You’ll need to know how to do laundry in the bathtub eventually. You need a backup laundry strategy, just as you would for power outages and washing machine malfunctions.
Do you know how to wash clothes in bathtub? The best thing is to hand wash your clothes in the bathtub.But does it make sense? Is it acceptable to wash clothes in the bathtub? Is there a possibility that it will harm the tub?
We’ll find out in this article.
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Procedures in Washing Clothes in the Bathtub
One might choose to wash clothes in the bathtub for a variety of reasons. You might choose to use manual labor rather than electricity to protect the environment, or you might do it because you’re having financial problems.
You may also need new clothes because you’re traveling. Or it can be that the material needs to be hand washed to preserve the quality. Even though different fabrics require different cleaning techniques, washing them in the bathtub is one of the most gentle ways to maintain their cleanliness.
In any case, the following method is perfect for doing laundry in the bathtub.
1. Clean Your Tub First
Make sure to thoroughly clean your clothes before adding water and soap if you want to wash them in the tub. The area around your shower is filthy and infested with germs, even though you might not be aware of it.
Because washing clothes in a tub that is already dirty defeats the purpose of cleaning. Use a lot of warm water and an all-purpose cleaner to clean the tub. Consider wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands if necessary.
2. The Next Thing to Do is Read the Label on the Clothing
Prior to use, always read the product’s label. If a hand is depicted in a tub of water, washing by hand is acceptable. Don’t wash anything that says “dry-clean only” on it. You must bring it to a dry cleaner to have it cleaned. Before hand washing, colorfastness should be checked on a small portion of the garment.
Take extra care when washing some fabrics because they call for specific handling, like silk. Wash baby clothes separately from other clothing to prevent irritating the baby’s sensitive skin.
3. Sort Your Laundry
Sorting your laundry should take into account the color and fabric type! Avoid wearing white clothes with colored ones because the bleed from the colored clothing may ruin your white clothing.
4. Ensure That the Drain Plug is Functional
Whenever you start washing, always check to see if the drain is functioning properly. By conducting a thorough inspection in advance, you can avoid wasting water and time cleaning up the mess in the event of a leak.
5. Set the Appropriate Water Temperature
Depending on the kind of fabric you’ll be washing, the water temperature needs to be adjusted. Use lukewarm water to prevent destruction if it isn’t specified on the label.
6. Add the Detergent
Because liquid detergent dissolves more readily and leaves less residue than powdered ones, it is recommended for use when washing in the bathtub.
7. Put Your Laundry in the Bathtub
Your laundry can now be placed in the tub with the appropriate detergent after which you should let it soak for at least ten minutes. When you start hand washing them, it will be simpler to clean because of the hard dirt that has been lodged in the cloth after soaking in soapy water and detergent. Additionally, it will assist in removing small stains.
8. Start Washing
You can now begin washing your hands by rubbing them together or stepping into the bathtub and stomping it after soaking them for ten minutes.
It’s time to give your clothing one last push by rotating it after soaking it for at least a few minutes. Brush your clothes through the warm, soapy water gently and in moderate strokes. Pressing the fabric together for a brief period of time may help agitate particularly stubborn stains on clothing. Avoid going overboard to protect the material.
Some claim that another option is to jump in the tub and stomp on the dirty laundry. However, using a skin-friendly washing detergent is still the best option. Stomp with both of your feet to completely level a surface. Continue for an additional 10 minutes if you have the strength.
9. Rinse With Fresh Water
Once you’re certain that all the dirt has been removed and the clothes are clean, it’s time to rinse them. Drain the tub completely after removing the drain plug. Put the plug back in or fill the tub with water. Then, after the tub has been completely emptied, rinse the clothes under the faucet.
Rinse until you’re certain that all of the soap has been removed from your clothing. Make sure all of your clothes have been washed in water before hanging them up to prevent skin irritation. We don’t advise stomping your clothes while rinsing, unless you’re using regular dish soap, despite what Instructables suggests.
10. Squeeze the Water Out of the Clothing and Dry Them as Soon as Possible
Place each item in a fresh container after washing it until the water is suds-free. Wet clothes can dry in half as quickly by being wrung out before hanging up to dry.
On the other hand, delicate fabrics shouldn’t be twisted or wrung out because doing so could ruin your outfit. Clothing made of delicate materials, such as silk, should never be wrung out.
We advise squeezing delicate materials as opposed to twisting them. A sizable amount of water will be lost even after pressing, cutting down on drying time.
After washing, damp clothing should be hung up right away to avoid making the entire house smell bad. You will have to start the washing process over if they become moldy.
Type of Detergent to Use in the Bathtub
- For the majority of clothing items, mild soap is the most effective. EXCEPT in the case of delicate, tweed, silky, or lacy fabrics.
- Because it prevents over-rinsing, no-rinse soap is ideal for silky and lacy clothing.
- A lanolin-containing detergent is perfect for washing woolen and delicate knits to keep them soft and prevent damage during the washing process.
Tip
To make 2 cups of homemade laundry detergent, grate a bar of soap. In a plastic container that is airtight, combine the shavings of soap with 1 cup each of washing soda and borax. For every laundry load, add 2 tablespoons of the powder mixture to the tub.
Before washing in the tub, use any stain remover on the clothing. How long to leave the treatment on before washing should be determined by the product’s instructions.
Roll up your pants, get in the tub, and let your feet do the agitating, or you can use the tip of a broom handle to stir the clothing in the soapy water. Each piece of clothing should be continuously poked and submerged.
Is Bleach Safe to Use in the Bathtub?
Undoubtedly, bleach has disinfectant qualities, but if it’s applied incorrectly, the surfaces of the bathtub could become discolored or even permanently damaged.
Especially corrosive is bleach. As a result, it should only be done with extreme care. To avoid breathing in the hazardous fumes when using bleach to wash your clothes in the tub, make sure the bathroom is well-ventilated.
In some cases, it’s best to refrain from using bleach in the bathtub. Even when using a low concentration of bleach solution, colored tiles and grout or a tub painted in a color other than white run the risk of permanently fading the colors.
Conclusion
If you wash your clothes properly in the bathtub, they will come out just like they would in the washing machine. Wash delicate items in the bathtub as opposed to the washing machine to prevent damage.
If there is ever a power outage and you need to wash, think about doing it in the bathtub. You can perform this easy technique anywhere there is a tub, which will save you a ton of money when you travel.
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