8
Washing laundry without a washing machine may sound challenging at first, but it offers numerous advantages and possibilities. We will show you how to clean your clothes gently and effectively by hand using simple methods, while also saving resources.
Washing laundry without a washing machine: step-by-step instructions
Even without a washing machine, you should still sort your laundry by color. Delicate materials in particular should be washed separately.
- You can use a sink or even a bathtub or shower tray as a container.
- Be careful not to use water that is too hot. Detergent cleans your fabrics even at low temperatures. This ensures that you don’t burn yourself and that there is no risk of damaging delicate fabrics.
- The water should cover your laundry well.
- If you are using a sink, add 1 tablespoon of washing powder. For a bathtub load, use 4 tablespoons.
- Mix everything well and let the powder soak into the laundry for at least 30 minutes.
- Then press the fabrics against the wall or bottom of the container and stir everything occasionally. This is even easier if you use a wooden spoon or stick to stir.
- The whole process should take at least 5 minutes. You can get non-delicate items such as socks or bed linen even cleaner with a washboard.
- Then pour out the water and refill with cold, clean water.
- All textiles should now be rinsed several times with fresh water to wash the soap out of the material.
- Once you can no longer see any foam, you can move on to the next step.
- Wring out each item thoroughly before drying your laundry.
Caring for delicate fabrics: Hand washing made easy
Delicate fabrics require special care.
Alternative cleaning methods: If you don’t have any detergent
You can clean your clothes even without traditional detergent.
- Sand washing is suitable for robust fabrics. Put clean, fine sand in a bucket of water, place the clothes in it, and move them gently. Then rinse the fabrics thoroughly to remove all traces of sand.
- Odors can be removed with baking powder or baking soda, which you sprinkle on dry, leave to take effect, and then brush off.
- Alcohol can help with greasy stains, but should first be tested on an inconspicuous area.
Efficient drying: strategies for fresh laundry
After hand washing, proper drying is important.
- Place the wet laundry on a large towel, roll it up tightly, and press gently so that the towel absorbs the water.
- Then hang the garments on a drying rack with enough space between them to allow air to circulate freely. An open window or fan will speed up the drying process.
- Avoid direct sunlight, as it can fade colors and make fibers brittle.
- Knitwear should be dried flat, while shirts and blouses should be hung on hangers to retain their shape.
