How to Wash Clothes in a Bathtub When the Washing Machine Is Broken
Your washing machine is broken, you can't get to the laundromat, and you need clean clothes for tomorrow. Don't fret, you can wash a small load of dirty clothes in the bathtub.
Washing clothes in the bathtub is simple if you don't mind being more actively involved than just tossing them in a washer. Read on to learn all about washing clothes in a bathtub.
Detergent | High-efficiency, enzyme-based laundry detergent |
Water Temperature | Cool to warm |
Cycle Type | Hand agitation |
Drying Cycle Type | Choose dryer cycle depending on the types of fabric or air dry |
Special Treatments | Pre-treat stains |
Iron Settings | Depends on type of fabric |
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- 1 Soft-bristled nylon brush
- 1 Bathtub or large laundry sink
- 1 pair Rubber gloves (optional)
Materials
- 1 bottle High-efficiency (he) enzyme-based laundry detergent
- 1 bottle Enzyme-based stain remover (optional)
Instructions
How to Wash Clothes in a Bathtub
Cleaning clothes requires chemical energy (detergent), thermal energy (water temperature), and mechanical energy (a machine or person). Washing clothes in a bathtub follows the same rules as doing laundry in a washing machine or hand-washing clothes.
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Clean the Bathtub
Just like a clean washer equals cleaner clothes, a clean bathtub will give you better final results. Start by removing all of the bottles and products from the edge of the tub so they don't fall into the wash water. Thoroughly clean the tub and rinse it well to remove any cleaning product residue.
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Sort the Clothes
Sort the dirty clothes by color: whites, colors, dark colors. Then, do a second sorting by type of fabric. Do not attempt to wash heavy cotton towels with lightweight synthetic blouses.
Divide the sorted piles into manageable amounts for the tub. Don't try to wash too many items together—a load of two pairs of jeans and two or three shirts or one set of sheets is an appropriate amount.
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Read the Labels
Before you toss in the clothes, read the care labels. They will tell you what water temperature to use, whether the item needs to be washed separately because it bleeds dye, and if the item should be washed or dry cleaned.
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Pre-treat Stains
Look at each garment and pre-treat any stains or heavily-soiled areas.
To pre-treat stains, just use a dab of the liquid laundry detergent or an enzyme-based stain remover. Work the product into the stain with a soft-bristled nylon brush or your fingers. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes before adding the clothes to the tub. This gives the product time to start breaking apart the stains from the fabric fibers.
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Fill the Tub With Water and Add Detergent
Fill the tub about half-full with cool to warm water. Add only one to two teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent, and swish your hands through the water to disperse the detergent.
If you are using a powdered detergent, mix it with one cup of hot water so you are sure the powder dissolves completely before adding it to the tub of water.
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Add the Dirty Clothes
Slowly add the dirty clothes and make sure that they are fully submerged in soapy water. Put on rubber gloves if you'd like, and use your hands to gently squeeze the clothes so you know that all areas of the garment are completely wet.
Allow the clothes to soak for at least 15 minutes so the surfactants in the detergent have time to suspend the soil released from the fabrics.
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Agitate the Clothes
After soaking, use your hands to agitate the clothes in the water. Lift them up and down in the water. Gently rub the fabrics against each other to loosen soil, especially on heavily-soiled areas. Then, gently squeeze the soapy solution through the fabrics.
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Drain and Rinse
Drain the tub of water and gently squeeze the soapy water out of the clothes. Refill the tub with cool water to rinse the clothes. Agitate the clothes in the rinse water, then drain and repeat the steps until no traces of soapy water remain.
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Remove Excess Water and Dry the Clothes
Gently squeeze out the excess water. Don't wring harshly or the clothes will have lots of wrinkles. Transfer the clothes to a drying rack, clothesline, or automatic dryer.
How to Dry Clothes Without a Dryer
If you don’t have access to a clothes dryer or you’re not able to use your own, you can line dry your clothes using a drying rack or clothesline. Be sure to check the care label in case the item should dry flat across the top of a rack instead of hanging to dry.
Additional Tips for Washing Clothes in a Bathtub
Here are a few tips to help you complete the task successfully:
- Don't forget to clean the tub: A clean bathtub will result in cleaner clothes. Give the tub a good scrub but don't use a bathroom cleaner that contains bleach or you'll have unfixable spots on your clothes.
- Don't forget the basic rules of laundry: Sort the clothes and wash similar colors and fabrics together.
- Don't overload the tub: It is better to wash two smaller loads than to cram everything in the tub at one time.
- Don't use too much detergent: Overdosing the tub with detergent will make it nearly impossible to remove the sudsy residue and clothes will be stiff and scratchy to wear.
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Can you hand wash clothes in a bathtub with laundry pods?
Don’t use laundry pods to hand wash clothes in a bathtub, use liquid or powdered laundry detergent instead. Laundry pods are designed for washing machines that dissolve and evenly distribute the concentrated ingredients to clothes from the machine’s mechanical action. If they don’t dissolve correctly, they can cause streaking, spotting, and residue. Exposure to a laundry pod’s highly concentrated detergents can also cause skin irritation.
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How do you wash clothes in a bathtub without laundry detergent?
If you have run out of laundry detergent, you can subtitute some common household items, or you can make your own laundry detergent at home. When washing clothes in a bathtub, use shampoo (use 1 to 2 teaspoons), soap, body wash or hand-washing soaps (use 1 to 2 teaspoons), or liquid dish soap (use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water). Never use these laundry detergent swaps in a washing machine. You can also make a DIY powdered laundry detergent, that may be used in a machine or to hand-wash. For a small load of laundry in the bathtub, use 1 tablespoon of DIY laundry detergent.
Learn More: Emergency Laundry Detergent Alternatives -
Will washing clothes in a bathtub save money?
If you wash small batches of clothes only using cold water, there are likely energy and water savings to be had, but with the time and effort required, it may not be practical to hand-wash laundry long term. There are other ways to use less water and save energy while doing laundry. Machine dryers use more energy than washing machines, so consider line-drying clothes. Other ways to be more water- and energy-efficient include using a front-loading, energy-star labeled washing machine, washing with cold water, and running full loads of laundry versus a few items at a time.
Learn More: How to Save Water in the Laundry Room