KNITWEAR CARE
|t's always best to hand wash your knits to ensure they retain their look and feel, as machine washing or using high temperatures can damage natural fibres.
Wool has amazing breathable, odor resistant qualities so pure wool or wool-mix garment may not need to be washed as often as you think; simply airing your knitwear will often do the trick!
Hand washing:
- fill a sink or large bowl full of luke warm water
- mix a small amount of detergent into the water *
- submerge your knitwear and leave to soak for 15 minutes (for garments or accessories made with silk, soak for no longer than 5 minutes)
- do not rub or twist the knitwear as this may cause it to shrink or pill
- drain the soapy water away and rinse in fresh water
- gently squeeze out any excess water without wringing/twisting as this may cause the knitwear to pull or stretch
* for pure woolen garment, I recommend using ‘Shear Delight’ soap bar, which includes lanolin and milk which gently replenishes the wool’s natural qualities. Rub the soap bar in the water until you have a slightly opaque water quality. If your knitwear is made from other natural fibres or a mix of yarns, use a small amount of any natural ‘Delicates’ detergent
Drying:
- After washing, lay a clean towel out on the floor and lay your knitted item over it. Slowly roll the towel with the knitwear inside to remove excess water. If this towel is now very wet, you may want to repeat with another fresh towel
- you could lay your knitwear on a towel over an airing rack or radiator (on a very low heat). It is never a good idea to hang knitwear as it may stretch out of shape as it dries
- once dry, use a steam iron on low heat to gently steam your knitwear into shape if needed
Storing:
- Store your knitwear folded and kept out of direct sunlight. You may also want to put your woollen jumpers in a sealed bag if you are leaving them for a while, as this will deter moths. Moths are attracted to natural oils so before storing your knitwear, it is a good idea to wash it.