Do Detergent Sheets Work in Cold Water?

When it comes to washing clothes, cold water is often the best choice. Not only does washing in cold water save energy, but it's gentler on fabrics than hot water and may help prevent shrinking. Before switching up your washing machine settings, however, it’s a good idea to make sure the laundry detergent you’re using works in cold water. 

Laundry detergent sheets offer a no-mess, hassle-free alternative to traditional liquid and powder detergents. But do they work in cold water? We’re here to answer the question and provide helpful tips for making the most of detergent sheets.

How Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Work?

If you’re used to using traditional detergents, you might be skeptical about making the switch to laundry sheets. How could something as simple as a dissolvable sheet do the work of a full cup of liquid or powder detergent? It all comes down to formulation.

Sheets Laundry Club detergent sheets are uniquely formulated to maximize results with minimum effort. Each sheet contains a premeasured, concentrated dose of detergent—all you have to do is toss it in the washing machine before adding your clothes. When the cycle starts and the machine fills the water, the sheet dissolves and disperses the cleansing agents throughout the load.

Because detergent sheets are designed to dissolve completely, there’s no need to worry about stains on your clothing or sticky residue left behind in your washer. And there’s no plastic pieces to clog your drain or get stuck in your pipes.

Choosing the Right Water Temperature

All you need to get laundry detergent sheets to work is water—the temperature of the water doesn’t matter. Yes, that means laundry sheets work in cold water as well as warm or hot water. Which water temperature you choose may depend on the fabric type and level of soil. 

Cold Water 

When in doubt, it’s often best to do a cold water wash. Cold water is safe for most fabric and it’s less likely to shrink or fade clothing than hot water. It’s particularly beneficial for delicates and brightly colored clothing, but works for just about anything.

Cold water may even be more effective at removing certain types of stains. Protein-based stains (like blood or dairy) and beverage stains (like coffee, soda, and wine) respond well to cold water and it helps keep the stain from setting permanently. 

Warm Water

If your clothing is pretty soiled, a warm water wash might be appropriate. Warm water is a good fit for synthetic fabrics and heavily stained colored clothes that might fade in hot water. Always check the garment care label to make sure warm water is safe for your clothing.

Hot Water 

There’s little reason to use hot water for all of your standard washing, especially since it consumes more energy than cold water washes. Beyond that, some fabrics might shrink or fade in hot water. Sturdier fabrics like linen and cotton might hold up in hot water washes as well, and hot water is sometimes more effective for sanitizing and deodorizing clothing than cold water. 

Hot water might be an appropriate choice for heavily soiled whites, but it’s important to wash them separately from any colored clothing items. Again, check the garment care label to see if the manufacturer recommends using hot water.

5 Tips for Making Detergent Sheets Work 

Most modern detergents are designed to work equally well in cold or hot water, including laundry detergent sheets. While detergent sheets are incredibly easy to use, there’s a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting the best results.

1. Store detergent sheets properly. Because they’re designed to dissolve in water, detergent sheets exposed to moisture in storage might start dissolving prematurely which could impact their effectiveness.

2. Put the sheet in first. Always place your detergent sheet in the washing machine before adding clothes. This enables it to dissolve completely as the washer fills with water.

3. Use the right number. One laundry detergent sheet is enough for a standard, medium-sized load of laundry. You can easily cut them in half for smaller loads or toss in an extra for a large or heavily-soiled load.

4. Avoid overloading the washer. Overcrowding your washing machine could prevent the laundry sheet from dissolving fully or evenly distributing the cleansing agents, keeping your clothes from coming out fully clean. 

5. Consider pre-treating stains. Heavy or set-in stains might not come out in a normal cycle, no matter what type of detergent you use. Try pre-treating stains by dampening the fabric and rubbing a detergent sheet into the stain 10 minutes before washing.

Shop Laundry Day Essentials on Sheets Laundry Club 

Life is hectic enough as it is, so why not simplify things where you can? The laundry room is a great place to start. Making the switch from messy liquid and powder detergents to Sheets Laundry Club detergent sheets is a no-brainer. All you need is one sheet per load, and they work with all types of washing machines. 

While you’re at it, consider making Sheets Laundry Club your go-to for all your laundry day essentials. Get started with a Laundry Essentials Kit, complete with laundry sheets, in-wash scent boosters, and dryer sheets. Or build your own bundle and enjoy additional savings when you start a subscription. 

Don’t forget to join the Sheets Laundry Club loyalty program to start earning points on every purchase (redeemable for discounts on future orders).