How to Wash Clothes Properly by Hand, to Prolong Their Life

Sometimes, for one reason or another, it is necessary to wash certain clothes by hand, for example, delicate ones, such as some linen items, blouses made of very thin materials, or with applications that risk spoiling in the washing machine, etc.

If you need to wash some clothes in the sink or basin, make sure in advance that you follow all the care instructions on the product label, regarding the water temperature, the type of detergent, the washing method.

Then follow the advice of the experts, who will help you to wash your favorite clothes safely and make sure that they look good in the long run.

How to wash clothes by hand

Hand washing is, without a doubt, the most delicate process of cleaning clothes, which you usually apply to your favorite items. To save time, you can wash clothes of the same color and material together.

Make sure in advance that there is no risk of a particular product discoloring or staining other clothing. Follow this step-by-step guide to washing clothes by hand.

Read the label carefully to see what kind of material the garment is made of: silk, wool, etc. Choose the right type of detergent. In general, the standard detergent works for most products, but certain items may require a more gentle detergent, possibly a liquid one.

Treat stains with a special product or liquid detergent applied directly to the stain, avoiding rubbing too much. While soaking your clothes, change the water several times.

Fill the sink with water at the temperature indicated on the clothing label. Silk, wool, and bright colors are best washed in cold water. Add detergent and mix to make sure it dissolves. Put the clothes in the water and make sure they are completely covered.

The water may color slightly, but don't panic. It is normal for some of the fabric dye to release color, but the color of the garment will not change after washing.

Rinse the clothes carefully. If you can use a water sprayer, line smaller clothes, such as underwear or swimwear, on a stand and rinse them one at a time. If not, fill the sink with clear, cold water, immerse the coat, then squeeze it, repeating the process as many times as needed.

Remove excess water. If you wash a delicate item, lift it lightly with both hands, let the water drain, then squeeze it carefully, not too much. You can place it on an absorbent towel, then roll the towel carefully to absorb excess water.

Dry the items. Be careful of the delicate ones, especially the knits, to be as smooth as possible when they are put on the dryer so that they are not very lumpy and wrinkled afterward. Allow the clothes to dry in the dry air and be sure to turn them over on the other side when they dry on one side.

How to wash bras and delicate linen

If you wash such items in the car too often, they could be damaged over time. Lingerie brands recommend hand washing bras and other fine linen to maintain their shape and fabric. By the way, it's pretty easy to wash in the sink.

Fill the sink with lukewarm water (or at the temperature indicated on the label) and add a mild detergent.

Put the linen in the water and let it soak for 15 minutes. From time to time, make sure that the water with detergent penetrates the depth of the fabric and all the spaces of the bras, but do not rub excessively.

Rinse carefully, either using a sprayer and placing the linen on a stand, or filling the sink with water and dipping the bra or other linen, then squeezing lightly to remove excess water.

Use a towel that you lightly press on the back of the bra cups and on the straps to absorb the water. Then arrange the bra in the usual shape and dry it.

Like bras, wash your underwear. You can let multiple pairs of panties of the same color and fabric soak in the water for 30 minutes. Otherwise, the process of washing, squeezing, and drying is similar to that of bras.

How to wash delicate sweaters

We all have a favorite sweater that we don't want to put in the car, but we don't always have time to take it to the dry cleaner. Here's how to put one together for use with your Dry Clean label.

How to wash delicate sweaters

We all have a favorite sweater that we don't want to put in the car, but we don't always have time to take it to the dry cleaner. Here's how to put one together for use with your Dry Clean label.

Make sure that the water has a fixed temperature indicated on the label and choose the detergent recommended by the manufacturer. Generally, you can fill the sink with lukewarm water and add a liquid detergent for delicate laundry.

Treat stains with a special stain remover or liquid detergent, pressing lightly on the stain without rubbing excessively.

Turn the sweater upside down, immerse it in water, and rotate it several times. Let it soak for 10 minutes.

Rinse carefully, preferably by placing the sweater on a stand and using water spray. If not, fill the sink with cold, clear water, put the sweater in the water, and squeeze lightly.

Lift the sweater with both hands and gently squeeze it to remove as much water as possible. Then place it on an absorbent towel and roll out the towel to make sure it absorbs all the excess water.

Spread the sweater over a dry towel and let it air out. Once it dries on one side, turn it on the other, for complete drying.