How to Hand Wash Laundry
Hello, and welcome to Videojug.
I'm going to show you how to hand wash laundry.
As an example, I'm going to use this jumper.
Step one, you will need some laundry to wash.
I've got a jumper, but you'll also need somewhere to wash it.
A sink or a basin like this will do.You should also have some laundry detergent or soap,
a little fabric softener, a supply of water, some rubber gloves, a towel, and a clothes
horse or clothes line for drying.
You might also want to use a spot cleaner for stains, an iron, a piece of white cotton,
and white vinegar.
Step two, why are you washing by hand?
Hand washing is a complicated business.
The variety of fabrics and fabric mixes widens every day.
Washing by hand is tough work.
But it is worth it to see your clothes washed with care.
They look better, and last longer.
Step three, check the label.
The only material you shouldn't wash is leather.
For everything else, check the label.
It is vital to heed the instructions on the care label of the jumper as these can vary
even between two items of exactly the same fabric.
Only try to hand wash garments where the label indicates that they can be machine washed
or hand washed.
If you try to wash dry clean only clothing yourself, you risk ruining the color or shape
of the clothes.
Step four, fill the basin with water.
For demonstration purposes, I'm using this basin, but obviously, you can use a sink at
home.
Fill the basin with water.
Pay attention to the care label when it comes to the temperature of the water.
Clothes that are marked with a hand wash symbol should be washed at 35 degrees or less.
This will feel lukewarm to the touch.
Some clothes will need cold water.
As a general guide line, synthetic fabrics that have elastic properties can lose their
elasticity at hot temperatures.
Wool can shrink from heat and from the tumbling in a washing machine or dryer.
Handy hint, wash your gym clothes soon after use.
Perspiration will stain Lycra and elastane within forty eight hours.
Finish off your workout with a little hand washing and the stain will come out more easily.
Step five, separate your clothes.
If you've got a few things to wash group similar items together like this.
Organize them first by color, so the whites, colors and dark are separated.
Then divide the piles in to the water temperature that they need.
Wash each group separately.
You will be changing the water in between, but there can be residue of the dye left in
the basin, so it's safer to do whites first, then colors, and finally darks.
Step six, test delicate items.
The dye in delicate items like silks and woolens can run and ruin the garment and the ones
that they are being washed with, so test a little piece first.
Dip an inconspicuous piece of the garment in cold or tepid water.
Put a piece of white cotton over the damp material and press a warm iron on top.
If dye has transferred to the cotton, other than a faint trace, then you shouldn't wash
it yourself.
Step seven, pre-treat clothes.
If anything is stained, you should put on a little spot cleaner or suitable stain remover
before washing.
Step eight, put on gloves.
Put on some rubber gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals.
They will also help if the water is hot.
Step nine.
add the detergent.
Put a little laundry detergent in the water and move it around so that it's fully dissolved.
Use a gentle detergent.
The items you are washing are probably delicate.
Warning, never use chlorine bleach on cashmere or white wool.
It will damage the cashmere, and make the white wool yellow.
Step ten, soak.
Put your first batch of washing in the soapy water and leave them to soak for a few minutes.
They are much easier to clean if they are fully drenched through.
Step eleven.
agitate.
Knead the clothes to get the detergent and water right through the fabric, and draw out
the dirt.
Most fabrics can be kneaded like this, but loosely woven items and silks can become misshapen
if you pull them too much, so very gently rub them so that the soap can do its work.
Pay particular attention to areas where you might have perspired or that have become dirty,
like under the arms, cuffs, and collars.
Step twelve, rinse.
When you are satisfied that the clothing is nice and clean, empty out the soapy water.
Press down on the clothes so that as much of the water as possible is gone.
Fill the basin with fresh water and agitate the clothes a little, and empty out the water
again.
Repeat this several times until the water runs clear.
You can add a little fabric softener to the first rinse to condition the fabrics.
Handy hint, to give silk a nice sheen, add a small amount of white vinegar to the water
for the final rinse.
This will also help to keep it bright, and stop yellowing.
Step thirteen, wring them out.
Wring items gently, and roll in a towel to soak up more moisture.
Silk shouldn't be wrung, as it can become misshapen.
When you have soaked up as much of the water as you can, remove from the towel.
Step fourteen, leave to dry.
Most laundry can be left to dry on a line or a clothes horse like this.
However, if you are drying wool or heavy materials, they should be left to dry flat, like so.
If these materials are hung to dry, the water can pull them out of shape.
Done.
Good to go.