If you’re washing your clothing by hand, it’s likely that you’re especially concerned about preserving the quality of the items. Either that, or your washing machine has died! Whichever situation you’re in, washing your clothing by hand isn’t as arduous as people would think. Put on some music or watch your favourite television show at the same time, and you’ll be done faster than you know it.

How to hand wash your clothes effectively

By following these simple steps, you can get your clothes looking fresh and sparkling, all without a washing machine (and without stressing yourself out).

• You may wish to wash your clothes in a large bucket (5 gallons or more, preferably). Alternatively, your bathtub will do the job, or the sink if this is not possible. Whichever container you decide to use, fill it with warm water.
• Next, separate your clothes into two piles: light and dark. We’ve all seen what happens when a stunningly bright red t-shirt works its way into our white washes – everything takes on an unpleasant pink tint. The same is true when hand washing, so be careful to avoid mixing colours.
• Select a detergent which is recommended for the types of fabrics you will be washing. For example, you can purchase detergents which are specifically designed to wash silk – this same product may not be appropriate if you are washing a selection of cotton garments. If you are washing outside, make sure the detergent is biodegradable so that it doesn’t impact the environment when you pour the water away.
• Pour the recommended amount of detergent into the warm water. As a general rule of thumb, half the amount of detergent you would use in a machine wash should suffice, but always follow the instructions.
• For every item you wash, always allow it to soak in the water for several minutes. This is essential so that the fabric can fully absorb the detergent before you begin scrubbing.
• Gently scrub the item and swirl it around in the soapy water. Avoid twisting the fabric, particularly for valuable items, as this may incur damage.
• Rinse each item in a separate bucket or under the cold tap and then hang it out to dry.
• You may wish to discard the water several times throughout the washing process if your clothing is particularly dirty – this is usually the case when washing children’s sports gear!

Drying your clothes

Once the wash is complete, ensure you follow the correct protocol so that your clothing dries correctly and no damage occurs.

• Lay your clothing out flat on a clothes rack. This prevents stretching and wrinkling which will mean less ironing for you once they dry!
• If you are hanging your clothes on a line, shake them thoroughly to ensure they are not bunched up.
• Always ensure that items do not overlap one another when laid out or hung up to dry.
• If hanging your clothes out to dry, avoid positioning the line under a tree as this can result in debris landing on your clothes.
• In the event that the item does dry while wrinkled, always ensure that your iron is operating at the recommended temperature to avoid damaging the fabric.

Washing machine longevity

If you want to preserve the longevity of your washing machine and keep your clothes in sparkling condition, switching to a soft water system is recommended. It has been shown that a soft water system can help to lower your household bills as well as preserve your appliances. For more information about the benefits of water softeners, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.