Doing laundry without a washing machine may seem daunting, but with some simple tools and techniques, it can be done effectively. Not only is it cost-effective, but it has environmental benefits as well since you avoid the energy and water usage of a machine. In this post, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to clean clothes manually.
Supplies You’ll Need
To start, you’ll want to gather the necessary supplies:
Wash Basin
This can be a bucket, sink, or bathtub dedicated to handwashing clothes. Plastic basins are inexpensive and portable.
Washboard
A washboard has ridged surfaces to help scrub out stains and dirt. They can be plastic or metal.
Laundry Detergent
Use a gentle, eco-friendly detergent. Powders dissolve easier than liquids in cool water.
Drying Rack
An adjustable rack allows clothes to air dry indoors or outdoors.
Clothespins
These attach wet clothes securely onto the drying rack. Stainless steel pins last the longest.<space>
Sorting and Pre-Treating
Before washing, take some prep steps:
- Check pockets and zippers for items
- Separate by color to prevent dye transfer
- Pretreat any stained areas with a small amount of detergent
- Sort by fabric type for wash cycle ease
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Washing by Hand
The manual scrubbing is the most time-consuming part. Here are tips to make it efficient:
Fill basin
Fill the wash basin 3⁄4 full with cool water. Hot water can damage fabrics.
Add detergent
Follow dosage instructions then add to the water. Agitate the mixture.
Soak clothes
Place items into the soapy solution. For heavily soiled loads, let soak for 30 minutes.
Scrub
Taking each item individually, scrub along the ridges of the washboard. Pay extra attention to soiled knees, collars, cuffs etc.
Rinse
Once scrubbed, rinse each under cool running water in the sink to remove all suds.<space>
Hanging to Dry
Attach washed pieces to the drying rack using clothespins, allowing ample airflow between each. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading. The drying time will vary based on material and thickness. Fluff periodically while drying.<space>
And there you have it! With a little bit of muscle and effort, you can have freshly cleaned laundry using just household items. The extra elbow grease is worth saving money and reducing your environmental footprint.
References
Eco-friendly laundry guide. Good Housekeeping. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-your-laundry-eco-friendly/
A quick guide to doing laundry without a machine. TreeHugger. https://www.treehugger.com/how-to-do-laundry-without-a-machine-4864336
Clothes washing without a machine. Green America. https://www.greenamerica.org/live-green/clothes-washing-without-machine
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.