have with technologically advanced washing machines negates the need for boiling,” Cohoon adds.

Cleaning laundry uses three types of energy: mechanical (movement and friction), thermal (water temperature), and chemical (detergents).

“It used to be that thermal energy was the main one available to people doing their laundry,” says Jessica Ek, Senior Director of Digital Communications at the American Cleaning Institute.

Now, with washing machines increasing mechanical energy and the evolution of modern cleaning agents, there isn’t as much of a need for laundry to be washed in boiling hot temperatures.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Boiling Laundry?

Putting your clothes or sheets in boiling water will kill pests, bacteria, or viruses. But so will washing the laundry in hot water, using a sanitizer, or even putting items in the dryer at hot temperatures.

Plus, boiling laundry may not always work on stains. The boiling water could set the stains, potentially making them nearly impossible to remove. This cleaning method is also tough on your clothes or linens.

So, Should You Boil Your Laundry?

The short answer is no. Experts don’t recommend boiling your laundry, and you shouldn’t need to. Boiling laundry can offer a sense of cleanliness and kill bacteria, but it’s not worth the damage to fabrics, the possibility of worsening stains, or the environmental toll.

It’s better to trust your washing machine’s hot water setting and invest in a solid detergent for a good clean rather than boiling your laundry.

How Can You Safely Refresh Your Laundry?

While a washing machine is effective, it can sometimes leave you wanting more. There are other ways to effectively give your laundry the refresh it might need, whether it’s crisper whites or restoring vibrant colors.

“If you want whiter sheets, your best bet is probably to look for bleach or a detergent with a whitening agent, not boiling water,” says Ek. Washing whites separately, using detergent high in enzymes, or drying them outside in the sun can also help keep whites bright.

Alternatively, if your laundry looks dull, laundry stripping is an occasional (usually twice a year) deep cleaning method that can restore clothes or linens to their original vibrancy.

“It’s an extensive process that includes soaking the fabrics into a mixture of hot water, laundry detergent, and sometimes other products to remove any oils, dirt, and built-up residue,” Cohoon says.

Laundry stripping can take a few hours, but it should only be done on durable items that can be cleaned in hot water.

Seeking other ways to keep laundry fresh? Clean the washing machine, always sort by color before washing. Follow the care instructions on labels for the best results. Try these extra refreshing strategies to keep your clothes crisp and clean without boiling them.