Tools and Materials

Tools

Large tub or sink
Dry Towels
Drying Rack

Materials

5 Steps to Hand Wash Clothes

Hand washing your clothes allows for special care, ensuring every step is tailored to preserve the fabric’s quality from start to finish. It also lets you concentrate on heavily soiled areas and clean them thoroughly.

Clean the laundry sink with water and soap to remove any dust or dirt. Cover the drain and fill your laundry sink with cold water. Add a few drops of detergent liquid and swish the water with your hand to ensure the detergent is well dissolved. Separate your laundry by color, turn the garments inside out and soak your laundry in the water for about twenty minutes.

If your sink is not large enough, use a tub or a bucket. Pre-soaking your clothes also makes washing heavily soiled clothes easier, allowing time for the detergent to work on the stains.

Tip

Read the care tag on your clothes to learn how the garment should be washed. Pay special attention to the recommended water temperature and any other instructions for dry cleaning.

Add the amount of detergent recommended on the packaging to your clothes. Remember to balance it with the few drops of detergent already added to the soaking solution. Too little detergent could leave lingering stains, and too much can be difficult to rinse out completely, leaving your dry garments feeling stiff. For hard stains, apply stain remover directly to the stained area on your clothes.

Follow these steps to ensure thorough cleaning of your clothes:

When washing clothes by hand, gently swish the clothes through soapy water.
Swirl, knead and gently scrub the clothes against each other for about 5-6 minutes.
Alternate between clockwise and anticlockwise motions to loosen up any dirt.
Focus on one garment at a time and scrub it with your palms. This will help in cleaning out the dirt between fibers.
Pay extra attention to collars, cuffs and areas prone to dirt buildup.

Good to Know

Avoid scrubbing your clothes too hard, as this could damage the fabric.

How to Hand Wash Delicate Garments

When washing clothes by hand, garments like sweaters, delicate lingerie, gym wear, knitted items, etc., require special care.

For Sweaters and Delicate Garments:

Check the fabric’s tag for recommended wash instructions. Use a gentle detergent and follow the basic cleaning steps. Do not wring clothes as this can cause stretching and leave you with misshapen clothes.

For Gym Clothes:

Gym clothes tend to absorb bodily odor easily. You can use an anti-microbial fabric deodorizer to combat this odor. Also, you can give this type of clothing a good scrub to get rid of any dirt or oils absorbed.

Properly washing your clothes is key to maintaining their condition and preventing any long-term damage. Learning how to hand wash clothes is easy and can be accomplished by keeping a few things in mind. While it may require some effort, hand washing is an effective way to care for your clothes and ensure they stay in excellent shape.

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Cleaning

How to Hand Wash Clothes