This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
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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
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QuestionDon't I need a brush to scrub my clothes while washing?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow 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?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow 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?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow 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.
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Tips
Warnings
- Avoid wringing out your clothes since you could stretch or damage delicate fabrics.[13]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/step-step-guide-washing-your-clothes-hand
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/laundry-basics-sorting-it-out
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
- ↑ https://theecoguide.org/hand-wash-clothes-effortlessly-all-while-saving-earth
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/cleaning/smarter-youre-probably-using-way-too-much-detergent-a6214726490/
- ↑ https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/learn-to-wash-clothes-by-hand/
- ↑ https://www.cleaningiscaring.org/wpd/hand-washing-clothes-dos-and-donts/
- ↑ https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/step-step-guide-washing-your-clothes-hand
- ↑ https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/step-step-guide-washing-your-clothes-hand
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Reader Success Stories
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"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