Important rules on how to wash a jacket in a machine and by hand

Light openwork, soft cashmere, warm wool sweaters are an integral element of any women's and men's wardrobe.

Caring attitude and proper care will help preserve the original appearance of your favorite item for a long time.

We will tell you in this article how to wash a jacket correctly in order to avoid the unpleasant moments of losing the shape and color of the product.

Features of the process depending on the material of the product

It is possible to preserve the appearance, shape and color of a product after washing only if certain rules are followed:

1. Things are washed only in cool water (no more than 40°C). Hot water can cause deformation and shrinkage of the fabric.
2. Use only liquid special detergents. Conventional dry powders contain many harsh chemicals that destroy fibers.
3. Dry products only on a horizontal surface.

There are also some washing features depending on the composition of the jacket fabric.

Synthetics

Acrylic and any other synthetic fiber sweaters can be washed in a washing machine.

Algorithm of actions:

• the item is turned inside out, placed in a special mesh bag, and loaded into the washing drum;
• set the required washing mode (synthetics, delicate fabrics), water temperature not higher than 30°C, double rinse mode;
• the spin is set to 400 rpm or turned off completely;
• they start the washing process, at the end of which the item is immediately taken out, the water is allowed to drain and laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.

Woolen

You can wash a woolen item in a washing machine only if such actions are not prohibited by the manufacturer (see the information on the tag).

Algorithm of actions:

1. In the washing machine, select the “wool” washing mode, water temperature no higher than 30°C, minimum spin (no more than 400 rpm).
2. Pour liquid detergent into the special compartment for washing woolen items. It is better to avoid dry powders, as they are very difficult to rinse out of woolen fabric. If desired, you can use conditioner (it makes the wool soft and fluffy).
3. We load the item into the washing drum and start the installed washing program.
4. Afterwards, the woolen jacket is taken out of the drum and laid out on a table covered with a terry towel (absorbs moisture well). During the drying process, the product must be turned over periodically. Such actions will help avoid the appearance of an unpleasant musty odor and speed up the drying process.

Thin wool sweaters are best washed by hand. Algorithm of actions:

1. Liquid detergent for washing woolen items is poured into a basin with warm water (temperature no more than 30°C) (the dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging).
2. The jacket is dipped in a soapy solution and left for twenty minutes. The thing is gently crumpled and squeezed.

Cashmere

A soft, easy-to-care cashmere sweater can only be washed by hand.

Algorithm of actions:

• water is taken into the basin, the temperature of which does not exceed 20-25°C;
• add liquid detergent to the water for washing woolen items (alternatively, you can use hair shampoo);
• Having immersed the item in water, leave it for fifteen minutes;
• during the washing process, the item is carefully squeezed; under no circumstances should cashmere be rubbed, actively wrinkled or twisted;
• after washing, rinse the jacket thoroughly in cool water;
• Dry cashmere linen products only on a horizontal surface, in a well-ventilated place, away from heating appliances.

This video will show you how to wash cashmere:

Knitted

Peculiarity washing knitted items — minimum contact time with water. The entire wash takes no more than ten to fifteen minutes. This is because when wet for a long time, the knitted fabric stretches and deforms (not always evenly).

If the manufacturer allows machine washing, the process proceeds in the following sequence:

1. The knitted product is placed in a special stack bag (you can use a white cotton pillowcase).
2. The washing machine is set to the minimum temperature (20-30°C), fast washing mode without spinning and drying. In the absence of such a function, you can set the “wool” washing mode, while disabling the spin function.
3. Liquid detergent is poured into a special compartment. If desired, you can use conditioner.
4. After washing, the product is laid out on a horizontal surface, the water is allowed to drain, and then laid out on a terry towel for further drying.

Algorithm of actions:

• cool water is poured into the basin, wool washing gel or hair shampoo is added;
• lower the knitted product, lightly wring it out with your hands;
• Particularly dirty areas can be gently rubbed against each other;
• after washing, rinse the item thoroughly in cool running water until the soap solution is completely removed;
• dry the knitted item on the table, spreading a terry towel.

Angorka

A light, fluffy angora jacket can only be washed by hand.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Cool water is taken into the basin (temperature no higher than 30°C) and liquid detergent for delicate, woolen fabrics is added.
2. Dip the jacket into the soapy solution and leave it to soak for twenty minutes.
3. Afterwards, the angora knitted product is very carefully and carefully squeezed several times and removed from the soapy water.
4. Rinse the jacket in clean running water until the foam completely disappears.

It is strictly forbidden to twist, rub or squeeze things made from angora. Dry items only in a horizontal position, wrapped in a terry towel (change them as they become moist).

Nuances depending on the color of the product

White sweaters are washed only by hand, using a special whitening shampoo.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Warm water (no more than 30°C) is filled into a basin and liquid detergent with a bleaching effect is added (the dosage is indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging).
2. The item is immersed in water, gently wrung out and crumpled.
3. After washing, rinse the product thoroughly in cold water.

Colored and black sweaters are washed separately (including from white items). The first wash of a new colored or black item must be done by hand..

This will help make sure whether the product is shedding or not.The jacket can be washed again either in a washing machine or by hand (manufacturer's recommendations are indicated on the tag).

Basic rules for washing black and colored items:

• water temperature not higher than 30°C;
• choosing laundry detergents only in favor of liquid formulations for colored and black items (they do not wash out the colored pigment from the fabric);
• minimum spin speed;
• wash on the “delicate fabric” or “wool” mode;
• dry only in a dark, well-ventilated place.

What to do if the item is colored after washing?

There are several ways to fix the problem of items faded after washing.

Synthetic sweaters will be cleaned with laundry soap. Dip the soiled item into a soap solution (three or four tablespoons of grated laundry soap are dissolved in water), wait thirty minutes, and then wash the item as usual.

What to do if you are stretched?

Mistakes made when washing a sweater can cause deformation of the product. There are several ways to restore the original appearance and shape of a stretched item.

Making a machine knitted blouse smaller

This method involves using a washing machine:

1. The stretched jacket is placed in a special washing bag and loaded into the drum.
2. Liquid detergent for wool is poured into the special compartment of the washing machine, the water temperature is set to 30°C, and the “wool” washing mode is set. The drying and spinning option is disabled.
3. The wash starts, after which the product is carefully laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.The required shape is given to the knitted product by hand.

Hand tied

In this case, the knitted product can only be reduced manually.

Algorithm of actions:

• a bath is filled with warm water, into which the jacket is immersed;
• after the knitted product is completely saturated with moisture, it is taken out and, without wrung out, carefully wrapped in a towel;
• the final stage - the still damp item is laid out on a dry terry towel, the item is given the desired shape and left to dry completely.

Locally stretched places

In this case, the product is not completely wetted, but only those places that have stretched.

How to stretch if you sit down?

There are several ways to stretch a jacket that has shrunk after washing:

1. Re-wash. The item reduced in size is washed again, without using detergents. After washing, the knitted item is hung on hangers to dry. Under the weight of its own weight, the jacket increases in size.
2. Steaming. The damp jacket is laid out on an ironing board, and carefully stretching the item in the desired direction, it is smoothed with an iron with the steaming function connected. The steaming method is good for products of mixed composition. This method is not suitable for woolen sweaters (under the influence of steam, the product may shrink).
3. Rinse in vinegar water. The knitted product is immersed in a vinegar solution for thirty minutes (take one part vinegar to two parts water). Afterwards, the item is laid out on a table covered with a terry towel, and the desired shape of the knitted product is fixed with pins.

Read more about returning a shrunken sweater to its previous size. Here.

Drying

The main rule of drying is that the jacket is never hung on a rope or hanger, but rather laid out on a horizontal surface to dry.

There are several ways to dry a washed blouse:

1. Terry towel. It's simple: lay the jacket on a towel, and then roll it all up into a rope. During the drying process, the towel soaked in moisture is replaced with a dry one.
2. Hairdryer By directing a stream of cold air onto a laid out damp jacket, you can speed up the drying process several times.
3. Microwave. This non-standard method is suitable for drying jackets without metal fittings. It is enough to place the product in the microwave and start the process for two to three minutes.

Adviсe

When washing sweaters It is important to follow a few tips:

1. Rinsing in cool water with the addition of fabric softener will help reduce the ability of synthetic sweaters to accumulate static electricity.
2. Rinsing in water with added glycerin will help restore softness and fluffiness to the angora product.
3. It is prohibited to use dry abrasive powders to wash jackets. Ignoring this recommendation may result in very small tears in the knitted fabric.
4. It is strictly forbidden to dry a jacket on a radiator, near an open fire.

If you are interested in how to wash and clean outerwear, take a look here.

Conclusion

Taking care and proper washing of the sweater is a guarantee that your favorite item will retain its original appearance for a long time.