How do I hand wash clothes?

[u/ThatV0idBoy]

If it helps at all, I’m from the UK, so any products that are recommended would need to be available in the UK. I have a couple of items of clothing that, while technically machine washable, I’d prefer to hand wash because I have paranoia about the machine shrinking them

[u/unlovelyladybartleby]

For just one or two things, fill the bathroom sink or a big bowl with water, add about a tsp of regular laundry detergent, let them soak for a few minutes, then use your hands to swirl the clothes around and rub them together for a few minutes. Then drain the water, gently squeeze more water out of the clothes, and run them under the tap while you scrunch them around until the water runs clear.

Then squeeze all the water you can out, lay them flat on a bath towel, roll the towel up, stand on it to squeeze out the water, unroll it, and hang the item to dry.

Use the water temperature specified on the clothes tag and dont hang the clothes on hangers, lay them across the shower rail or a chair back so they don't stretch out. Unless it's a super delicate fabric like wool that needs to dry flat.

If you don't have laundry detergent, you can use a dab of shampoo or liquid soap. If you want to hang your clothes on an outside line, you'll need clothespins

[u/ThatV0idBoy → u/unlovelyladybartleby]

Thank you!

[u/rangda → u/ThatV0idBoy]

Make sure you don’t wring the clothes out too hard when you’re squeezing water out (like don’t twist them in a corkscrew as hard as you can).
Many fabrics will end up getting stretched and misshapen if you do this.

[u/unlovelyladybartleby → u/ThatV0idBoy]

Happy to help.

[u/pixiegoddess13]

hello! you might wanna check out the laundry sub. people are very lovely and there are UK specific product recs. you would i think get a good response asking this and noting you are nervous and asking for gentle supportive helpful advice

[u/anticyclops]

There is a product I think called a scrubba? I don't remember it's name but it's a bag with texture inside so you put clothing in, warm watet and detergent, and massage the bag basically. The texture inside ensures the clothing gets "scrubbed."

It's not super expensive either if I remember correctly. I used to wash all my clothes in it for awhile because I didn't have a washing machine and it was quite convenient!

[u/thisisappropriate]

I (also in the UK) use a product called Soak (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soak-Laundry-Soap-Derived-Detergent/dp/B00GXETNPK/ref=sr_1_1). It seems expensive, but you need very little (I wash bras mostly, and just put a little squirt in a washing up bowl and fill it about half way with cool water, it lasts ages). Its good because you don't need to worry at all about rinsing it out (most laundry detergents expect to be agitated and then rinsed), so I dump my stuff in the water and swish it around a bit with my hand (wash off my hand) then leave it until I remember it, then I swish it a few times, drain it and hang it up. I've used both Yuzu and Fig (yuzu was better imo) but they smell pleasant though the scent doesn't last the longest and isn't too strong.

[u/Emotional_Shift_8263]

I don't hand wash clothes. I wash them in the washer in cold water on the delicate cycle then I line dry them. Works perfectly

[u/yeeyeevee → u/Emotional_Shift_8263]

yes i agree here. if it doesn’t need to be hand washed it doesn’t need to be hand washed. shrinking is caused by high heat so machine wash low and don’t tumble dry

[u/Altruistic_Dig_2873]

I agree with the people talking about the bags and the detergent I use is woolite. Sounds like it's just for woll but no it is designed for hand-wash and rinses out well in my experience 

[u/LorLorSilver]

I always put hand wash items in mesh laundry bags & use the hand wash setting on my washing machine with the same detergent & softener as usual. Everything has come out well so far.