Have you ever been in a situation where your washer has broken down or maybe there is no electricity yet you have some clothes that need urgent cleaning and hand washing was the only available option? Well, this is a usual occurrence and what has to be done has to be done. Now since you cannot use the normal laundry detergent for hand washing, what can you use?

Can Fairy liquid work in this case? Can you use it to hand wash the clothes? Ideally, yes you can use Fairy liquid to hand wash clothes when you don’t have any other option. However, since this soap is meant to get rid of greasy food particles, it contains strong grease cutters that may be harsh on the clothes if used in large amounts.

Read this article to learn what you can use to hand wash clothes, how to hand wash clothes, tips for hand washing dishes with Fairy, and other related questions.

Can You Use Fairy Liquid in the Washing Machine?

Fairy liquid is designed for washing dishes in the sink. If you put it in the dishwasher, it will create a mess by creating too much foam that will be difficult to rinse off.

The same case applies to a washing machine. If you use it in the washer, no amount or rinsing will be enough to get all the soap of the clothes. Well, maybe there is, but you are going to need a lot of water.

Hand Washing Clothes with Fairy

Now if you are going to hand wash clothes, you should not use the regular washing detergent because it has strong abrasives that can be harsh on your hands. Instead, you need a detergent suitable gfor hand washing.

In the absence of one, you can go right ahead and use Fairy liquid. Fairy liquid is used for washing dishes in the sink. This means it is friendly to the skin. However, use it in small amounts if you are using it for clothes.

Alternatively, you would be safer using hand soap or body wash and they will rinse off easier while remaining gentle on your clothes. Moreover, since these two are meant to clean off body oils, they will do a good job at cleaning the clothes.

A Guide for Hand Washing Clothes

First, not all clothing items can be hand washed. Always check the label. If it is written dry clean only, then you cannot hand wash.

Once you sort out items that can be hand-washed, follow this guide to have your clothes clean by use of hands.

• First, get the sink or basin ready. Here, you simply want to ensure that the sink is clean and it does not have any bleach residue from a previous wash. You can rinse it with warm soapy water.
• Get the water temperature right. To know the right temperature to use, you will look at the care label of the clothing. If you are not sure, you can use lukewarm water. However, note that woolens are best cleaned in cold water.

Why is water temperature important? It is simple. Using hot water on something indicated for use with cold water can make the item fade, weaken the fibers and stretch, or shrink. On the other hand, washing with cold water an item that needs a hot wash will stiffen the item.

• Get the right detergent. As already mentioned, when hand washing, you should not use the regular detergent. On the contrary, find the right hand wash detergent or use a mild washing up liquid. In this case, Fairy liquid could do.
• Start the washing process by testing the detergent on an unseen part of the clothes. If there is no reaction, fill the sink with water. 
• Add your detergent in the right amount. Swirl it around using your hand to dissolve it. Now add your clothes.
• Swirl them around without scrubbing. If they are too soiled, you can let them soak for some minutes. Swirl them again and empty the sink. Rinse the clothes until there is no more soap coming out. Then gently squeeze the excess water.
• Once done, you can now proceed to the drying stage.

Note that when dealing with delicate items such as lacy underwear, bras, and tights, you need to be extra careful. Avoid wringing out because all the contorting and twisting can ruin the fabric. Also, do not soak for too long as some fabrics can start bleeding out the color.

Most importantly, remember to sort out your laundry so that you do not put in the lights and the darks together.

Related Questions

What clothing items are better off hand washed rather than machine-washed?

Certain delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, and lacy bras and underwear are better off washed by hand than a machine. Proper handwashing preserves the original shape and color.

Can you use washing up liquid for clothes?

Yes, you can use dish soap to clean the clothes; however, measure small amounts so that the washer does not overflow with bubbles.