Hand washing clothes and towels

[ThatDenimExpert]

my washing machine has broken down and it will be a few weeks before we can buy a new one. I have sensitive skin and am unsure what I could wash them in that wouldn’t irritate my hands as you’re not really meant to touch laundry powders and liquids.

Wouldn't it be more convenient and practical to go to a launderette?

If you can't spare the money, then use rubber gloves when handling the clothes and detergent. You could soak items in the bath or a bucket, then rinse and wring.

Stergene has been around for decades and is gentle for handwashing.
The hardest part is wringing everything out before drying.
and yes, a laundrette for towels and bedding.

I would also try and find a launderette , but Surcare powder is good for sensitive hands and fabric conditioner.

I second Stergene, I have really sensitive skin and this is great. I’m in the same boat with no washing machine at the moment :( we’ve been using the laundrette and I’ve been handwashing baby’s clothes with stergene. I think Tesco do a handwash liquid too that looks similar

A Launderette is your answer .

Suggesting a launderette is an obvious answer. If I had access to one I would use it but I don’t

How about asking a friend (or family member if you’re close to them) if you could use their machine?

Wear rubber gloves!

Wear rubber or non-latex gloves.

I knew as I typed that I was likely to cross-post.

Ok, try the bath/bucket technique then. If you leave items to soak that really helps, too.

Rubber gloves will protect your hands from the detergent and from the hot water.

Seems like an obvious answer?!

So frustrating as in france they sell for a couple of euros massive plain white soap bars which are for everything household really! A massive block of plain savon de Marseille would do you and be gentle on skin but it’s so pricey here.

Something like this (I also use it for tons of household purposes)

If you wash things in the bath one of those A shaped drying racks is useful if you can let things drip dry.

Can you ask a friend whether you can do a few loads in their machine? I've happily done this for people. You can offer to pay for water and electricity

You can get bar soap for laundry. I don't think it will be gentle.
where to get old fashioned ''green soap'' — MoneySavingExpert Forum

The green stuff is around on Amazon but quite strong stuff!

Have you ever hand washed clothes? I lived somewhere abroad for a year where I had to hand wash all my clothes (or send them out for washing but that freaked me out to have someone else hand wash my clothes). It’s bloody hard work and I was just a single person, not 700 changes of dc’s clothes a day.

If you really must do it, marigold gloves. But I’d ask a friend or neighbour to use theirs before I’d attempt it.

It’s pricy , but some places do offer service washes and can collect and return from your house.
I’ve tried many ‘sensitive ‘ products over the years , I find own brand bio tablets are less perfumed than things like Ariel or Surcare ( as I mentioned below) which really doesn’t have any smell or extra chemicals that can irritate.

wow! I might look into that. It depends on how much it costs. We get through a lot of laundry. The machine is in daily use but we have only had it for a couple of years.

Could you buy a new machine and spread the payments instead of paying 100% upfront?

If you normally run laundry every day, I can't see how you'd cope hand washing for weeks.

Might not be appropriate for you , but some people rent white goods like washing machines from places like Stellisons ( electrical shop )
Might be an option?