Hand washing step by step without stretching the garment
Short answer: Lukewarm water, a little detergent, ten minutes of soaking and light pressure are all it takes. Never wring the garment, and always lift it as a whole, or the water's weight will stretch it out of shape at once.
Water under thirty degrees
Warm water is hard on both fibers and color and can shrink or fade soft fabrics. Lukewarm water under thirty degrees is plenty for most garments. See bamboo underwear for women for fabrics where this matters most.
A little detergent goes a long way
Hand washing needs far less detergent than a machine, because the water amount is small. A teaspoon in a basin is usually enough for a single garment or two together, and more only creates needless suds.
Press instead of rubbing
Press the water through the fabric instead of rubbing the garment against itself. Rubbing creates lint and can loosen threads in finer knits and softer fabrics over time.
Never lift a wet garment by one end
The weight of the water stretches the fabric if you lift it by only one end. Lift it as a whole with both hands like a bag. See bamboo tops for women for styles where wrong lifting shows fastest.
Roll it in a towel
Roll the garment inside a dry towel, and press gently from the outside. That removes most of the water without wringing or stretching the fabric, and the step can be repeated with a fresh towel if needed.
Dry flat to keep the shape
Lay the garment flat on a clean towel to dry instead of hanging it while wet. Flat dried knitwear keeps its original shape far better than anything left hanging heavy under its own weight.
Turn the garment partway through
Turn the garment once halfway through drying, so both sides get air. That speeds up drying and prevents moisture from gathering in one spot and causing a musty smell.
Extra care for knit tops
Knit tops with a loose fit need extra care, because they stretch more easily than fitted styles. See bamboo t-shirt for women for fabrics where correct hand washing keeps the shape intact wash after wash.
A routine that protects your best pieces
Hand washing takes only a little longer than a machine wash, but protects finer pieces far better. See bamboo clothing for women for the garments worth spending the extra time on.
Frequently asked questions
How warm should the water be for hand washing?
Under thirty degrees is plenty. Warm water is hard on both fibers and color and can cause damage that cannot be fixed afterward.
Can you wring the clothes?
No, wringing stretches the fabric permanently. Roll it in a towel instead, and press the water out without twisting or squeezing the garment.
How do you lift a wet garment?
As a whole with both hands like a bag, ideally supported from underneath the whole time. Lift it by one end alone, and the water's weight stretches the fabric out of shape.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
