Knowing how to wash clothes in buckets and tubs without your washer can be an essential life hack in so many situations. This skill can come in handy while you’re away from home. It’s a good way to not carry too much luggage or unnecessary weight, especially if you’re going to be traveling for several days. This skill can also be useful when your washer is faulty.
How To Wash Clothes: Basic Step By Step
The good news is that the hand-wash laundry is not as tasking as you may have believed. We have prepared a practical guide with useful techniques, tricks, and tips to get that clean wash without using a washer.
1. Keeping an eye on the labels
Whether it is Coldwater, hot water, hand wash, or just soaking, the first step is to check the label. Reading the fabric label might look complicated, but it’s not. The symbols are classified into 5 groups, with instructions on each step of the process.
2. Separating the pieces the right way
Have you checked the tag? Checking the label will answer these questions. Now, to avoid damage, stains, and the dreaded “balls”, it is essential to make a prior separation of clothes, color and type of fabric must be separated accordingly.
Start by separating the most delicate items, such as underwear, finer fabrics, and 100% cotton items. For example, white garments should be washed separately.
Ideally, heavy items such as towels, jeans, bedding, dish towels, and tablecloths are accumulated for a while and washed in individual sessions for each “group” (one wash only for jeans, another for towels, etc.)
Finally, make specific batches of white and lighter tones, black clothes, and colored/printed ones. Each of them must be washed separately too, doing this will make the process easier and also give you a better result
3. Set the ideal washing Technique
There’s no mystery in the process, the right washing tricks are guided by the separation of items you’ve already done. The procedures can vary according to your personal preferences, but it is common to have specific washing techniques for “jeans”, “duvets” “towels” and “colored clothes”.
4. Dry carefully
That’s right: putting clothes to dry requires some care. It is also worth remembering that there are specific symbols on the labels about this step. Some pieces can be twisted and hung, while others require you to be more careful and gentle.
In general, it is recommended to dry clothes in a ventilated and shady environment. For pieces that wrinkle easily, such as shirts, a great tip is to put them on the hanger before hanging them on the clothesline.
How To Wash Clothes By Hand
Even with a machine at home, knowing how to wash by hand is also very important. The method is suitable for the most delicate pieces or to remove heavier stains.
The procedure is simple:
- Fill a bucket or container with warm or cold water;
- Dissolve a mild soap (quality detergent will work better) or specific products for delicate clothes in the water
- Soak the garment in the solution and leave it for a while
- Gently rub the piece, highlighting the parts with possible stains
- Rinse the fabric with clean water to remove all soap.
Washing New Clothes
When it comes to new clothes, the fear of spoiling the pieces is even greater. In situations like these(in addition to looking at the instructions on the label), do the first wash by hand because special care is indicated so as not to damage your fabrics.
Doing this will allow you to test and see if the garment “loses color” and if it will not stain other clothes in the machine.
Washing White Clothes
The major task here is to separate the white and light-toned pieces and wash them separately. In addition, it is interesting to pre-wash the stains and let the pieces soak longer before the machine if applicable.
For white clothes, some homemade tricks are very effective
- Use lukewarm water to soak the clothes, doing this makes it easier to remove the stains.
- Mix baking soda and white vinegar and use as a bleach.
- Soak a sponge in hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the yellow spots, rinse with warm water afterward
- Place the pieces to dry inside out, avoiding stains from the clothesline or hanger.
Washing Black Clothes
When it comes to black clothes, the main concern is usually to prevent fading. First, of course, separate the black clothes from the others and also consider the types of fabric you’re about to wash. Here are some tricks and tips for this process:
- Avoid soaking black clothes for longer periods as this could lead to color fading.
- Turn the fabrics inside out before putting them in the machine.
- Always use cold water and neutral/mild soap
- Add white vinegar directly to your wash
- Dry your black fabrics under a shade.
Other Tips On How To Wash Clothes Quickly Without A Machine
When organizing your suitcase before leaving for a long trip, there are some strategies you can adopt that will help in the event you need to wash clothes without a machine.
If you’re going to be away from home for many days, you’ll probably have to do laundry without a washing machine at some point during your trip. Therefore, try to carry light clothes in your luggage, and try to also ensure they are fabrics that dry easily and do not wrinkle.
If your destination is a cold place, dress in layers and wear light clothing underneath. That way, you don’t have to wash your outside clothes as often and you can take fewer pieces, relieving the weight of your luggage.
Take a few clothes in your luggage and try to wash clothes by hand as you get your clothes dirty this is to ensure that they don’t accumulate.
Unlike socks, t-shirts and pants don’t need to be washed daily or as often while traveling. Only put the garment to wash when they are dirty.
If you suspect that you will have to wash clothes without a washing machine during your trip, when packing, try to include a little detergent and fabric softener in your luggage. Just remember to store them properly to avoid leaks. Liquid soap and fabric softener can be placed in a small bottle, while powdered soap can be stored in a plastic bag.
Can’t imagine washing clothes in the sink during a trip? However, it is often necessary, right? So follow the clothes choice tips so you don’t waste time on it.
Finally, when a piece is stained, the ideal is to prewash it by hand with neutral products or stain removers. The sooner the mess is dealt with, the better!
The last tip is to always use protective bags on clothes that release lint, hair, and “balls”. It is also worth protecting the most delicate pieces.