Hi People!
I would really like to wash some bath/shower towels, would like to wash & hang dry to take a shower, but got no fundz to use a laundry machine either to wash/dry them, used my money for food, thinking of hand washing them in a relative's kitchen sink, since i got access to one. Anybody have any tips, advice on hand-washing bath/shower/beach towels in a sink, tub, basin???
I wash almost everything in 4-6 gal buckets, works great.
I put soap, bleach and smell goodies in with steaming hot water, filling the bucket half way. Then I put in my clothes or towels. I always use bleach with towels, and whites and socks. I like to make sure that whatever I wash soaks up the water. Then I add more hot water filling the bucket 3/4 of the way. I use a wooden rod or stick to stir and agitate what I'm washing for a minute or so, then I let it sit until it's cool enough to stir by hand. Depending on what I am washing, the amount of stiring varies. Certain things need more work depending on how dirty they are.
Then I empty the bucket and replace with warm or cold water. Once full I agitate/stir then empty and repeat until the water is mostly clear. It may take 2-6 times to rinse.
Then I hang up the wet clothes allowing gravity to pull out majority of the water. Takes about 30-60 minutes. Towels, rags and socks hold water and must be wrung out. Pants, shirts and underwear don't need wringing as much.
Then I hang them on a line some place warm or hot, preferably in the sun or in front of an oscillating fan until dry.
For sleeping bags and backpacks I use a 9 gal Rubbermaid trash can and do the same thing. Sleeping bags take forever to dry and take a lot of work to do properly. It may take a day or two to dry.