How to Properly Hand Wash Clothes So They Last Longer

Are your washer and dryer doing more harm than good to your favorite clothes? It’s common knowledge that the dryer shrinks your clothes, but did you know that the dryer shrinks clothing twice as much as washing alone?

If you worry when you need to wash your clothes, you’re not being overprotective. Maintaining your clothing so that it lasts is important.

So, what can you do to combat this issue? Hand wash your garments!

Keep reading to learn how to properly hand wash clothes.

Check the Label

Understanding how to properly hand wash clothes might be as simple as reading the label. The label could have specific recommendations for washing.

If the care label is nonexistent on your garment, choose a dishwashing liquid or mild detergent.

Fill Your Tub With Water

The easiest solution to how to hand wash clothes is to use your bathtub or another form of a washtub. The care label should tell you what temperature to set the water.

If there is no label, cool to lukewarm water will work fine.

Once you have it filled, add a teaspoon of your detergent. If you are washing multiple items or a large item, you’ll need more detergent than this. The general rule is one teaspoon per item.

Soak Your Garment

The best way to hand wash clothes is by submerging them completely into the mixture you created. Move the item through the soapy water, but don’t scrub or twist your garment to the point of damage.

Hand washing tools can help if you have them. You will need washing tools like a small brush to get grease out of clothes along with other stains. If this isn’t the case, hand washing tools aren’t necessary.

Rinse and Repeat

One of the handwashing clothes hacks that people tend to miss is the rinse and repeat step. You’ll want to drain the tub and refill it with cool rinse water.

Continue to push your garment into the water until the soap is removed. You can smell the garment to make sure it is no longer scented. If you need to, repeat the process with clean water to get all of the soap out.

Dry Your Clothing

After learning how to wash your clothes by hand, you’ll need to know how to dry them as well. Drying hand-washed clothing without a dryer takes longer so be prepared for that.

Once you get all of the soap out, gently squeeze the excess water from the garment. Twisting or wringing the garment can stretch the fibers and ruin the fabric so be careful when you squeeze.

Place your garment on a dry towel and encase your clothes in the towel to press out any excess water. After this, let your hand-washed clothes air dry until they are ready to be worn again.

How to Properly Hand Wash Clothes Without Damage

You buy your clothes expecting them to last you a good amount of time. Sometimes a washer and dryer will ruin your clothes before you can get good use out of them.

By learning how to properly hand wash clothes, you have a way to clean your delicate garments without risking a change in quality. Take what you learned from this guide to start making your clothes last longer.

For more tips that can help your fashion, check out the other posts on our website.