Secrets and tips on how to wash a wool sweater so as not to spoil it

Wool sweaters never go out of style. They are comfortable, cozy and warm very well in the cold season. The practicality of wool is undeniable, but caring for such things is not as easy as we would like.

In order for a sweater to retain its appearance, it must not only be worn carefully, but also washed and dried correctly.

Read the article on how to properly wash a wool sweater without ruining it.

The vagaries of wool products

When your favorite warm wool sweater requires washing, you need to familiarize yourself with the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. They are indicated on a label on the product, which is attached to the inside.

When washing woolen clothes, you must follow strict processing rules. Otherwise the item may be damaged.

If the manufacturer has not prescribed any prohibitions, then a wool pullover can and should be washed when it gets dirty. For such things, only delicate influence is permissible.

Most washable sweaters are recommended to be hand washed. This is especially important for products knitted by hand and with loose weave of threads. The rules for washing woolen items also apply to items containing wool in percentage terms.

A lot of useful information about washing sweaters can be found Here.

Selecting a detergent

In order for a sweater to survive washing without unpleasant consequences, the detergent must be chosen correctly. It should not contain chlorine or alkali, and the packaging must indicate permission to use the product for washing wool clothes.

In the absence of a special detergent, when washing by hand, you can replace it with regular shampoo.

Hand wash instructions

Hand washing is the most reliable way to wash a sweater.

For washing you will need:

• a large container in which the sweater will fit completely;
• detergent intended for wool;
• a pair of terry towels;
• plenty of water for washing and rinsing;
• fabric softener;
• a horizontal plane on which the item can be laid out for further drying.

Procedure:

1. Inspect the sweater. If there are defects on it, for example, stains, holes, then they need to be eliminated before washing.
2. The product is turned inside out.
3. Water at a temperature of +30? C is poured into the prepared container. For mixed yarn, and if the manufacturer allows this possibility, the temperature may be higher.
4. Dissolve the detergent in water according to the instructions on the package.
5. Lower the sweater into the container so that it is completely submerged in water.
6. The washing process should take place without intense friction - squeezing and moving the item.
7. The collar and cuffs are carefully processed separately.
8. The soapy water is drained and the item itself is wrung out.
9. Rinse the sweater several times in clean water.
10. During the last rinse, fabric softener is dissolved in water.
11. They take out the sweater and gently wring it out. To do this, it is convenient to wrap the item in a terry towel. The product cannot be twisted.
12. In the prepared area, lay out a second terry towel and lay out the washed jumper.

How to do it in a washing machine?

Washing woolen clothes in an automatic machine is allowed in rare cases. This is usually permissible for items made from mixed materials, which contain wool along with synthetics.

But even if such processing is allowed, you should act carefully:

1. Prepare the sweater as for hand washing.
2. Place the product in a special mesh bag. If it is not there, put it in a non-fading pillowcase, the hole of which must be fastened or tied.
3. Place the bag in the drum.
4. Pour detergent into the container of the machine.
5. On the panel, select one of the modes: “wool”, “delicate”.
6. Make sure the temperature is set to +30?C.
7. Set the spin to minimum, or better yet, turn it off completely.
8. Turn off the dryer.
9. Start the machine.
10. After the end of the cycle, the sweater must be immediately taken out, wrung out, as in hand washing, wrung out and placed horizontally to dry.

What is possible and what is not?

If you plan to wash warm woolen items by hand, then each of them must be processed separately.

When washing in a machine, it is possible to load several items into the drum at once, if they meet the following conditions:

• do not shed;
• have a similar color and composition;
• all together fill the drum no more than 2/3.

Each item must be placed in a separate mesh bag before washing.

Jeans and other items made from coarse fabrics should not be washed together with pullovers.. When operating the washing machine, they will create additional unnecessary friction, which can lead to the formation of pills and stimulate rapid wear of the fabric.

How to prevent something from shrinking?

Natural wool has a delicate texture and quickly responds to mistakes made during washing. High temperatures will cause shrinkage in almost all cases.

If the goal is to slightly reduce the size of a pullover that has stretched while wearing, then this can be done during washing.. Contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the water is heated to +50?C.

The temperature is not raised higher. The sweater is dipped, kept for 5 minutes, and removed from the water. After spinning, the item is dried flat.

When exposing a product to high temperatures, you cannot be 100% sure that the item will shrink exactly as needed.. There is a possibility that the experiment will fail.

If the sweater still shrinks, read Here about methods of restoring the product. If the item is stretched, you here.

How to dry?

The plasticity and pliability of wool increases when wet. Wet wool yarn can become deformed, which immediately affects the appearance of the sweater.

Careful drying carried out in natural conditions will help to avoid problems.

The freshly washed item is squeezed out of excess water, wrapped in a terry towel.. It is strictly forbidden to twist the thing.

After the item is wrung out, it must be carefully laid out on a horizontal surface, covered with a terry towel or flannel folded in several layers.

A special folding dryer, which is a mesh well stretched over the frame, will be a useful acquisition.. Such a device will provide good ventilation both below and above, allowing things to dry faster and better.

For this:

1. A diaper or gauze is placed on top of the not dried product.
2. The sweater is rolled up with a roller.
3. They remove him.
4. The towel is replaced with a new one.
5. The sweater is rolled out again, turning the other side up. In this case, you should avoid any distortions that may remain forever after the item dries.
6. The gauze is removed.

If it is necessary to achieve the effect of slight shrinkage, the item is slightly shirred.

During the drying process, avoid exposure to direct sunlight., and you should not try to speed up the process by using open fire and heating devices.

In addition, it is forbidden to dry a wet sweater on a trempel or by throwing it over a rope. Such rash actions can lead to stretching of the product, loss of shape and attractiveness.

To iron or not?

Not every wool sweater can be ironed. Information about this must be indicated on the label.

What woolen things Do not iron under any circumstances:

• with relief volumetric patterns (braids, cones, etc.);
• from mohair;
• from angora;
• some designer models;
• having leather inserts, etc.

To smooth out a wrinkled product with a smooth, uniform knit:

1. The iron is set to a non-hot temperature (up to +150? C).
2. The item is laid out on the ironing board.
3. Apply moistened gauze to the sweater.
4. The movements of the iron should be light, without pressure.
5. You should not keep its sole in one place.
6. You must act quickly and carefully.
7. Lay the sweater on a horizontal surface until completely dry after ironing.

If the item has shrunk slightly, then at the ironing stage it can be stretched a little.

After this, things are given time to dry and cool, and only after that the sweater can be worn.

6 recommendations to help

Expert advice will help make caring for your wool product simple and effective:

1. Wool “does not like” too high or too low temperatures.
2. Prolonged soaking should not be used.
3. Simply turning your sweater inside out before washing will help prevent pilling and preserve the appearance of your garment for longer.
4. The shorter the contact time of woolen clothing with water, the better.
5. Items made from wool yarn should not be rubbed or twisted.
6. If a woolen item has decorative or functional buttonholes, they must first be sewn up. To avoid deformation as a result of swelling of the threads used to process holes. After drying, they are dissolved.

The label is attached to the product so that it can be examined.

Video on the topic

The video will show you how to wash a wool sweater in a washing machine and how to dry it properly after washing:

Conclusion

Following the rules of caring for woolen sweaters allows you to preserve the appearance and quality of the item for a long time, saving money on purchasing new ones. Warm clothing will last a long time if you treat it with care and do not neglect the manufacturer's recommendations.