There are various reasons why you occasionally have to wash your clothes by hand. Usually it's because the washing machine has unexpectedly broken down and you have to wait until next month to buy a new machine. in the meantime, you have to wash by hand, but what's the best way to wash clothes by hand?


Laundry cannot simply be washed together at random, either in the washing machine or by hand. Just as with machine washing, sort the wash load according to whites, light and dark colours, delicate and more robust fabrics. Fluffy fabrics should also not be washed with dark-coloured T-shirts or trousers, as the fluff will be visible. Socks are usually among the dirtiest items, which is why they are better washed separately from other clothes.

A larger tub, such as a bathtub, should be filled with warm water and a detergent suitable for hand washing. Cold water can be used for delicate fabrics, but it does not kill bacteria. Heavier fabrics such as jeans or towels can be washed in hot water, but be careful: water that is too hot can fade colours. A good-smelling detergent helps to remove stains and gives the clothes a fresh scent.

Each item is placed individually in the water and wrung out and soaked a few times until it appears clean. Heavily soiled clothing should be soaked for some time beforehand. When all the items have been washed, the dirty water is drained and fresh, cold water is run in to rinse the clothes. Again, wring each item individually until no more detergent comes out. Before draining the cold dirty water, you can add a little fabric softener and soak the garments in it.

Once the dirty water has been completely drained, wring out the garments one by one until they can be hung up to dry. When wringing out, make sure that the fabrics are not stretched so that they do not lose their shape. To prevent "wearing out", individual items can be placed on a towel and the water pressed out from above with another towel.

Tips: If you don't have a hand wash detergent, you can also use a splash of dishwashing liquid to clean the clothes. Stubborn stains can be removed on a washboard with a brush. Instead of fabric softener, you can add a little vinegar to the water, as acetic acid acts as a natural softener.