,This guide will show you how to hand wash clothes safely and effectively in a bathtub to avoid damaging them and to save you the most time possible. We will guide you on the best way to preserve their softness and comfort, and how to hand-wash clothes fast.
Why Wash Clothes in The Bathtub?
Washing clothes by hand is an important part of doing the washing – for external reasons, we’ve mentioned or perhaps when you need to wash more delicate garments that can’t be washed in the machine. Hand-washing clothes may be your only option during the dark days of load shedding and so it’s important to know how. Regardless, some items of clothing, due to the fabric they are made of, are not suitable to be machine washed and therefore must be washed by hand.
Products You Need to Hand Wash Your Clothes
The first step in washing your clothes effectively in the bathtub is to start with a good hand washing powder for washing your clothes. At Cleanipedia, we’ve found that Skip Hand Washing Powder is best for the job and is the easiest and most effective way to hand wash clothes.
Steps to Wash Clothes in The Bathtub
Follow these 10 steps for the easiest way to handwash your clothes.
Step 1 - Clean Your Tub First
When it comes to how to wash laundry in a bathtub, the first step is making sure your bathtub is clean by using a suitable all-purpose cleaner and water. After cleaning your bath, make sure you rinse it well to remove any residue before proceeding with washing your clothes.
Step 2 - Read The Label
It is very important that you read the label on your clothing before washing it. Not all fabrics are suited to being hand-washed and might need to be dry-cleaned. If you are worried about the colourfastness of the fabric, wash a small piece before proceeding to wash the whole garment.
Step 3 - Sort your Laundry
For the best results, sort your laundry into different types of fabric and colour. Do not wash dark colours with white or light colours. Keep these separate to ensure that the dark colours do not run into the white fabrics and discolour them.
Step 4 – Check The Drain Plug is Functional
There is probably nothing more annoying than soaking your clothes for an hour or so only to come back and realise the water has completely drained from the bath, and you’ll have to start all over again! To avoid any leaking, make sure that the plug fits tightly into the drain.
Step 5 - Set The Appropriate Water Temperature
The temperature of the water will depend on the type of fabric. Make sure you have read the label carefully to ensure you have the correct temperature for washing your clothes. If the label does not have this information, use cold water for washing. A mix of cold and lukewarm water is best for most fabrics.
Step 6 - Add The Detergent
It is best if you add the detergent while the water is running into the bath as this helps dissolve the detergent. If you’re using Surf Hand Washing Powder, just make sure to move the water around well and get the powder fully dissolved into the water before adding the clothes.
Step 7 - Put your Clothes In
Be careful to keep the load size small as this will ensure more effective washing of clothes. Swirl the clothes around in the water and ensure they are properly submerged. Leave them to soak for at least 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes, if possible, for best results when removing tough stains and dirt.
Step 8 - Start Washing
Use your hands to rub the clothes together. You can use rubber gloves to protect your skin if you have sensitive hands. Another effective method is to climb into the tub and stomp on the clothes. This can be done for up to 10 minutes depending on how dirty the laundry is. Try not to overdo the rubbing as this can damage the fabric. Be careful not to slip when you get out of the bathtub by drying your feet well on a towel.
Step 9 - Rinse With Fresh Water
Drain the dirty water from the bathtub. Make sure you squeeze as much soapy water out of the clothes as possible. If you can, remove the clothes from the bathtub and rinse the tub to eliminate the soapy residue. Replace the plug and fill the bath with clean water. The clothes can then be put back into the clean water and swirled around or stomped on to remove the soap. Repeat this as many times as necessary to get all the soap out of the clothes. You can also rinse each item of clothing under the tap to ensure they are soap-free.
Step 10 - Squeeze and Dry Them as Soon as Possible
Do not wring your clothes to get the water out of them, this can damage the fabric. Gently squeeze as much water out of each item and place it in a separate, clean laundry basket or bucket ready for drying.
You can roll each garment in a towel to remove excess water if necessary. It is important to hang the clothes up as soon as possible to dry. This prevents clothes from going mouldy or smelling. Hang your clothing out to dry outside, air drying is best for clothing.
Follow these steps and you’ll be a natural at washing clothes in the tub. Keen to know more about washing delicate clothing? Read our blog on How To Wash Expensive and Delicate Clothing now.
If done correctly, washing your clothes in the bathtub is as effective as washing them in a washing machine and will go a long way to protecting and prolonging the life of your garments. It’s also a great way to ensure you always have clean clothes should you not be able to use your washing machine if you don’t have one, or when you’re travelling.
For more laundry tips and tricks, visit Cleanipedia now.