Can You Wash Your Hands in a Utility Sink?


A utility sink has many uses, but does it include washing your hands? In this article the many uses of a utility sink. We will also be discussing if it is okay to wash your hands in a utility sink. Furthermore, we will provide tips and hacks on how to hand wash clothes using the utility sink. Check out the article below for more information.

Can you wash your hands in a utility sink? The kitchen sink is the best place to wash your hand, but a utility sink, a bathtub or washing basin, or a bathroom sink are also good options. Utility sink has many uses from hand washing clothes to watering houseplants, cleaning shoes, and even hand washing.

What must be in a handwashing sink? How to hand wash clothes in a sink? These are some of the questions that we will discuss n this article. We will also provide hacks on how to properly hand wash clothes and delicates. Let us get started!

Can you wash your hands in a utility sink
Image by Pezibear from Pixabay

Can You Wash Your Hands in a Service Sink?

You can wash your hands in a service sink. The service sink should have proper handwashing supplies like soap and a paper towel dispenser. You can also wash your hands using a bathroom sink, a kitchen sink, or a hand washing sink area.

What Must Be at a Handwashing Sink?

A hand washing sink should include an adequate supply of hot and cold water, soap in appropriate dispensers, and a suitable method of hand drying which includes a hand drying machine, paper towel dispensers, or cabinet roller towels. A hand washing sink should also be connected to a properly working drainage system. You can also check out this article that discusses if you can use a kitchen sink in the laundry. We have shared the pros and cons of using a kitchen sink for your laundry room.

How to Hand Wash Your Clothes in the Sink?

Proper handwashing of clothes includes reading the label, filling the sink with water, submerging and soaking the clothes, and rinsing. Hand washing is the gentlest way to wash clothes and also increases the longevity of textiles by preserving fibers in ways that a washing machine cannot. Hence, it is important to know how to properly hand wash clothes.

Read the Label

The first step that you need to do when hand washing clothes is to read the garment label. You can see there the specific product recommendation regarding hand-washing clothes. Make sure to also use the best detergent for handwashing clothes. If you cannot find any care label in the cloth, you can use a mild detergent for washing.

Fill Sink with Water

The next step would be to fill the laundry sink with water. Follow the water temperature that is recommended on the care label. If you cannot find any care label on the cloth, you can choose cool to lukewarm water when washing. Add about a teaspoon of detergent into the water. You may need more detergent if you are washing large or multiple items like pants and sheets.

Submerge and Soak

Make sure to submerge the clothes in soapy water and let them soak. See to it that you use gentle movements and swish them in the sudsy water. Do not scrub or twist the clothes because it can stretch or damage the fabric. What you should do is gently swish the clothes in the sudsy water until they are clean. There are also tools for hand washing clothes that you can purchase on the market to make the task faster and easier.

Rinse and Repeat

The last step is to rinse the clothes. Drain the sink and refill it with cool water then push the garment up and down in the water until you can see that all soap is removed. Continue rinsing the clothes with clean water until they are thoroughly free of soap.

✅ Video – How to Hand Wash Clothes the Right Way

Better Homes and Gardens shared a short video below on YouTube. It discusses how to properly hand wash clothes. If you have clothed that is labeled as hand wash only, you can watch the video below for the step-by-step instructions that you can follow.

How to Wash Your Clothes by Hand with Bar Soap

You can easily hand wash clothes with the use of bar soap. A bar of laundry soap is best for hand washing clothes but you can also use liquid detergent. It is not recommended to use powder detergent because it requires a higher temperature and more time to fully dissolve in water. Below are tips on how to hand washes clothes with bar soap. Check out this article titled, what is a laundry tub? We have discussed what a laundry tub is and its uses.

Sort Clothes and Fill up the Sink

  • Separate whites from colors.
  • Heavily soiled clothes should be pre-soaked to avoid transferring excess dirt onto other clothes.
  • Dirty clothes should be soaked separately in warm water with laundry detergent.
  • Use hot water for washing and regular water for rinsing.
  • Oxygen bleach can be used to brighten dull and dirty clothes, especially white ones.

Place Clothes in Utility Sink and use Soap Washboard

  • After the clothes are separated, do one load at a time by washing clothes in a sink filled with hot water.
  • When using a washboard, it should stand diagonally before you put on the clothes.
  • Scrub the bar soap over the washboard panel so that it gets soapy.

Clean Stains, Scrub and Rinse

  • Remove common dirt stains by applying a small amount of detergent and scrubbing it against the washboard.
  • Scrub until the stain is fully removed.
  • Dunk the clothes in regular water to rinse away the soap.
  • To remove as much soap as possible, squeeze clothes while it is submerged in the water.
  • Move the clothes around in the water to remove any residue.
  • Repeat rinsing until you are sure that the soap is fully washed away from the clothes.

Hand Washing Clothes Hacks

Sometimes, it is best not to use the washing machine when washing clothes, especially those that are made from thin fabrics that can easily get damaged. Hand washing is usually reserved for delicate clothes like bras and underwear, but it is an effective option for most types of clothing. Below are fast and easy hacks that you can follow on how to hand-wash clothes. We have also shared this article that discusses is a washing machine can drain into a sump pump. You can check out the article to find out more about the topic.

How to Hand-Wash Bras and Delicate Lingerie

Do not machine wash your bras and other delicate lingerie because it can get damaged. Hand washing bras and delicates is the recommended method because it maintains the original shape and fit of the undergarments.

  • Fill laundry sink with lukewarm water. Make sure to check the label of the undergarment for the temperature specified on the care tag. Add a gentle liquid detergent to the water.
  • Place the undergarments in the water and let them soak for 15 minutes. Work the sudsy solution into the undergarment.
  • Rinse the undergarment. If your faucet has a sprayer, place the undergarment in a colander and use the sprayer to rinse it clean. Otherwise, fill the sink with cool and clear water then immerse the undergarment and squeeze out all the water.
  • Squeeze out excess water from the straps and back by blotting or patting it with a towel.
  • Hang the undergarment to dry.

How to Hand-Wash Underwear

Some underwear is also recommended to hand wash because of its fragile fabric and style. Follow the steps and guide below on how to hand wash underwear.

  • Fill laundry sink with warm water or the temperature specified on the care tag.
  • Next, add a gentle liquid detergent and swish it in the water until it fully dissolves.
  • Place same color underwear in the water and let soak for up to 30 minutes.
  • Rinse the underwear with lukewarm water.
  • Remove excess water by lifting the underwear out of the water and squeezing it gently.

Hand Washing Tips

Make handwashing an easy and convenient job. While washing clothes by hand takes time and a lot of scrubbing, it is one of the best ways to remove dirt from the clothes. Check out the hand washing tips below that you can follow.

  • If you have a large load of laundry, you can wash the clothes in the bath so that you do not have to do it item by item.
  • Take note that even though handwashing may not be as hot as compared to using the washing machine, clothes with strong colors can still bleed. To avoid discolored clothes, wash white and colored garments separately.
  • When washing clothes in the sink, wear rubber gloves for protection and to avoid allergies and rashes from detergents and bleach.
  • When drying the clothes, gently wring them to remove as much excess water as possible.
  • Hang the clothes in an area where there is adequate sunshine.

Conclusion

You have reached the end of this article that discusses if you can wash your hands in a utility sink. We have found out that a utility sink is a good place to wash your hands. Moreover, the utility sink has many uses which include hand washing garments. We have also shared tips, instructions, and hacks on how to properly hand wash clothes. Thank you for reading!

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