It will be easier to soak clothes in a top-loading washing machine than in a side-loading machine. Check your side-loading machine for an integrated pre-soak function. [2] X Research source Pre-soaking in the machine can be convenient because you won’t need to transfer the fabric after the soak. However, you don’t need to soak in the washing machine if you plan to hand-wash your clothes.
The recommended dose of detergent should be listed on the bottle of the cleaning product. If there is a cap to the detergent, you can usually get by with filling the cap.
Leave tough stains to soak for even longer. If the fabric is resilient—say, denim or canvas—you can soak for several hours to launch a more powerful attack on the stain. Don’t soak for too long! Fragile fibers like wool and cotton may begin to come apart or dissolve with extended exposure to stain-removal agents. This is especially the case if you are using an industrial-strength product like bleach.
You will need to locate a suitable container that can be filled with water and still take the added clothing size. Remember that the weight of the clothing will increase the water level!
If you are trying to remove a small, localized stain, then consider only soaking the stained corner of the fabric. This way, you won’t need as much room. [4] X Research source If the water spills over, then you’ve added too many garments. Try soaking in stages, or soaking simultaneously in multiple buckets. [5] X Research source
Rub detergent gently into the stain for 30 seconds to help loosen it from the fabric.
Be careful about soaking wool. It is a soft, delicate fabric, and a wool garment runs the risk of shrinking if you soak it for too long.
