Important recommendations on how to wash knitted items

Knitted items will never go out of style. They are practical, comfortable and warm. Their only drawback is that they are difficult to care for.

Read the article about how to wash knitted items (including handmade items) in a machine and by hand, how to choose the right product and how to dry them properly.

Is it possible?

You can wash knitted items either in a machine or by hand. However There are several points that you need to pay attention to before starting the procedure:

1. Determine the type of yarn. For natural wool, liquid detergents are used. They are washed using a special program. Synthetic knits can be processed as usual using powder.
2. Before you start washing, you need to read the information on the product label.
3. Dosage the detergent according to the instructions, since a lot of foam is formed when washing knitted items.
4. Wash items only when necessary. The less often knitted items come into contact with water, the better.

If you just need to refresh the fabric, resort to dry cleaning. The product is placed in a plastic bag, covered with soda and shaken thoroughly. After 15 minutes, all that remains is to shake and ventilate the item.

Selecting a detergent

Knitted items should be washed in liquid detergent. Such compositions effectively remove contaminants even in cold water.

There are many specialized products that are designed to care exclusively for knitted items. These include:

1. Gel Laska wool and silk. The price is about 400 rubles for 3 liters. The product works at a temperature of 30-40 degrees.
2. Balm Nordland for wool and silk. Its cost is 340 rubles per 0.75 liter. The product is suitable for both hand and machine wash.
3. Help washing liquid. The cost of 1 liter is 120 rubles.

If powder is used, then preference should be given to such compositions as:

• Villi (60 rubles),
• Cashmere (90 rubles),
• Luxus Professional (400 rubles).

You can purchase any detergent in a retail store, in the household chemicals department, or order it online.

Washing instructions

Knitted items need to be washed taking into account a number of factors. It is necessary to properly prepare them for the upcoming procedure, carefully squeeze the fabric from the water. Both hand and machine washing have their own nuances.

In the typewriter

A serious problem that all owners of knitted items face is pilling.

Procedure for machine washing knitted items:

1. Clean the product from dust and other debris that may get caught in the hinges.
2. Fasten buttons and zippers, check pockets.
3. Turn the item inside out and place it in a laundry bag.
4. Set the machine to “Wool” or “Delicate Wash” mode. If there is no such program, then the setting is carried out manually: water temperature - 30 degrees, spin speed no higher than 600 rpm. It is recommended to turn on the “extra rinse” function.
5. Pour or pour the selected detergent into the washing machine compartment.
6. Wait for the cycle to complete, take out the item, turn it right side out and leave to dry.

If synthetic fibers predominate in the fabric, then the water temperature can be increased to 40 degrees. To prevent the long neckline, cuffs or other delicate parts from stretching during the washing process, they are secured with thick thread. Remove it after the product has dried slightly.

How to do it manually?

Hand washing is considered a more gentle way to care for knitted items. A person has the opportunity to minimize the time they spend in water, as well as control the friction force at each stage.

Procedure:

1. Fill the basin with water. Its temperature should not be higher than 30-40 degrees.
2. Dissolve the detergent until a rich foam forms. For items made from natural wool, you can use hair shampoo.
3. Turn the item inside out.
4. Immerse the product in water. Soaking is necessary when there are difficult stains on the fabric.
5. After half an hour, gently rub the item with your hands. Effort should be minimal. Only stains are treated in this way.
6. Rinse the item thoroughly, changing the water several times.
7. For the final rinse, you can add a little hair conditioner to the bowl.

When putting a knitted product away for storage after washing, it is not wrapped in plastic. Wool must breathe. She will lock herself in the bag and fall off.

How to wash a handmade product?

Hand knitted items should be handled with care as they are particularly susceptible to pilling. To prevent the appearance of stray hairs, you should give the tissues a rest from the body. As a rule, within a day the fibers restore their natural elasticity.

To prevent the fabric from becoming rough, temperature changes should not be allowed. It is not recommended to wash it in warm water; it is better to rinse it in cold water.

Features of care:

• preference is given to manual processing;
• use only liquid detergents;
• if the wash is the first, use a minimal amount of gel;
• the fabric is not twisted or wrung out;
• If the product is washed in a machine, then set the gentle mode and turn off the spin cycle.

When washing for the first time, you can add a little vinegar to the water. It will make the colors brighter.

Drying rules

Knitted items need to be dried correctly. The appearance they will have after washing depends on this.

The larger the knitting and the wider the loops, the higher the risk of deformation of the fabric. You need to remove things from the bathtub after the water stops flowing from them in streams.

Dry clothes on a flat surface. A cloth is placed under it that absorbs water well. Most often a terry towel is used. It needs to be changed when it gets wet.

Rules to follow:

• Having laid out the item on the dryer, you need to straighten out all the folds;
• do not hang the product on a rope;
• do not expose the yarn to direct sunlight;
• Do not dry the product near heat sources or on heating appliances.

If the fabric has stretched after washing, it is gently compressed in the desired direction. A shrunken product, on the contrary, is slightly stretched. The tighter the loops fit together, the longer the wool will take to dry.

How to iron?

If, after drying and ironing, creases and wrinkled areas appear on the item, you can iron it. Rules to follow:

1. Products made from pure wool should not be ironed, even on the reverse side. They can only be steamed through thick gauze. The steam generator must be kept at a distance of 10 cm.
2. Mixed fabrics are ironed with the steam function turned on.
3. To avoid damaging the product, always turn it inside out and use gauze.
4. If ironing is to be done, there is no need to wait for the fabric fibers to dry completely.

If a scorch suddenly appears on the fabric, you can make it less noticeable by wiping the area with a cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. The components are taken in equal quantities.

Useful tips

Tips you need to know to all owners of knitted items:

1. You can improve the quality of your wash using fabric softener.
2. Knitted items can be washed with other items, but they must match each other in color.
3. When loading knitted items into the drum of a washing machine, take into account their weight. After getting wet, they become 3-4 times heavier.
4. If the product has absorbed foreign odors, it is not necessary to resort to washing. It is enough to ventilate it in the fresh air for 12 hours.
5. For washing light-colored fabrics, you can use gentle liquid stain removers and oxygen bleaches.

To fluff up small fluff that has rolled up after washing, you need to lay the dry product on a flat surface and go over it with a fine-toothed comb. If it gets stuck on the spools, there is no need to pull it. They are carefully cut with scissors or a special machine.

Video on the topic

How to wash and dry knitted items, video tips:

Conclusion

Knitted items can be washed in a machine or by hand. In order not to spoil a wardrobe item, it is enough to comply with 3 basic conditions:

• do not heat the water,
• use liquid detergent,
• do not wring out the fabric.

After washing, the products are dried on a flat surface and steamed at minimum power. Careful care of products will significantly increase their service life.