Published on December 7th, 2022

Last updated on February 3rd, 2023

How To Hand Wash Clothes In Bathtub & Sink: Eco-Friendly Laundry

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
hand washing laundry

Although modern technologies provide many opportunities for washing, we can not do without manual washing. Therefore, to wash clothes in the bathtub by hand, you need to do the following steps:

  • Read the label on the clothes;
  • If there are stains on the clothes, clean them with a laundry detergent to remove them;
  • Fill the sink or bathtub with water at the temperature indicated on the label;
  • Add the cleanser and immerse the clothes;
  • After soaking, we proceed directly to washing;
  • Finally, you need to rinse your clothes.

Of course, it is better to use a washing machine that rinses and spins clothes independently. But if you need to wash underwear or a blouse with a delicate fabric, it is unlikely to retain its quality after automatic washing. It is because soft fabrics can’t withstand the rigidity of machine washing. Therefore, it is better to wash clothes in the sink to save the quality of your clothes.

5 Best Ways How To Wash Clothes In The Bathtub

Washing clothes by hand is more complicated than it might seem at first glance. Indeed for your things to always look neat, you must know how to care for them properly. Each fabric requires its approach to washing. 

And for this, there are specific rules, following which things will look better and not wear out. And if you remember and do them regularly, this process will not cause difficulties. So, to make it easier for you to wash clothes in the bathtub, we have prepared a step-by-step plan for you:

1. Hand washing tights

hand clothes washing

Most people do not know how to hand wash tights because of their delicate fabric. So, to have clean tights, you should wash them after each use. It is because their fiber absorbs all surrounding odors and repels moisture poorly. As a result, they get dirty quickly. So, to extend their usage, it is necessary to wash them according to the following steps:

1. Make a soapy solution

Pour warm water into the sink or bathtub. But try not to overdo it with the temperature because hot water can reduce the elasticity of the tights or spoil them. After that, add soap to it.

2. Immerse the tights 

When you start to wash such clothes in the bathtub, start doing it from the heels. The dirt accumulates more there. Therefore, wash gradually from the heels to the top with careful movements. And remember, do not wring tights.

3. Change the water

Drain the dirt and fill the sink or bathtub with clean water. Repeat the same steps to wash the tights.

4. Continue hand washing clothes

Wash the tights in cool water until the water runs clear.

5. Finish washing

After thoroughly washing the tight, put them on a towel. And only, in this case, you can wring them slightly. Let them leave like this for a couple of minutes so that the towel absorbs excess moisture.

6. Dry it

After hand washing clothes, you need to allow the tights to dry. To do this, hang them on something and straighten all the folds.

2. Hand washing socks

socks in water

When you start washing clothes, such as socks in the bathtub, you first need to sort them. Do it by color and material. Such separation is essential to avoid some problems during washing. For example, because of one pair of red socks, all the rest of the clothes can acquire a red shade. Therefore, to preserve the color and quality of your socks, wash them according to the following instructions:

1. Shake out your socks

First, you need to remove visible dirt from the socks. Turn them inside out and shake. After a day’s walking, remnants of sand or hair can be on them.

2. Treat the stains

If grease or blood stains are on the socks, it is better to clean them before washing them. Apply a special stain remover on socks and wait 10 minutes.

3. Lather the socks

The best way to hand wash such clothes is to soap them at the beginning. Laundry soap or natural one copes the best with dirt.

4. Pour water

Pour water into the sink or bathtub. It should be 40-60 degrees. Next, dissolve the washing powder there.

5. Soak the socks

After that, you need to put the soapy socks in the solution and leave them for 2-3 hours. It is possible to leave it even longer.

6. Clean the socks well

When enough time has passed, rub the socks where the contamination is. But don’t do it too hard because you can rub the holes. It is better to soap it up and wash clothes in the sink again.

7. Rinse the socks

After that, rinse the socks from the detergent with cool water and let them dry. Then, hang them somewhere, but in no case on the radiator.

3. Hand washing sweaters

clothes and hand washing powder

Most of us have sweaters in our wardrobes. But due to improper care, these favorite clothes can stretch and curl. So, the following tips will help you to avoid these troubles:

1. Read the label

To begin with, you need to look at the sweater label to find out what water temperature you need to use. If there is no label, you must wash such clothes in the bathtub according to the general rules.

2. Turn the sweater inside out

Any sweater requires washing inside out.

3. Fill the bathtub with water

Next, you need to fill the bathtub or sink with cool water. The main rule is to keep the same temperature. If not, it can deform the clothes.

4. Add a cleanser

Then add a few drops of cleanser to the water. If your clothes smell bad, the best way to hand wash clothes is to add 3/4 cup of white vinegar. It will help neutralize all odors.

5. Soak the sweater

Leave the sweater in the water for a short time, a maximum of 5-10 minutes. When it starts to cool down, you need to begin washing this cloth in the bathtub.

6. Rinse the sweater

Gently soak the sweater in water and let it run. Gently press the cloth but in no case spin it.

7. Dry the sweater

Lay it out horizontally on a terry towel and leave it in this position to dry.

4. Hand washing panties

best way to hand wash clothes

If your underwear is made of lace, cotton, or silk, hand washing is the best way to clean it. Such fabrics can not be mixed with other clothes and used in the washing machine. After all, under such conditions, underwear spoils its material. 

Therefore, do hand washing for laundry with good care. So, do the following for hand washing laundry:

1. Fill the bathtub with water

Add water in the bathtub depending on the number of laundries, so the water completely covers them. If you wash a cotton cloth, you can use hot water. In other cases, use the water temperature according to the label on the laundry.

2. Add a cleaning agent

It can be powder or liquid. The main thing is that it should be soft and not erode the fabric. You need to pour the liquid at the rate of 50 ml per 10 liters of water and add powder – 10 g per 1 liter of water. As for the capsules, they are not used for hand washing.

3. Stir the detergent

When you have added it to the water, give it a good stir. No grains should remain from the powder. And liquid detergent should mix well with water until the formation of bubbles.

4. Add your laundry to the bathtub

Immerse the underwear in the bathtub and soak it for at least 25 minutes.

5. Wash the laundry

Next, take your underwear and rub it with your hands. Do it in those places where there is dirt. But try not to rub the fabric too hard so as not to spoil it.

6. Rinse your clothes

Rinse the underwear until you will not see any soap bubbles left in the water. It will take about 10 minutes.

5. Hand washing bras

bra drying outside

Most bras are made of openwork fabric, so it is not worth washing them in a general laundry load. To maintain the good quality of your bra, you need to wash such clothes in the sink separately. But If you wash it with other things, you can immediately say goodbye to your bra. It’s because their delicate fabric will mix with others. And this will cause the fabric to shrink or lose its color. So, it is essential to understand how to wash such clothes in the bathtub without harm:

1. Prepare water 

It is better to use cool or slightly warm water. Usually, its temperature is indicated on the washing symbols from under bras. However, if you do not have this information, add a mild detergent to the sink filled with water.

2. Dip the bra in the water

To begin hand clothes washing, you need to submerge the bra in water. It is better to leave this cloth for 15-20 minutes there so that it absorbs moisture.

3. Use soap

Rub the soap into the bra fabric with slow, gentle movements.

4. Rinse the bra

Rinse it with cold water. Try not to squeeze the bra too hard.

5. Dry the bra

After washing blot the bra with a clean towel. Then straighten its cups and let it air dry. 

Summary

Throwing clothes into the washing machine is much easier than doing it yourself. However, If you want to save the quality of your clothes, it’s better to use a hand-washing method. For this, it is only necessary to follow precise instructions for washing a specific clothing type and follow the directions on the label. 

FAQ

Is hand washing clothes effective?

The short answer is yes. Hand washing is ideal for any garment, especially for delicate fabrics. It better maintains the cleanliness and the look of your clothes than washing machines. In addition, it prevents rapid damage to the textile.

How long should you wash clothes by hand?

Usually, the manual washing process itself takes about 5 minutes. However, soaking the fabric takes more time because the clothes must be in the water for at least 20 minutes.

What soap do you use to hand wash clothes?

Any detergent is suitable for hand washing. It can be both powder and laundry soap. However, for delicate fabrics, it is sometimes better to use products that contain special substances for soft materials.

What is the fastest way to wash clothes by hand?

The fastest way is to immerse the clothes in water with laundry detergent and leave it for a while. The soap solution will be absorbed into the fabric and remove dirt. The main thing is to rinse the clothes after that and let them dry properly.