Underwear stains aren’t the sexist topic in the world, but they are a part of our daily existence and must be tackled. Blood, feces, urine, and discharge all leave their calling card on your knickers.
As you know, not all undies are created equal. You don’t hesitate to toss that hardy all-cotton underwear from Target into the washing machine.
But when you decide to upgrade your undergarment game and get some fancy drawers, you might hesitate to throw them into the machine with your regular unmentionables.
Taking them to the dry cleaners would be a bit much. So what’s left? Hand washing. Although it can take more time, there are a few advantages to washing your underwear by hand.
Benefits of Hand Washing
Your drawers will last longer. Your intimates won’t get snagged in the wash. Your stretch fabrics won’t sag and eventually tear. Fine fabrics and laces won’t get ruined from the machine’s excessive agitation.
The elastic bands won’t stretch out of shape and lose their memory. You don’t have to worry about colors bleeding into other clothes.
Plus, it’s a great way to decrease your environmental footprint. Using a washing machine leads to water waste, excess water pollution, and energy consumption.
Washing your undies by hand isn’t just good for removing stains it has a positive environmental impact. Granted, this sounds wonderful and all but it creates a new issue.
How do you wash underwear by hand and actually get them clean? This guide will show you how to hand launder your undies to remove tough stains without damaging the fabric.
How to Wash Underwear by Hand [Step-by-Step Guide]
1. Pick your sink.
Bathroom sinks are the best option for undie washing. Give it a thorough cleaning before you start washing your skivvies. Fill the sink with cool water.
Cool water is best because protein stains become glue-like in hot water, making them harder to remove. The water doesn't have to be ice cold. Cool or lukewarm water is just fine.
2. Select the right laundry detergent
What do you clean your underwear with? Enzymatic stain removers are your best friend. They’re designed to knock out protein stains from bodily fluids.
All enzymatic stain removers aren't equal though. You can't go wrong with any of these though:
- Guaranteed to be the most effective stain remover you’ve ever used
- Safely removes any type of stain: natural ingredients, Hypoallergenic, gluten-free, non-bleaching,...
- Completely eliminates grass, berries, blood, sweat, oil, tomato sauce, Watermelon, red wine, mud,...
- The first enzyme helps remove tough protein stains such as Blood, Grass, and Sweat.
- The second enzyme works on starch stains like Tomato and BBQ Sauces.
- The third enzyme targets oily stains like Salad Dressing and Margarine.
All it takes is a tiny amount to pre-treat stains. Place less than a quarter of a teaspoon of your enzyme-heavy liquid laundry detergent onto soiled areas to pre-treat stains.
Add your detergent of choice to the cool or lukewarm water. Regardless of the detergent you use, be careful not to overuse it. Loading too much product onto your underwear can lead to irritation and yeast infections.
At first, you may need to experiment to figure out the perfect amount to use for your undergarments. But you shouldn’t use any more than 2-3 tablespoons to clean your undies.
Also, wearing household gloves while hand-washing is always a good idea. You’ll keep your hands and cuticles from drying out. Also, if you are sensitive to the detergent you’ll be able to protect your skin from irritation.
- Disposable nitrile gloves Durable, comfortable-sturdy, high-quality nitrile material can provide...
- Take care of your hands-Nitrile gloves keep your hands away from liquids, oils, synovial fluid, gas and...
- Silicon-free, with certain antistatic properties, suitable for the production needs of the electronics...
3. Swish and soak.
Take your underwear and swish it around to loosen any stains. Give the crotch area a gentle scrub by rubbing the crotch against itself. Being gentle can’t be emphasized enough.
Rough handling the fabric by squeezing or rubbing it too harshly will damage the delicate material. You only want to work the detergent into the fibers to help the stains break down.
Next, you will need to let the underwear soak for 30 minutes to an hour. While it's soaking, swish the water around it, and turn it inside out. You’ll gently remove the dirt and grime from your underwear with this technique.
4. Drain and rinse.
Give your underwear a good lookover. If you’re satisfied with the result, drain the sink, and rinse your drawers in cold water.
You want to rinse the underwear very, very well. Leftover detergent can cause irritation. Too much detergent can leave suds in the fibers.
But in your zeal to remove any trace of detergent, don’t make the mistake of hitting your underwear with the full force of water from the tap. It can make delicate fabric stretch.
Simply rinse your underwear under a gentle stream of running water. Give extra attention to the crotch area. Gently rub the fabric against itself.
Wipe the sink, plug it, and refill with clean water. Now rinse the underwear again. Repeat this process and after three rinsings you’ll be sure not to have any detergent residue present.
5. Air dry your undies.
Pat your drawers dry. Roll them up into a clean, dry towel to remove any excess moisture. Place your undies on a drying rack to let them air dry.
We love this convenient over-the-door drying rack since it doesn't take up too much space. You can even hang it over your shower rod to catch any dripping water.
Extra Tips to Keep in Mind
Timing
Time is of the essence when dealing with any stain - from the spilled wine on your rug to the urine in your underwear. The longer a stain remains on the fabric, the harder it will be to remove it.
That means that you shouldn’t wait a day or two to hand wash your drawers. Before you go to bed remove your underwear and give it a good old fashioned cleaning.
Blood Stains
Ladies know that life happens. You spot or get your period. And there goes your favorite pair of panties. Or so it would appear.
There is a way to salvage blood-stained undergarments. And get this—it’s natural and 100% free.
Enzymatic detergent works so well on protein stains because it breaks them down. Well, guess what else has enzymes? Your unique saliva does. It has enzymes that work to break down your blood.
It sounds rather odd, but it does work. Rubbing a little spit on the soiled area can help keep the stain from setting.
Of course, you will still need to wash your undies with detergent and water. But adding this extra step will help your blood-stained undergarments look new again.
Now You Have Clean Handwashed Underwear
There you have it. A simple way to wash underwear by hand and actually get them clean. The key is to take your time, be gentle and use a quality detergent.
If you follow the steps above, your undies will be good as new!
