I wash in the delicate cycle.

I pay far more attention to an item that says "line dry". I have had some bad luck ignoring that and putting items in my dryer!

I don't hand-wash anything but cashmere sweaters. With cashmere, I just started wearing it this year after I realized how easy it is to wash, even when it is labeled "dry clean". I roll the sweaters up in a towel, as mentioned above, to get excess water out. Everything else goes into the washer.

I don't think I've ever hand-washed anything in my life. For things that say hand-wash, I just wash on delicates and dry flat or hang dry. (I actually wash all my clothes on delicates because it's easier than sorting beyond just lights and darks and I figure nothing can be hurt by washing more gently than strictly necessary, right?)

If it looks like it's something that actually needs to be hand-washed, I tend to just assume that means it's not for me. I'm also one of those people who never buys kitchen stuff unless it's dishwasher-safe, so I think I'm just lazy.

Delicate or hand wash cycle.

My Speed Queen top load has both a Delicate and a Hand Wash cycle; not sure what the difference is. I wash most of my stuff on Delicate, but right now as I type I'm using the Hand Wash cycle for the first time to wash a wool stole, a sweater, and a few other miscellaneous items. It doesn't agitate much; most is soak. I noticed that the Delicate cycle gives the option of an additional rinse. I guess I'll check on the suds in the utility sink once the Hand Wash cycle is done to see if I should run it through an additional rinse.

Lots of variation and lots of good ideas. Mostly, I'm comforted to know that I'm not the only one who takes "hand wash" as kind of a broad indication that an item shouldn't be tossed into the regular wash.

My machine (a top-loading, no-agitator, HE type) has a wool cycle and a delicate cycle. I find it slightly bizarre that the default temp for the wool cycle is warm -- isn't it the combination of warmth and agitation that causes wool to felt? I always change it to cold.

Actually, it has both "Cold" and "Tap Cold," seeming to imply that plain old "cold" is actually being warmed in some way. Our European washer in NYC has the equally baffling "Cold" and "No Heat."

If water is too cold, IIRC sometimes powdered detergent won't dissolve. Thus, I guess some washers differentiate between water from a cold tap during winter in a frigid climate and water at some preordained cold temperature. I live in a temperate climate where a hard freeze outside always makes the top of the news, so advanced cold settings are not a concern.

Also FWIW, some washers also have an internal heater; my old washer heated up to 200F degrees which was great for getting napkins clean without a lot of chemicals. My current machine doesn't have an internal heater so Hot is only as hot as my hot water heater setting minus the cooldown as runs from the pipes to the machine.

Yea, I just use the gentle cycle. I wish I had a front load washer though. I still have the old agitator kind and it's not as gentle as I would prefer but yea I never really hand wash anything.

If it says "hand wash", I hand wash it. I have the worst washing machine I've ever owned - a high end Maytag Bravos - and I hate it. The machine is very rough on clothes. On the normal cycle, the clothes come out all twisted up. I wash all machine washable clothes on the delicate cycle, and I hand wash my delicates.

Nah. I just put it into a mesh bag in the delicate or hand wash cycle and lay it flat to dry. For that, I have a rack that folds up when not in use. Mine is something like this, but less expensive.

I've never had a problem doing things this way.

If it says hand wash, I use my machine as a tub. I fill it with water and gentle soap (usually shampoo like MaryK) and let the item soak (machine off). Then I manually turn the knob to Rinse and skip the agitation cycle. Repeat if it needs further rinsing. Then I turn the knob to Spin and let the machine spin the water out. Then I lay the item out flat to dry...the spin cycle pulls all the water out so it dries quickly. This is how I wash my bras and all wool sweaters. I have never ruined an item. I have a top-loading Maytag with turn knobs so I can easily manipulate the cycles.

I actually enjoy the process...LOL

@doubleh, I'm going to try that!

I hand-wash bras & underwear until I've relegated them to lounge-wear or otherwise given up on them, then in framed mesh lingerie cage in "hand wash" cycle in front-loading machine. Not just because they're expensive, but where I'm living now they're a real pain to source.

When I had a larger variety of *really* nice underwear, hand-washing was a pleasure.

@April, what's your interpretation of "cold" vs. "no heat"? Bf's machine says that; we disagree on what it means, although not enough to measure it yet. My machine is the same brand and similar model but does have a so-called "hand wash" setting. I'm confused.

AK -- I'm confused too, but see Donna F's reply above for some really good information. Apparently in some climates the "cold" setting actually has some hot added in so that powdered detergent will dissolve.

Frankly, I've been wondering what has even happened to powdered detergent, since the gigantic boxes of my youth are nowhere to be seen in my grocery store. It's all plastic bottles of liquid. Perhaps the cold water issue explains *that* phenomenon.

As to the water temp question, I've read that detergent works less well at colder temperatures. So you might need some heat not just to get the detergent to dissolve but also to get it to work right. I have read that water needs to be at least around 60 (?) degrees F for detergent to work properly.

I use the hand wash cycle.

If I think the "hand wash" item can tolerate it, I toss it in a mesh bag and wash it (preferably on the delicate cycle in cold water) -- I think front-loading machines are gentler than top-loading machines, so I can get away with it. I know from experience that despite my best intentions, I never hand-wash anything, so if an item can only be hand-washed, it's not going to come home with me.

I generally let hand-wash items collect in the wash basket till there are 5-6 of them. Then they all go together in the machine on delicate (cold water) provided none of them have hooks, clasps or things that can unravel others. Liquid detergent only. I don't rinse and spin in the machine, that I do by hand. I just rinse them under the tap if I have time, or dunk them in a tub of running cold water to soak for 10 mins. Then they are air-dried without any major wringing. Just gentle hand-pressing to remove excess water.

A lot of traditional Indian clothes are made of silk or similar delicate fabrics, have delicate embroidery or sequin work, plus the colors tend to run so hand-washing clothes is a part of the laundry routine.

I hand wash if it says so. If it's optional with dry cleaning, I'll only dry clean in a pinch. I hate the smell. Sometimes I'll even hand wash when it says dry clean. I'll admit that I wrecked a couple of things. Oops!

I hand wash some things, especially if it's a new thrift store purchase like a scarf. But for the most part everything goes in the machine, in a mesh bag.

I'm fortunate that the hand wash cycle on mine really does little more than soak, and you can set it to no spin at all. I don't have a dryer so everything goes on the line outside or on folding racks indoors, and with the aid of a dehumidifier everything is fine.

I avoid dry clean only stuff because I never go to the cleaners unless it's a once in a blue moon coat cleaning or something like that. That said, I have several items that say the should be dry cleaned and to date I have never ruined anything. I've successfully washed silk scarves, lambs wool, merino, and cashmere without any problems that can't be solved with an iron and a pressing cloth.

Maybe I'm just lucky?

Mesh Laundry bags and delicate cycle.
Eucalan is a good product to use for woolens and other delicate fabrics. You can buy it at yarn stores. http://www.eucalan.com/
I wash my cashmere sweaters this way, hang them on shaped hanger = perfect.

I hand wash them when they are new and precious and if I think the colour will run. Other than that I go for the delicates cycle

@Emily: bra balls?? Off to the Googles to find that one!

I'm with most people here, don't hand wash. But if an item says "dry clean" or "dry clean only," I am leery of washing with water, whether by hand or machine. I'll agonize about it for months and then usually just take it to the cleaners.

FC -- "I'll agonize about it for months and then usually just take it to the cleaners." We may have been separated at birth.

I hand wash all my sweaters. I don't mind because I think it will prolong their wear.