Sweater

Sweaters and pullovers are in every person's wardrobe. Caring for such products includes washing and drying.

If you deviate from the rules, the sweater may become deformed: shrink or stretch. Instructions and recommendations will help you cope with the situation.

We will tell you in this article how to properly wash a sweater (acrylic, cashmere, etc.) in a washing machine and by hand.

Can it be washed and how often?

The manufacturer indicates the possibility of washing by hand or in a machine on the label on the item, which is sewn on the inside.

Depending on the resistance of the product to wet processing, the method of further cleaning is determined. Knitted items are demanding in terms of care and operating conditions..

Washing knitted items too frequently and unnecessarily can lead to pilling and a decrease in the service life of the product.

Careful wearing of the item, airing it, and proper storage will help prolong its operation.. You should not experiment with washing if the product label prohibits such processing.

Washing in a washing machine

If the sweater manufacturer allows machine washing, then follow the instructions. Important points are the choice of mode, temperature indicators and the detergent used.

Procedure:

1. You need to make sure that there are no brooches or other removable decor on the item, and that the sweater itself does not need to be repaired.
2. Turn the product inside out.
3. Place the sweater in a laundry bag. If it is not available, put it in a pillowcase, which should be fastened or tied.
4. Pour a dose of detergent in gel form into the container. It is preferable to washing powder.
5. Place the sweater in the drum.
6. Select the “delicate” or “manual” mode. For woolen clothing, "wool" can be used.
7. Set the temperature to +30? C, if another is not allowed by the manufacturer.
8. Set the spin to minimum (if the material is dense and not loose) or turn it off completely (preferably for hand-knitted items).
9. Start the wash cycle.
10. After finishing the processing, you must immediately remove the item from the drum, wring it out and begin drying according to all the rules.

How to do it manually?

Processing a sweater by hand is a gentle washing option that allows you to control the process at all stages.

Instructions for this type of washing include the following steps:

1. Inspect the product. If there are defects on it (for example, loose seams), they must be eliminated before washing.
2. Water at a temperature of +30? C is poured into a large container (basin or bathtub).
3. Dilute the detergent in water until completely dissolved, following the instructions on the package.
4. Dip the sweater into the water.
5. Leave for no longer than 10 minutes.
6. Wrinkle the item slightly, paying attention to the collar and cuffs.
7. The water is drained, and the pullover itself is slightly wrung out.
8. Rinse the item in clean water, changing it several times.

You can add fabric softener to the water during the last rinse to increase its softness.

Features for various materials

The difficulty of washing knitted clothes is due to the need for delicate processing. All important factors must be taken into account:

• type of material;
• color and its durability;
• hand/machine knitting;
• quality of tailoring, etc.

Made from wool

Most sweaters, especially those made from wool and angora, should not be soaked for long periods of time. This material is sensitive to high and low temperatures.

High temperature causes the item to shrink. And it can seriously decrease in size.

Particular care should be taken with items that are hand-knitted. The texture of such a sweater is looser than that made by machine knitting.

With careless care, serious deformation, change in size, and even the appearance of the item may become so poor that it will no longer be possible to wear it. You cannot rub woolen fabric during washing - it will become rough and tough..

Read about proper washing of wool sweaters Here.

Made from acrylic

Acrylic fabric is warm, although it has a synthetic composition. Soft and cozy, such sweaters are easier to wash when compared to woolen items. Acrylic also tolerates contact with water more easily, practically does not wrinkle and does not lose its shape.

If the item is worn out, it is possible to pre-soak it in a solution of liquid detergent (even liquid soap will do). After a quarter of an hour, the item is rinsed and washed in a machine or by hand.

The exception is chunky knit and handmade sweaters.The same rules that apply to woolen products must be applied to them.

Cotton

Sweaters knitted from cotton threads are hypoallergenic. They do not irritate the skin and are able to retain heat.

The peculiarity of such clothes is During wear and after several washes, pills may appear on them..

The processing temperature is determined by the label. In principle, such yarn can withstand even temperatures above +30? C. But for each thing this parameter is determined separately.

It is affected by:

• color fastness;
• texture of thread weave;
• looseness of knitting, etc.

Even for white cotton pullovers, you should not use chlorine detergent.

Cashmere

A soft and very comfortable cashmere sweater - warm and practical. You can wash such a thing, but not too often, preferably by hand, since washing in a machine and spinning even at low speeds can lead to stretching of the product and the formation of pills.

How to wash a cashmere sweater, video tips:

Nuances depending on the color of the product

Only items of the same color, composition and texture can be taken into one load of a washing machine or hand wash.. Even when made from non-fading yarn, white and black items cannot be washed together.

For light-colored pullovers, it is important to give preference to gels and powders that do not contain chlorine. If you don’t have a special product for white and black on hand, you can use a universal product for colored clothes.

When choosing a new product, you must first study the instructions for itto make sure the sweaters can be washed.

Is it possible to restore a shrunken item?

Natural yarn tends to shrink when exposed to hot water or contrasting temperatures.

Taking this into account, sweaters are washed and rinsed in water at approximately the same temperature.

If the pullover does shrink, you can try to wet it and stretch it. But guaranteeing success is difficult.

You can read more about the question In this article.

Is it possible to restore the shape of a stretched pullover?

An increase in size of your favorite sweater after washing is an unpleasant event. Not every item can be restored. Features are related to the composition of the fabric, the type of knitting, and the model.

In this case, you need to act carefully, avoiding common mistakes. – twisting the product and hanging it on a line to dry.

You can read more about the question Here.

Proper drying

A sweater that has just been washed is wet and heavy. If you hang it on a trempel or throw it over a rope, deformation cannot be avoided.

After the item is washed and rinsed, it is wrung out very carefully through a terry towel.. Do not apply excessive pressure or twist at this stage.

After this, the item is laid out freely on a horizontal surface on a soft, moisture-absorbing fabric. For example, on a terry bath towel.

Do not try to speed up the drying process:

• using open fire;
• hanging on hangers;
• hanging on the battery, etc.

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning of knitted clothes offers customers the use of modern biotechnologies and professional equipment from leading manufacturers.

It is necessary to seek the services of professionals in cases where:

• the sweater cannot be washed - there is information about this on the label;
• the item has many decorative elements;
• the material fades;
• there is a danger of ruining an expensive item due to lack of experience in complex washing and difficult drying.

Dry cleaning will also help in cases where you don’t have time to do the laundry yourself.

The price will depend on several factors:

• material of the thing;
• provision of additional services (stain removal, etc.);
• sweater model;
• the presence of inserts from other materials, fittings, etc.

You can find a suitable dry cleaner on the Internet. Most of them work with electronic applications and accept orders by phone.

Items from the client are picked up by the courier, so you don’t have to waste your time first delivering the item and then picking it up. The cost of dry cleaning services on average is from 600 rubles.

11 recommendations to avoid mistakes

The following tips will provide additional assistance when washing a pullover:

1. The water temperature when washing and rinsing a sweater should not differ significantly. Ideally it should be the same.
2. When washing by hand, it is not advisable to use brushes.At the very least, it should have soft bristles.
3. Liquid detergents for washing knitted clothes are preferable to powder detergents.
4. To ensure that the item retains its softness after washing, it is advisable to add vinegar or dilute fabric softener during the last change of water during rinsing.
5. Any pullover or sweater should be washed inside out. This increases the likelihood of maintaining the appearance of the product.
6. Products made from thick textured or fluffy threads cannot be washed with powder detergents. It is better to choose a gel that dissolves well and does not clog into the fibers.
7. Not only hot, but also cold water is not the best choice for washing. The optimal temperature is +30°C, unless another parameter is specified by the manufacturer.
8. Twisting such things is strictly prohibited. If the rule is not followed, the sweater may lose its shape.
9. If it is necessary to remove stains from an item, it is recommended to use non-aggressive means, first checking their effect on an inconspicuous area.
10. You can apply detergent to the product only after preliminary dilution in water. It is especially important to follow this rule when washing woolen, including fluffy items.
11. Only clean and completely dried items can be stored for long-term storage.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.

Conclusion

Following all the rules for handling a pullover will help keep the item clean.. At the same time, the knitwear will not lose its appearance and will avoid deformation.

In cases where the situation seems hopeless, it is recommended to seek the services of a professional dry cleaner.