Learning how to hand wash clothes is an important, if somewhat unexpected, part of modern life. Many renters don’t have access to an in-unit washing machine, and even those who do will want to avoid exposing their most delicate (and expensive!) , , and sweaters to the washing machine’s spin cycle. Besides, caring for and preserving the clothing you currently own is not just ideal for your wardrobe and your wallet—it’s also essential for the planet.
The toll that clothing waste takes on the environment is , and it is in everyone’s best interest the devastating effects of throwing away their damaged, unwanted items. That said, knowing how to hand wash clothes isn’t exactly intuitive. As anyone who has entertained the notion can attest, there are a surprising number of questions to consider.
Like, what is the ideal water temperature to use when hand washing? Should darks and lights be separated? And, how the heck am I supposed to dry all this stuff when I’m done? For answers to all of these questions, we called upon Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd. As co-founders of a brand dedicated to all things laundry, the two are experts at hand washing. Below, they share their best practices for hand-washing launderable fabrics and garments and also address the age-old conundrum of whether hand washing or dry cleaning is best.
Read on for all the easy, actionable steps. To dry clean or hand wash? While we always try to avoid dry cleaning, there are some that we don’t recommend washing. Fur with skin cannot be washed as the skin can shrink or dry out with wet washing.
Another tricky fabric is Viscose. Viscose is a type of rayon, and although many rayons can be washed, viscose has been known to shrink to extreme proportions. We also find that rayon and viscose are often not labeled properly and do not recommend the risk as the shrinkage, elongation, distortion, or puckering is not reversible.
We also don’t recommend washing structured materials, like blazers with shoulders pads as they can become distorted in the wash. Keep batches small —by washing every day or every other day—is the easiest way to keep the loads manageable. A small load of laundry can be effectively washed in a clean sink, a washbasin, or a large bucket.
For larger loads, the bathtub is your best option. Clean your tub, sink, or basin Before you start washing your items in the tub, be sure to clean it! Remove dirt and grime by creating a powerful mixture with The Laundress’s all-purpose cleaning concentrate and all-purpose bleach alternative and hot water. Once you’ve cleaned the tub, make sure the drain is closed to keep the water afloat.
Pretreat strains For best results, be sure to wash like colors and fabrics together. Pretreat any with the Stain Solution (ideal for color-rich protein and tannin stains such as red wine, juice, chocolate, and ink) or the Wash & Stain Bar (ideal for oil or grease stains such as ring around the collar, salad dressing, and makeup). Mind the temperature If you’re washing cotton, linen, and/or durable synthetics (such as polyester), run warm or hot water long enough to cover the garments.
Next, add the appropriate amount of , depending on the size of the load—usually 2-4 capfuls. Soak and repeat Gently agitate the water with your hands to create a soapy solution and let the garments soak for up to 30 minutes. Remove the laundry from the tub by pressing each garment against the edge of the tub, and placing in a clean bucket or sink.
Then, open the drain to release the soapy water and close the drain before filling the tub back up with clean warm water. Place the garments in the clean warm water. Swirl to thoroughly rinse away the suds and drain once more.
If any garments still have suds, run them under the faucet until rinse water is clear. Never wring the garments as that will cause damage to the fibers. Instead, press garments against the edge of the tub to get rid of excess water.
Hang or lay flat to dry We have always been fans of line drying, as it preserves fibers, colors, shape, and elasticity while also saving energy. Most everyday garments can be hung to dry on a hanger, but be sure the hanger is properly shaped to prevent annoying shoulder bumps. Delicate knits, such as wool and cashmere, should always be dried by laying flat in its natural shape on a drying rack or clean towel—hanging will strain the fibers and distort the garment.
If you hang directly from the shower rod, be careful of rusting, which can be very hard to remove. Steam to release wrinkles Steaming is the gentlest way to release wrinkles from garments and it also helps kill bacteria. We only iron items when we want a crisp finish on dress shirts or sheets.
To easily remove mild to moderate wrinkles, spray the Crease Release six inches from the garment and smooth with your palms or follow up with the steamer..
