How to wash clothes by hand?

Laundry is a daily task that must be completed regularly in all households. Still, a surprising number of people reach adulthood without a firm idea of how to properly and effectively complete this chore. Laundry is a task, luckily, that is easily learned and mastered with practice.

1. Separate the Laundry

Before laundry can be placed in the washing machine, it should be separated both by color and by washing requirements. Remove all clothing that should be dry cleaned and place it in a separate location to avoid accidentally laundering it by machine. Place the remaining laundry in three different piles. All whites should be sorted together, all light-colored garments should be grouped, and all dark garments should be sorted; when completed, you should have three piles.

2. Sort by Washing Requirements

Sort through each color grouping, removing any articles of clothing that require hand washing or a delicate cycle. Place these in a separate grouping. Tip: Whites and light-colored clothing most often require special handling; dark clothing rarely will need to be washed on a delicate cycle.

3. Select Setting and Start Load

Select the appropriate setting on the washing machine. Most loads can be run on a normal cycle length with warm water; whites are best washed on hot. Add the appropriate amount of soap to the washing machine drum as the machine begins to fill. Use more soap for heavily soiled loads and less soap for standard loads of laundry. Fill the detergent cup to at least the first line for every load.

4. Add Clothing

Add the clothing to the washing machine drum as the water begins to enter the machine. Do not overfill the machine or the clothing will not wash and rinse adequately. Fill loads more loosely if they contain heavy items such as towels and jeans.

5. Complete Wash Cycle

Allow the washing machine cycle to run its full course, including washing, rinsing and spinning. If possible, check the final rinse cycle. If bubbles are still present, it can help to run an additional rinse cycle until the water is completely clear.

6. Dry the Clothing

Move the washed clothing from the washing machine to the dryer, if desired. Set the dryer to the appropriate setting based upon the type, weight and requirements of the washed load.

Tip: To conserve energy, you can hang the laundry to dry. You can also run one short dryer load to fluff the laundry and then complete the drying process by hanging the load to dry.