New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- Should you use warm water for laundry in the winter? The answer hinges on more than old habits. Most modern washing machines are equipped with intelligent heating and adaptive cycles and make winter washes work smarter. As the mercury drops, tap water can get bitterly cold which means your detergent could struggle to dissolve and stains could cling on as tenacious as ever.

Modern machines are designed to bridge this seasonal gap. Top front-loaders from leading brands now sport built-in heaters, variable temperature settings, and sensors that adjust every aspect of the wash to the conditions outside. When you select a warm wash (anything in the 30degC to 40degC bracket), you're essentially letting your machine optimis...