I have always washed my clothes in cold water as well. I only wash towels and bedding in hot water. My reasoning, perhaps flawed, is that cold water won't set stains. If a stain doesn't come out I have the chance to treat it and wash again. Wheras if I wash in hot water a stain will be set and there is no going back! I don't know if that is true or not, but in my mind it makes sense! Also, growing up in a house with only one bathroom, hot water was precious and there was nothing worse then jumping into the shower only to have cold water hit your body because someone in the house was doing their laundry and using up all the hot water!