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Do you have dirty laundry that’s too delicate for your washing machine? Before you take them to the cleaners, it’s so easy to wash your clothes by hand and freshen them up again. Whether you're washing wool sweaters, silk, lace lingerie, underwear, or any other type of fabric, you can follow the same general steps to clean them. Keep reading and learn everything there is to know about hand-washing clothes so they keep looking great.
Things You Should Know
- Separate your laundry and pre-treat any stains with a color-safe remover.
- Swish your clothes around in lukewarm water mixed with mild detergent.
- Let your clothes soak for up to 30 minutes. Rinse out the detergent with clean, cool water after.
- Gently squeeze water from your clothes before laying them flat on a towel to air-dry.
Steps
Community Q&A
- QuestionDon't I need a brush to scrub my clothes while washing?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerScrubbing your clothes can actually stretch or damage the fibers. Just swish your clothes around and let them soak instead. - QuestionCan you use regular laundry detergent for hand washing?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt is not a good idea to use regular laundry detergent for hand washing on a regular basis. If it’s an emergency, you can use it, preferably on clothes that would normally be machine washable. Wool, silk, cashmere, and any other item that normally needs hand washing should normally be washed in a gentle soap mix or hand washing mix because the enzymes in normal detergent are too strong for such materials. Also consider the effect the machine detergent might have on your hands, as it can be quite drying. In most cases, you’d be better off choosing a mild dish-washing liquid over machine detergent when hand washing clothes. - QuestionHow do I hand wash a white cotton shirt?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerWhite clothes fare best when washed together, away from dark clothes, to avoid transfer of colors. So, if you have clothes to hand wash of different colors, separate the whites. Use water as hot as you can stand to put your hands in, as it’s usual to wash cotton in hot water but don’t make it so hot you scald yourself! Add hand washing detergent and if there are any stains, focus on treating and scrubbing those as well as washing the shirt. For more help with washing white clothes specifically, see How to Wash White Clothes.
Tips
Warnings
- Avoid wringing out your clothes since you could stretch or damage delicate fabrics.[13]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://media3.bosch-home.com/Documents/18042772_210624_washingsymbols.pdf
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/laundry/how-to-hand-wash-clothes.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_fB9YDgKmeE?t=243
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/za/laundry/guide-hand-washing-laundry.html
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/smarter-youre-probably-using-way-too-much-detergent-a6214726490/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/28MW0bGgcUA?t=22
- ↑ https://www.cleaningiscaring.org/wpd/hand-washing-clothes-dos-and-donts/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/y6VpqAWkWCw?t=44
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/how-to-wash-smelly-gym-clothes.html
About This Article
To wash clothes by hand, start by separating your lights and darks like you would if you were machine washing them. Next, fill a sink or tub with warm water and pour in some laundry detergent. Then, submerge your light clothes in the water and swish them around with your hands. After a few minutes, take your clothes out and rinse them under a faucet or in a different container filled with clean water. When you're done washing your lights, repeat the process with your darks. Finally, lay your clothes on a flat, clean surface to air dry. If you want to learn which detergent you should use based on the type of clothes you're watching, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
- "I just wanted to confirm what I knew was right. What I didn't know is if you wrap it in a towel to dry, not to wring it? I always twist it as tight as possible to get it to dry quicker. Did not know it is not good for the fabric to stay healthy. Thank you."..." more
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