Society & Culture Hot Vs Cold

[hawksfor2010]

They say that hot is better than cold when it comes to cleaning stuff. Is this true or is it a myth?

 

[Wally Carter]

They say that hot is better than cold when it comes to cleaning stuff. Is this true or is it a myth?

Myth. It all depends on what you are cleaning.

Hot water generally has a stronger dissolving power and can therefore dissolve more solid particles than cold water.

However, that is not always the case.

Here this chart shows the green line (Barium Nitrate) having higher solubility as temperature increases, whereas the blue line (Cerium Sulfate) shows a decrease in solubility as temperaturte increases.

 

[hawksfor2010]

Myth. It all depends on what you are cleaning.

Hot water generally has a stronger dissolving power and can therefore dissolve more solid particles than cold water.

However, that is not always the case.

Here this chart shows the green line (Barium Nitrate) having higher solubility as temperature increases, whereas the blue line (Cerium Sulfate) shows a decrease in solubility as temperaturte increases.

Thanks alot for clearing that up, I have a greater understanding of it.

Cheers

 

[Pie eyed]

This info will come in handy next time I'm washing those nasty Barium Nitrate stains out of my shorts.

 

[BomberGal]

When you're doing the dishes, hot is much better. There is more kinetic energy in the water which can be transferred to 'break up' the surface tension between fats etc stuck to the dishes. In general, washing will work better in warmer conditions. There are three reasons washing the dishes 'works': detergents which solubilise lipids in water, energy transfer from hot water, and energy supplied by physical agitation (i.e. scrubbing), that is, friction. You can extend these principles to cleaning other things, but bleach, for example, has no requirement for heat.

When you're washing your clothes, for example, it depends. If enzymes are added in your detergent, they generally work better at the physiological temperature of 37 degrees, and in fact higher temperatures may denature them (change their shape), thus preventing them from working at all. So if you're just using a detergent, hot is probably better. Detergents with enzymes can work optimally at lower temperatures.