Both machine washing and hand washing are popular techniques for cleaning clothes. Each cleaning technique carries pros and cons.
So, the better option between the two depends on your requirements. Therefore, it is essential to understand and weigh the pros and cons of each to determine the most suitable option that works for you.
Hand washing clothes
From the early years, handwashing has been the most common technique for cleaning clothes. Hand washing is affordable yet effective. All you need during this process is labor and a nice scented detergent solution. Even so, handwashing poses several disadvantages.
Let’s analyze the pros and cons of handwashing your bedding or clothes.
Benefits of handwashing your clothes
Keep a close eye on clothes: When handwashing, you can constantly monitor your clothes. Doing this helps you apply the right amount of pressure to your clothes. Generally, you will avoid rubbing delicate clothes.
This way, you’ll prolong the durability of your clothes. In a washing machine, you have no control over how your clothes get washed in most instances.
- Less expensive:
Compared to machine washing, hand washing is pretty affordable. I mean, there is no electricity or equipment needed during the process. You’ll only need to buy quality detergent. Note that hand washing detergents are way cheaper than machine washing detergents. Also, there are no maintenance costs associated with handwashing clothes.
- Flexibility:
One of the best things about handwashing is that you can always add or remove clothes in your bucket whenever you choose. For example, if you had forgotten to add certain clothes to the bucket, you can always add them to the dirty laundry. This is different for a machine wash. You cannot add clothes in between cleanings.
- Water-saving:
Hand washing your bedding and clothes is good for the environment since it helps you save on water. You don’t need a lot of water when washing using your hands. As a result, you won’t have to pay massive electricity bills.
Disadvantages of handwashing clothes
Consumes a lot of effort: Washing your towels, bedding or clothes using your hands consumes a lot of time and effort. Keep in mind that the whole process is manual. Therefore, you’ll have to scrub and rinse your clothes using your hands. If you are washing a large batch of clothes, this can be tedious for you.
Although handwashing helps you save on water, you may need to use a lot of water when cleaning many clothes. Additionally, you can only wash one cloth at a time when handwashing. Thus, handwashing consumes a lot of time. So, it may not be a suitable cleaning technique if you have a busy schedule.
Machine washing your clothes
Machine washing clothes is relatively easier than handwashing. Think about it. All your need to do is pour clothes and a quality detergent into the washing machine. From there, you can turn on the washing machine and continue with other house chores.
Benefits of machine-washing clothes
Less time and effort: The primary advantage of washing bedding or clothes using a machine is that it consumes less time and effort. You can leave the clothes in the washing machine for several minutes as you continue with other businesses.
However, it would be best if you were careful to set the right mode for washing. Otherwise, you won’t achieve your desired results.
- Different settings:
Although you cannot closely monitor your clothes, a washing machine has different settings that enable you to wash different bed sheet material and clothes. For example, if you are washing delicate clothes, you would use a gentle setting. On the flip side, if you are washing heavy clothes, you would use a high-wash setting. Most washing machines cater to different requirements.
- Efficient:
Your clothes are likely to be cleaner from machine washing than handwashing. Nonetheless, you have to use a quality washing machine. At present, there is a broad spectrum of washing machines available in the market. Always choose the one that caters to your needs and delivers powerful cleaning.
- Energy-efficient:
Quality washing machines are energy-saving. Thus, you won’t end up paying massive electricity bills in the long run. Always consult the manufacturer on the best energy-saving washing machine. Typically, frontloading and fully automatic machines are energy-saving.
- Safe:
A good percentage of washing machines have a child-lock feature. This prevents accidents in your home. Therefore, you cannot switch on the washing machine at any time. If you have children, always buy a washing machine with a child-lock feature.
- Better working environment:
When using a washing machine, rest assured that the working environment is dry. There are no detergent spills of pools of water around the washing machine. This is different when handwashing clothes. Thus, washing your clothes using a machine is safer since there are fewer chances of slipping and falling.
- Faster:
With a washing machine, you can wash multiple clothes at the same time. This helps you handle a lot of clothes within a short period. Conversely, when hand washing your clothes, you can only deal with one garment at a time.
- Suitable for rainy seasons:
Machine washing twists the clothes very fast. And this makes the clothes close to dry. Therefore, machine washing will greatly benefit you during the wet seasons since clothes will dry faster.
Some washing machines come with dryers; so, you won’t have to worry about hanging clothes in the open air.
Disadvantages of machine washing
- Less versatility:
Machine washing is not for all fabric types. Experts discourage washing delicate fabrics in the washing machine. A washing machine may be too hard on soft and delicate fabric. So, before you wash any clothes in the machine, ensure you check the garment label. Most clothes usually come with washing instructions.
- Increased electricity costs:
Washing machines use electricity to function. Therefore, your electricity bill is likely to go up when you purchase a washing machine. Even so, frontloading washing machines will help you save on energy.
- More water usage:
Machine washing does not help you save on water and detergent. Most washing machines use a lot of water and detergent to clean clothes. However, note that this mostly happens with semi-automatic top-loading washing machines.
Unlike handwashing, you cannot remove or add clothes in between washings. Once you turn on the washing machine, you have to wait for the cycle to complete before adding more clothes. But this only applies to some washing machines.
Some advanced washing machines allow you to add and remove clothes in between cleanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, hand wash or washing machine?
From the above information, it is easier to determine the cleaning technique that works for you. Both machine washing and hand washing carry several pros and cons. Although handwashing is affordable, it consumes a lot of time and effort.
So, handwashing is not suitable if you have a busy schedule. On the other hand, machine washing is effective; however, it can be expensive. If you don’t have a limited budget, it would be best to purchase a washing machine once and for all.
Is handwashing clothes effective?
Contrary to popular belief, handwashing clothes is pretty effective. In fact, when you handwash clothes, you can easily monitor the clothes. You will identify and focus on the dirty areas. Additionally, handwashing is ideal for delicate clothes.
What is the hand wash cycle on the washing machine?
Most washing machines have the handwash cycle in their settings. This cycle is uniquely designed for delicate clothes that need gentle cleaning.
How much electricity does a washing machine use?
One of the major disadvantages of a washing machine is that it consumes a lot of energy. Nevertheless, this is not always the case, especially when using a front-loading washing machine.
Back in the day, conventional washing machines used to consume a lot of energy. But over the years, experts invented advanced washing machines that focused on saving energy.
Consequently, modern and advanced washing machines consume minimal energy. On average, a modern washing machine consumes 225 watts in an hour.
Therefore, a modern washing machine won’t increase your electricity bills significantly. So, when buying a washing machine, always look for an energy-saving option.
Keep in mind that handwashing also consumes energy. For instance, if you are washing your clothes with hot water, you will need to boil the water. However, the energy consumed by the handwashing technique is way less than that consumed by the machine-washing technique.
Is handwashing better for clothes?
As seen earlier, handwashing is an effective technique for washing bedding and clothes. But it is not always a better method than machine washing. Handwashing is suitable for garments that have the ‘hand wash only label.’ Also, it works well if you have a fixed budget.
Handwashing is a milder technique compared to machine washing. In a washing machine, clothes get turned, twisted, and squeezed. As a result, delicate clothes may not be able to survive in a washing machine.
Handwashing is, therefore, a good cleaning technique when handling delicate clothes. If you wash delicate clothes in a machine, they are likely to tear or become weaker.
Handwashing bulky clothes can be time-consuming and tedious. So, consider placing heavy clothes in the washing machine. But first, always take time to read the washing instructions on the garment label.
Machine wash or hand wash clothes – which is better?
At the end of the day, the better option between handwashing and machine washing your clothes depends on your requirements. So, before you choose a particular cleaning technique, read and understand all the washing instructions for your clothes.
Also, it is essential to note that machine washing your clothes can be relatively expensive compared to handwashing. This is because washing machines are pretty costly and consume more energy.
