Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear

Drain the soapy water, then rinse the garment under cool running water or refill the basin with clean water and press the garment through it. Repeat until no suds remain and the water runs completely clear.

Why It Works

Residual detergent trapped in fabric fibers attracts dirt, stiffens the material, and can cause skin irritation or fabric degradation over time. Thorough rinsing is arguably the most important step in hand washing — more damage comes from soap residue than from most stains.

Tips

• Running water rinses more efficiently than basin soaking
• Gently press the garment against the basin to squeeze out soapy water between rinses
• Two to three rinse cycles is typical for most items