January 10, 2024, 12:41 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Highly sensitive textiles should only be washed by hand. This means treating the sweater in the sink by hand–or does it? What exactly is meant by hand washing is explained by myHOMEBOOK in this article.
If you find the symbol with a hand on the textile label, it indicates that the garment should only be washed by hand. If you take a closer look at your washing machine, you might find the hand wash symbol there as well. So, can the washing machine be used for the actual manual cleaning of textiles?
Overview
Hand Washing Can Be Done in the Washing Machine
Some washing machines have a special hand wash program. This means you don’t actually have to put your hands in the water. It’s important to wash delicate items at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the spin cycle should be avoided. Textiles with lace can be placed in a laundry bag for extra protection.
Hand Washing Is Not the Same as Delicate Washing
If your washing machine doesn’t have a hand wash program, don’t make the mistake of selecting the delicate wash program. While the delicate wash program is also designed to gently clean fine and sensitive textiles, it is suitable for nylon fabrics, underwear, and other textiles with a tub symbol and two lines underneath on the label. However, there is a difference from the hand wash program.
With hand washing, it’s crucial to minimize the friction of the garments. Wringing, pulling, and spinning are strictly prohibited. Unlike the hand wash program, the delicate wash program includes a spin cycle at the end, typically at 600 revolutions. Although this is low, every revolution is one too many for textiles with the hand wash symbol.
How to Wash Textiles by Hand
You actually have to get your hands wet if you find the hand wash symbol and don’t have a washing machine with the appropriate program. It’s best to fill a suitable and clean container, such as a sink or a large bowl, with water.
“Before the clothing goes into the bowl, the detergent should be well distributed and dissolved in the water,” explains Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW).
While delicate detergents are suitable for hand washing, according to Stiftung Warentest, a good color detergent is usually sufficient. If the detergent package specifies a quantity for hand washing, then the detergent is suitable for that purpose, says Glassl. “Otherwise, it is not approved by the manufacturer for this use.”
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Wool: Swirl, Don’t Knead
Depending on the sensitivity of the garment, it should be gently moved back and forth in the water. “Especially wool should not be kneaded,” warns Glassl. Cotton is more resilient. The clothing should be washed quickly–hands should be in the wash water as briefly as possible. Those with sensitive skin should wear rubber gloves for protection.
Afterward, rinse the clothing thoroughly with clear water and wring it out if possible. “Wool should only be gently squeezed,” recommends Glassl. “Linen and viscose wrinkle easily, so it’s better to hang them up while still dripping wet, preferably outdoors.”
Which Textiles Should Be Washed by Hand?
The hand wash symbol is sometimes found on textiles that are sensitive and could be damaged by a regular washing machine cycle. These include wool, silk, and cashmere.
- Wool: Whether it’s virgin, alpaca, or merino wool–the fibers should never be washed too hot. 30 degrees Celsius is ideal. It’s also important to press the textiles as little as possible. Therefore, only fill the washing machine drum halfway. When drying, pay attention to whether the garment is woven or knitted. Woven wool should be hung to dry, while knitted pieces are better laid flat.
- Silk: Silk fibers are particularly sensitive. If the textile label allows, silk can be washed in the washing machine. If not, clean the fabric manually at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius with a special silk detergent–other detergents are unsuitable. Avoid wringing the clothing. Silk textiles should be laid flat to dry.
- Cashmere: For washing cashmere wool, it’s best to use a wool or cashmere detergent. Whether in the washing machine or by hand in the sink–cashmere should be washed briefly and with little friction. When drying cashmere textiles, lay them flat. It’s important not to dry cashmere in the sun or on a heater, as this could cause the sweater to shrink.