Learning how to handwash your laundry is a fun and rewarding experience. It allows you to be present, save money, and craft a new skill all at the same time. 

How to Handwash Your Laundry 

Where to Wash Your Clothes When You Wash Them by Hand

There are a variety of methods one can use to handwash their laundry, but the most common are the bathtub, the kitchen or bathroom sink, and a portable washing machine. 

Step One: Sorting

The first step in hand washing your lays dry is sorting. Since you’re not washing your items in a washing machine, it’s best to sort them into small piles in various categories such as colors, whites, undergarments, towels, etc. 

Step Two: Pre-Soaking

After you’ve finished sorting your clothes, you’ll pick one pile and start pre-soaking it. Go to your washing station a.k.a. your bathtub, your sink, or a portable washing machine and fill it up with the desired amount of water and presoak or mild detergent for about 15-20 minutes. 

Pre-soaking is also the time when you should do your stain removal process. Spray down any stains and let them sit prior to adding to your pre-soak.

Step Three: Washing

Now that you’ve soaked your clothes, you can drain the water then add fresh water and detergent and begin washing. Using your hands, gently agitate your clothes for 1-5 minutes before moving onto step four.

Step Four: Rinsing

This is where the work really comes in. Since your clothes are all washed, now what you’re going to do is rinse them and ring them out to dry. 

You can rinse in one of two ways. You can fill up your basin with clean water, squeeze out your clothes in the water and let it drain. Or you can take piece by piece and squeeze it out under running water. Though the first way is recommended as it saves water. 

Once your items are rinsed, you’ll want to ring them out really well before hanging them to dry. For this step, a portable spin dryer is highly recommended. 

Step Five: Drying

That it. That’s all there is to it. You’ve successfully hand washed your clothes, you can now hang them to air dry or lay them out over a drying rack. Depending on the material, clothes can take anywhere from 1 hour up to 48 hours to dry. 

Best Methods for Air Drying Your Clothes

In order to prevent mold and a musty smell on your clothes after handwashing them, it’s important that you generate proper airflow and allow them to air dry accordingly.

Using a close line or a drying rack should help your clothes dry evenly with proper air circulation in a timely manner. You don’t want to lay them flat on a surface or hang them against the wall where one side isn’t getting enough airflow. 

Green Frog House Cleaning

While we don’t do laundry, we can help you make sure the rest of the house is in pristine condition. What are you waiting for? Contact us today for a free estimate and learn how our professionals can help you keep a cleaner home.