Laundry Day

This is all you need to wash clothes:

Bar soap, detergent, two bins/buckets and water and you can ash just about anything.  If there is ever a prolonged power shortage and the washer/dryer doesn't work, don't fear, Barry is here.

You have the soapy water and the rinsing water.  To make soapy water, add detergent powder (about half cup worth) and mix it around.  Agitate the water with your hand much like you would beat an egg.

Next you will want to soak the clothes in the soapy water, at least 15 minutes, some people do it over night.  I like to start with shirts while the water is clean, and then use the same water for the underwear.  I like to leave the bar of soap in the water too, so that is softens up.

Remember, the more effort you put in to washing the clothes every time, the faster they will wear out.  Because of this, I only focus on the armpits and collar of shirts and spot clean for stains.  The rest doesn't really need to be scrubbed.  

You will be using the shirt to clean itself by rubbing fabric together, in between your knuckles (the middle knuckles, not the punching ones).  Grab the shirt on either side of the stain or target area and fold the shirt over itself.  You should have a handful of fabric in both hands, and rub the shirt against itself.  Don't over do it, if you soaked enough then the stain should be out before 5-10 seconds.  I also use this method on underwear; with pants and towels I use the always reliable washboard.

Ring out all of the soap you can, plop it in the rinsing bucket and hang it up.

Turn your shirts and pants inside-out so that blowing dust doesn't erase all of your hard work and the sun doesn't rob you of your beautiful blues and reds (UV radiation breaks polyesters and cottons over time).