Talk me very slowly through hand washing of clothes

[SkodaLabia]

Why do some garments need to be hand washed? I understand that the wiring might come out of bras and knacker the machine, but what about clothes? Is it a temperature or spin speed issue?

I have a hand wash cycle on my washer that washes using cold water, can I use it?

Some delicate clothes (wool and silk come to mind) don't like heat or agitation as it shrinks the threads and hence the clothes. Some other stuff bobbles or the seams twist.

With new things I love I hand wash in cool water - squeeze gently, don't agitate. I do then move onto my machine's hand wash cycle but it has shrunk a couple of woolen sweaters by about 10% so I don't fully trust it.

How do you get stuff clean washing it in cool water? Should I use biological washing powder and leave it to soak for a few minutes?

How do you get the water out if you can't spin stuff?

I was on a quest recently to buy better quality clothes, but I'm starting to wonder whether it's worth it!

Sorry, I do a short spin for wool. I never bother with silk as the only pieces I have are tiny (sadly!) and dry very quickly.

I used to always use cold water detergent when travelling so I don't think it is strictly necessary to wash in warm water.

However I keep a bottle of Woolite or similar for delicates. Powder does dissolve best in warm water so I don't use it.

One positive for wool is that it doesn't need the same level of washing as cotton or acrylic as it doesn't absorb and hold smells the same way at all.

Delicate natural fibres such as wool, silk and some forms of viscose/bamboo etc shouldn't be washed in biological powder because it is extremely harsh and can damage the fabrics - they are natural after all.

I do use my machine's hand wash cycle for things like woollen jumpers and fancy delicates, but I do so using a delicates liquid wash and never anything biological. Read the label on everything you wash, which will give you the right info for that garment etc.

Also, if the thing I want to wash is extremely delicate (DH's cashmere jumper) then I will hand wash in cold water with the liquid, never soak and dry it with a bath towel as wringing woollens ruins them. HTH

Argh, this is 100% viscose.

So, should I use Woolite, or something else? If I put in into the washer on a hand wash cycle should it go into a washing bag - I never really know what the purpose of those is.

I feel the need to point out I'm a grown adult, I've just never had fancy clothes before.

I lost lovely wool jigsaw jumper to handwash cycle

Lesson learnt, strict hand washing now. Don't spin cycle it, lay a bath towel on floor, pop jumper on top, roll up towel with jumper inside, then walk on it a bit, then open up and it should have taken the worst of the water out. Then dry flat.

A bit off the OP's viscose question but I have usually done a short, gentle spin on woolens to no ill, unless blocking a handknit.

If I remember my old Dad's instructions though the not leaving to soak was very important, so no gap between wash and spin - let that telephone ring!

Right, just tickled it about gently in some lukewarm water and Woolite before rolling it in a towel and whispering encouraging words to it. Hopefully the smell of last weekend's BBQ will come out of it.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am talking about a top.