Since this blog is about any and everything that relates to homemaking, I decided to include the how to's of hand washing clothing. I'll also include a recipe for homemade laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets for the dryer.
To hand wash clothing is really pretty simple and it not only saves the cost of electricity and water usage, but it also saves loads of time! I was able to wash and hang all 4 1/2 clothes lines up in under 3 hours. This would have taken me around 10-12 hours if I would have washed them in a washing machine.
The materials you'll need are:
A washboard (you can find these on Amazon for under $10)
3 large storage bins (Dollar General $3-$4 each)
A toilet plunger (I got mine from Dollar General for $3)
Powdered detergent (a recipe to make this is at the end of the post)
A small bucket
A garden hose
A bar of Fels-Naptha soap (you can find this in your grocery's laundry aisle)
Fill up 2 of the storage bins about 3/4 of the way full of water. Add 1 TBSP of detergent to one of them. Fill the 3rd storage bin up around half way full and place your washboard w/ soap bar in it. Fill the small bucket halfway full of water and bleach and put your socks/underwear (whites) in it to soak. Separate your clothing- you don't need to separate colors, just the stained clothing from the non-stained. Set the stained clothing aside.
Place 7-10 items in the storage bin that has the detergent in it and plunge moving in downward twisting motion. Do this 60 times. Squeeze the water from each piece of clothing and place into the "rinse" bin which has only water. Plunge another 30 times, wring out the clothing and place in your basket to hang on the line. You can do 2-3 "loads" like this before you have to drain the water and re-fill. When your "rinse" water stops being clear, you know that you need to change both the "wash" and "rinse" bin.
When all the clothing has been washed, begin to scrub the stained clothing on the washboard. Run the stained spot over the bar of soap and scrub on the washboard until the stain is removed. You will then need to "wash" and "rinse" these clothing items as well. You can then remove your whites from the soak bucket and scrub any stains they have and then "wash" and "rinse" them as well.
Yes, this is a good deal of work and you will probably have a sore back, legs and butt, But- you will feel a sense of accomplishment and be happy that you've not only saved money but your time as well. You won't believe the amount of laundry you can get done in as little time as it takes and I swear, when the clothing is washed this way, it looks so much brighter hanging on the line.
Powdered Laundry Detergent/Liquid Laundry Soap
1 Bar of Fels-Naptha Soap (laundry aisle at grocery store)
Arm and Hammer Super washing Soda (you'll probably have to purchase this online)
20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at grocery store)
An old Cheese Grater
A butter bowl w/lid (powder) or a 5 gallon bucket w/ lid (liquid)
Powder- Grate the bar of Fels-Naptha. Mix in 2 c. Washing Soda and 1c. Borax. That's it. If your going to use this in a washing machine you'll need to use 1 TBSP for a front load and 1/4 c. for a top load. You'll use 1 TBSP of this when hand washing.
Liquid- Grate the bar of soap. Add the grated soap to 4 c. water in a pot and boil on medium/high heat until the soap is dissolved. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add the melted soap mixture and 2 c. of washing soda with 1 c. of Borax. Stir well and fill up the rest of the way. Allow to sit overnight and it will turn into a thick gel. Fill your old laundry containers halfway with the gel and the rest with water. Shake well before each use. You will need to use 2 capfuls of this in your laundry.
Fabric Softener "sheets" for the dryer
1 large bottle of fabric softener (any brand)
1 sponge cut in half
5 gallon bucket with lid
Butter bowl with lid or like size container
Dump the fabric softener into the bucket and fill up twice with water and mix. That's it! Cut your sponge in half and fill up an old butter bowl with the liquid to sit on top of the dryer. With each load, soak the sponge in the fabric softener and wring out then add to the load. It's that easy! This will last the average house over a year and no more running to the store to buy the boxes of fabric softener sheets!
Here are some pictures of the items and especially the laundry detergent after it turns to a jelly like substance. It helps me to see what I'm looking for, maybe it will help you as well :-)
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