Why Filtered Water Is Better for Hand-Washing Delicate Fabrics

Hand washing clothes can be time consuming, but for your favorite garments that won’t hold up through a traditional machine washer, it’s well worth the effort. If you have fragile or elasticated fabrics that call for some extra TLC, here’s what you should know about keeping them clean without causing damage.

How to Hand-Wash Clothes

Most clothing—from cotton tees to lightweight workout gear—will fare just fine when washed in a machine. But certain materials can snag, shrink, or lose their shape in your washer; the risk of irreversible damage means it simply isn’t worth taking any shortcuts. 

To determine whether your clothing needs special treatment, look at the label. Most garments will have instructions for washing and drying. If there are instructions for hand-washing or spot treating only, you’ll need to forgo your typical laundry routine. This often applies to:

• Swimwear

• Lingerie

• Delicate materials, such as silk or lace

• Wool fibers

• Garments with sequins, embroidery, and other embellishments 

And some garments shouldn’t be washed at home at all. Most formalwear—suits, blazers, and certain types of dresses—can lose their shape when submerged and need professional dry cleaning¹.

Tips for Hand-Washing Clothes

Once you’ve set aside the clothing that will need to be hand-washed, assess the type of cleaning each garment needs. For a small stain on a sweater or blouse, spot cleaning might suffice. In these cases, pre-treat the affected area with a spot-cleaning solution, allowing it to soak as directed on the cleaner’s instructions. Blot clean with warm water and air dry for stain-free results. 

For clothing that needs a thorough wash, follow these steps²:

• Fill a clean sink with warm water.

• Pour in a small amount of delicate formula laundry detergent.

• Submerge your garment, using your hands to gently press out the air and saturate the fabric.

• Soak the garment for a short while (up to 30 minutes).

• Drain the dirty water and refill the sink with fresh water.

• Use your hands to move the garment through the clean water, rinsing it without wringing it out. Repeat this step until all the soap has dissipated.

• Lay the garment flat to dry on a clean towel.

What About Washing Clothes in Hard Water?

Hand washing is a great start when it comes to caring for your delicate fabrics, but there’s another factor to bear in mind: your water composition. Just as your washing machine can damage fragile clothing by causing snags or misshaping materials, having hard water can also affect your garments, leading to issues like:

• Discoloration

• Stiffness

• Soil buildup

• Weakened fibers 

These problems are a result of the high mineral content of hard water, including calcium and magnesium, which can accumulate and leave deposits on your clothing. Chlorinated water can create its own set of issues, including streaks and fading³.

If you have no choice but to wash your clothes using hard water, adding a small amount of water conditioner to the soaking step may help reduce mineral deposits. A fabric-safe bleach could remove mineral deposits that have already formed, but read the instructions on your garment and the solution carefully to avoid damage.

How to Fix Hard Water for Better Hand-Washing

The best long-term solution for damage-free hand washing is to address the root of the issue: the water quality itself. Installing a multi-stage filter helps remove chlorine, excess minerals, and other additives from your tap water, making it easier to remove dirt and rinse away detergent. 

First, the pre-filter traps larger particulates, then an activated carbon block soaks up particles, like chlorine. Granular activated carbon has a dense network of pores that can trap iron, manganese, zinc, mercury, chlorine, and other substances that could otherwise damage delicate fabrics and embellishments⁴. 

Using filtered water can make a big difference for your hand-washed clothing. Since these fabrics are more fragile to begin with, the effects of hard minerals and chlorine can be more pronounced. By eliminating these additives, you can enjoy brighter-looking clothing that actually rinses clean without any grimy deposits left behind. Now you can keep your favorite garments looking their best for longer. 

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Sources:

1. Sole, C. (22 October 2024). How to Hand Wash Clothes to Preserve Delicate Pieces. Better Homes & Gardens. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/laundry-linens/how-to-wash-clothes-by-hand/
2. Fazio, E. How to Hand-Wash Clothes. HGTV. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/how-to-hand-wash-clothes
3. Leverette, M. (30 May 2024). The Best Way to Solve Hard Water Laundry Problems. The Spruce. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.thespruce.com/solving-hard-water-laundry-problems-2146651
4. Woodard, J. (27 November 2023). Activated Carbon Filters 101. Fresh Water Systems. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/activated-carbon-filters-101