Whether your washing machine is on the brink, non-existent, or your usual laundromat trip simply isn't happening, thanks to COVID 19, that doesn't mean you need to give up on the idea of being clean.
While slobbing around can be fun, running out of underwear is a drag.
And ruining your favorite wardrobe items is even worse.
Since our clothes are super soft, it's crucial that you take good care when washing them.
Properly washing your Sozy items will help them last longer, stay fresh, and keep their fit.
(Hand-washing clothes in cool water is also better for the planet, too.)
Fortunately, we have all the best tips on how to hand wash your Sozy clothes to ensure you stay fresh as a daisy.
We've also included a step-by-step hand washing guide for every other garment in your wardrobe, too. From your delicates to your daywear, forget the fabric softener and demands of dry cleaning - all you need is a sink, some soap, and a little elbow action to get your clothing clean.
Join us on a journey as we let you know how easy it can be when it comes to washing clothes by hand.
Want to jump ahead? Find hand-washing instructions for your garments:
- How to Wash Sozy Clothes by Hand
- How to Hand Wash Bras, Lingerie, and Underwear
- How to Hand Wash Tights
- How to Hand Wash a Delicate Sweater
- How to Wash a Hat by Hand
- How to Air-Dry Clothes Quickly
How to Properly Wash Sozy Clothes by Hand
Our products are possibly the softest thing you'll ever have in your closet. That's what makes them so enjoyable to wear in the first place! But if you toss them into the dirty laundry like all of your other overly tired and tumble-dried pieces, then they'll lose their luster a whole lot quicker than if you carefully hand wash them.
And we want you to enjoy your Sozy clothes for a long time.
After all, sustainability is at the core of our brand values.
So now that you've got these soft and cozy pieces in your wardrobe, we want to help you take good care of them. Let's start with a few basic tips...
Sink and Tub Tips
OK, regardless of what kind of clothing you are washing, the first step is to make sure that your kitchen sink or tub (if using the bath) is as clean as it can be. This is especially true for the kitchen sink as you don't need your best silk garments getting stained with last night's marinara sauce. For best results, follow these tips:
- Make sure you stick to a similar size load that you would if machine washing to ensure every garment gets the best clean.
- Clean your sink before washing your clothes to remove any grease, grime, or leftover food particles.
- Use fresh clean water only and purified water if possible. Unfiltered water contains all the harsh chemicals that keeps city water safe to drink (like chlorine and fluoride) but can be harsh on the clothing. It can turn your soft Sozy outfit into a stick carboard-like costume that crackles when you move.
Read Product Recommendations
Before washing any of our (soon-to-be-your-favorite) garments, please check two things
- the product description on the product page, where you first added it to your cart
- the label that's on the garment
Always, always, always read the product details and description for best washing instructions. We take care to include recommended washing details on our product page so that you can treat them with the respect they deserve (no offense, washing machines).
You'll be able to find them by clicking on the "DETAILS" section of the product description.
You also want to make sure that you follow basic laundry rules and separate your colors from your whites.
Even in tepid water by hand, color bleeding can still cause you despair.
While you may be tempted to pile on the laundry detergent, you should actually swap out standard machine detergent for liquid soap or shampoo (not dish soap) as, without the power of a washing machine, the washing detergent can be a nightmare to get out. Soft and easy hand soap or mild liquid detergent should be good enough to remove stains, rinse out bacteria, and freshen up your wardrobe without worry.
Easy Care Tips for Hand Washing Sozy Clothes
- Always check the product details before washing for specific washing instructions. This should be your first step whenever washing anything at all.
- If the clothing labels are dry clean only, then don't run the risk of washing at home.
- Brightly patterned silks may suffer color loss when washed so be quick and careful or avoid washing these clothing items.
- If you are worried about the water temperature not being hot enough to kill germs, you can steam or turn up the ironing temperature on your clothes to kill off any lingering bacteria. Alternatively, you can soak our garments in diluted white vinegar for 30 minutes to give a soft and natural zap to germs and bacteria.
- If your only way to leave your clothes to dry is by hanging them, you could also invest in a dehumidifier to speed up the process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Sozy Clothes by Hand
- Read the label to get exact washing instructions before you begin 😊
- Separate lights from darks to ensure that no colors bleed
- In a clean sink or basin, add room-temperature clean filtered water with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Add your garments and submerge so that they are fully soaked. Allow them to sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse the clothes in clean filtered water and return to drained basin. Refill with clean filtered water and add an all natural liquid soap according to the product instructions.
- Using your hands like a washing machine, slowly churn your clothing in the soapy water, allowing the movement to dislodge dust, dirt, or other debris.
- Where there may be stains, gently rub the area with another clean area of the garment while submerged in the soapy water. Do not do this for more than 20 seconds as too much friction can wear down the fabric.
- Remove the clean clothes and squeeze excess water out, one by one.
- One at a time, submerge the clean garments in a separate clean basin filled with enough purified water to cover the garment. This will rinse the garment without wasting water.
- Once rinsed, ring the excess water out and then lay to dry over a portable clothes rack. You can also hang dry them, but this may cause pulling on the material due to the weight of the water-soaked fabric. This isn't necessarily bad, but causes additional stress to the fabric that can wear it down quicker than if laid flat to dry.
With all of this special care for our Sozy clothes, they should stay fresh and in good condition for years to come. Of course, you can always opt to throw them into the laundry machine for a quick and heavy duty wash. They will survive that just fine, but it will cause more wear on them than is necessary, leading them to look tired and pilly.
This is true for any garment you own, honestly.
Which is why we've decided to include careful hand washing instructions for virtually everything in your closet. Read on!
How to Hand Wash Bras, Lingerie, and Underwear
Hand washing your underwear can actually be better than shoving them all in the machine. Bras, lingerie, and all kinds of underwear love the gentle touch. If you want to get out tough stains, then you can pretreat your panties and other garments with a hand wash stain bar or even just a regular bar of soap (or even handmade laundry soap). Here's how you get your undies unbelievably clean...
1. Fill your bathroom sink, kitchen sink, or tub with warm soapy water.
2. Add your garments and stir up the water with your hands to encourage the soap to mix in with the clothes.
3. Let sit and soak for 30 minutes (making sure not to soak any silk delicates for longer).
4. Drain the sink or tub and use tepid or cool running water to rinse your underwear and bras until there's no sign of soapy water left.
5. Squeeze out each garment between flat pressed palms to make sure most of the water is drained. Don't twist or wring your delicates as this can cause damage.
6. If you want to dry your underwear quick you can place them flat to dry on top of a dry towel and use another towel to press against them to blot the water and soak up moisture. Otherwise, you can hang out over a drying rack or if feeling bold - using use a (clean) salad spinner to get rid of that excess water.
How to Hand Wash Tights
Tights are one of those delicate items that do best when washed by hand to avoid snags and tears. Turn your tights inside out and make sure you use a mild detergent and clean water. We all know tights sometimes get a little stiff around the feet, so a gentle hand washing detergent can soften things right up.
1. Fill your sink with warm water and add in your detergent as per instructions (normally half a cup will be plenty for a tight wash). Steer clear of hot water as this can lead to shape loss in your tights.
2. Place your tights in the water and gently scrub using both your hands. Don't be too rough with the scrubbing as you may cause the tights to tear or the fabric to pull. Gently does it - and pay extra attention to the crotch and foot area.
3. Leave your tights submerged for 10 minutes or so.
4. Rinse your tights under a faucet of running water until all the soap has washed away.
5. Roll your tights up into a ball and gently squeeze several times to get out excess water.
6. Lay your tights flat on a dry towel and roll the towel up to blot the water and speed up the drying process. You can also just drape your tights over a sink or on a rack to let them air dry.
How to Hand Wash a Delicate Sweater
Cozy cashmere, warm wool, or luxurious silk and cotton, whatever fabrics can be found in your favorite sweaters, the last thing you want is shrinkage. It's always a nerve-wracking moment throwing your delicate sweater and silk blouses into washing machines (even when you use the hand wash setting). By actually handwashing clothes, you get way more control over how gentle you are to the fibers and are less likely to get damaging results. Always make sure you check the garment label so you know if you should be filling those kitchen sinks with warm water or cold water.
1. Fill your tub or sink with tepid water (unless the care label states it's cold wash only in which case opt for a cold water temperature). Add a couple of drops of gentle detergent. If you want to neutralize odor, then you can also add in half a cup of white vinegar.
2. Turn the sweater inside out before placing it to soak in the water. Use your hands to move it around gently and to allow the detergent and vinegar to penetrate the fibers. Let it soak for ten minutes or so.
3. Empty the sink and use the faucet to rinse the suds from the delicate fabric. Again, make sure that the rinse water isn't too hot, you want cool water to help the sweater keep its size and shape.
4. Take the sweater and lay flat on a bath towel to soak up the moisture and help dry the item faster. Roll the towel with the sweater inside. If you don't have a towel handy, you can also lay the sweater flat over a drying rack or the edge of the tub to let it air dry.
How to Wash a Hat by Hand
We aren't talking vintage velvet bowler hats here but more baseball caps that are a firm fave over the sweet summer months and when playing sports. Looking cool, these caps can quickly get grimy especially as the forehead can be a sweaty place. It's an item we would forever forget to think about washing, but keeping your hat hand washed and clean is super simple.
Before you get soaking and splashing you want to make sure that your hat doesn't have a cardboard visor. You can simply tap it to see if it sounds hollow. If it does, then you want to avoid too much water absorption and instead opt for a gel stain remover and spot treat instead of a full-on sink with water wash.
1. Fill the sink with lukewarm water, adding a little gentle detergent for delicate fabrics.
2. Submerge the hat and stir your hand in the water to encourage bubbles to form. Let it soak away for 10-15 minutes.
3. Empty the sink and turn on the faucet, rinsing the hat under the cold water tap until all the suds have washed away. Gently squeeze if necessary to make sure all the bubbles are out.
4. Pat the hat with a fluffy towel to soak up most of the moisture and hang on the line to air dry or let dry over a bowl so that your hat keeps its shape.
How to Air-Dry Clothes Quickly
Now you've had your fun hand washing laundry, it's time to take a look at the best ways for drying clothes without a dryer. Delicate clothes actually do better not in the dryer too, as the high heat levels can lead to shrinking and bobbling. Choosing to dry your clean clothes in fresh air may take a little longer but you can be safe in the knowledge that they will stay in one piece.
Squeeze Out Excess Water
As you won't have the spin cycle to help you out, you need to take a moment to squeeze out the excess water from your washing. Make sure you are gentle when squeezing and avoid twisting so as not to stretch out your delicate clothing.
Use the Towel Method
As mentioned in all the steps above, using dry towels to roll your wet clothes is an awesome way of absorbing moisture quickly and effectively and will definitely speed the process up. Make sure you keep checking in on your drying as you don't want to leave your clothes in the towel once it becomes too saturated.
Hang to Dry
One of the simplest ways to dry your clothes is to hang them on a line. If you are enjoying warm weather and have space an outdoor line works wonders. Even an indoor line across the window will work if you don't have a garden. You can also use a drying rack inside for bad weather days.
Even if you have a fully decked out laundry room it is still a good idea to handwash some of your clothes, especially your delicates.
The only downside with handwashing is that it doesn't have quite the same shrinkage effect as using a washing machine (which isn't always a good thing). Try some of these techniques to shrink your swimsuit or other garments without having to use the washer.
What are your favorite tips and techniques for hand washing clothes? Share your fabric care findings with us and let's bring our hand washing skills up to scratch.
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