Can you soak clothes overnight
Short answer: You can, but it is rarely necessary, and for viscose and coloured clothing a shorter soak is better. A long time in water can weaken the fibres, make colours run and leave a musty smell.
Why people soak clothes
Soaking is used to loosen dried in dirt and stains before clothes go into the washing machine. The water gets into the fibres, and detergent or stain remover has time to work. It can help with sweat marks, mud, food stains and laundry that has been left dirty for a while. For most stains, though, the effect is greatest in the first half hour to an hour. After that, not much more happens.
What happens over a whole night
If clothes sit in water for many hours, several things can go wrong. Coloured clothing can release dye that settles on other items or on light parts of the same garment. Viscose is a fibre that becomes weaker when wet, and it can lose some strength and shape from a long soak. The water can also start to smell, especially in a warm room, and that smell can settle in the fabric.
Bamboo clothing and soaking
Bamboo in clothing is viscose made from bamboo, and that kind of fibre does best with short periods in water. If you have a stain on bamboo underwear for women, it is better to treat the stain directly with a little liquid detergent, leave it briefly and then wash. If you do soak, keep it under an hour in cool or lukewarm water, and wash the clothing as usual afterwards.
Cold or warm water
Cold water is best for protein stains such as blood and sweat, because heat can set the protein. Lukewarm water works well for greasy stains. Hot water should be avoided for viscose and coloured clothing, as it can make the garment shrink and the colour run. Follow the care label too, so the soaking water is never warmer than the temperature the garment can handle in the wash.
When a night can make sense
For sturdy white cotton, heavy towels and very dirty workwear, a longer soak can sometimes make sense. That applies especially to clothing that tolerates high temperatures and where colour is not a concern. Many textiles from home and homewear in bamboo, however, are softer and more delicate and fare better with a shorter treatment and a normal wash.
Good habits
Acting quickly is often the most effective approach. Rinse a fresh stain under cold water before it has a chance to dry in. Use a clean bowl or basin and only soak clothes of the same colour together. Avoid mixing metal buttons and zips with delicate fabrics in the same basin. Brands such as Urban Quest make basics that are worn often, and whatever the brand, the care label is the best guide to what each garment can take.
Frequently asked questions
How long should clothes soak
Usually 30 minutes to an hour. Most of the effect happens in that time.
Can bamboo clothing be soaked
Briefly, yes. Keep it under an hour in cold or lukewarm water, then wash.
Why do clothes smell after a night soaking
Water that stands for a long time, especially somewhere warm, can start to smell, and the smell can settle in the fabric.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
