How to wash a wool sweater?

Wool products require delicate handling. Otherwise, their pile begins to become coarse or very fluffy. Another undesirable scenario: shrinkage and deformation. Improper care can also lead to the formation of pellets. To prevent this from happening, wash responsibly.

Rules for washing a wool sweater

First, you should study the product label. Key information: prohibitions and type of material. Acrylic-wool products have their own set of rules:

• they need to be washed in a separate bag;
• It’s better to do without spinning (if the manufacturer allows the use of the function, set it to less than 400 rpm);
• It is worth drying in natural conditions (not on a radiator, away from it and other sources of warm or cold air);
• Ironing is not allowed.

Items made from natural wool are generally not machine washable.. Its use is appropriate only if the material contains artificial fibers.Then do not forget to turn the item inside out before putting it in the drum and set the modes correctly (woolen or delicate items at 30 degrees and without spin).

Important! If the jacket has buttons, sew up the holes before washing. Then the threads with which they are processed will not swell and become loose.

Voluminous sweaters take a very long time to dry without mechanical spinning. To reduce time and avoid splashing the entire apartment, after removing from the drum, place the clothes on the bottom of the tub. Press down several times with your hands. The water will drain on its own.

What to wash with?

The choice of product depends on the type and persistence of the stains, as well as the type of material.

Wash by hand

Main rule: Don't wash your entire sweater just because of a small stain.. Try to remove it by spot applying a home remedy (mix ammonia, vinegar, salt and water in equal proportions). If this method does not help, follow these recommendations and notes:

• wool products do not tolerate soap well;
• It is acceptable to use regular shampoo;
• Do not soak the sweater in white or powder solution;
• A vinegar solution is suitable for rinsing;
• water for washing and rinsing should be the same temperature (30–35 degrees);
• angora is washed only with liquid detergents (granular detergents and soap are not suitable);
• Lemon juice and water removes yellowness.

Fatty traces are removed with mustard infusion. To prepare it, pour mustard powder into fine-grained cheesecloth. Tie it and use it as a tea bag: put it in hot water. It is in the resulting liquid that you need to wash off greasy stains. 1 sweater usually takes 2-3 basins of this infusion (it is changed periodically).An already clean product will need to be rinsed with ammonia (a teaspoon of the substance per 10 liters of water).

We use a washing machine

It is necessary to use powders and rinses that are intended for knitted and woolen products. The corresponding inscription must be on the packaging. If you don't have such products on hand, use products for delicate fabrics, but don't expect the same effect from them.

Ideally You should consider not only the type of material, but also the color. Today you can find gel conditioners and conditioners that are suitable exclusively for white woolen items or only for black ones. Try to purchase similar products.

Important! When choosing between capsules and powder, consider the volume of the washing machine. If it is small, then you should not wash sweaters in it using capsules. Too high a concentration of the product will lead to coarsening of the pile.

If you have a choice between granular and liquid powder form, choose the latter. And don't throw away the fabric insert that comes with your clothes. You can use it to test questionable detergents and laundry detergents.

If you need to “shrink” the sweater...

Hot water (50–60 degrees) will help achieve the goal. You won't need anything other than that. Just don’t hang something that is already clean, otherwise it will, on the contrary, stretch. Dry the jacket in a horizontal position. Contrast can also be helpful in this case. Wash the sweater in hot water and then place it in a bowl of cold water. If the difference exceeds 20 degrees, the product will fit exactly.

Important! We need to maintain order. Hot water should flow first, and only then cold water.

Third method: long-term drying on a radiator. In this case, the thing should not hang down.Organize everything so that the product warms up evenly, but at the same time hangs.

What should you not do when washing?

1. During hand washing at different stages, you should not change the temperature of the water. It is also unacceptable to use boiling water - this will cause the product to “shrink”. A knitted sweater can become rough from too much detergent. To prevent this from happening, rinse things thoroughly and do not put too much powder in the drum.
2. Pills and puffs - markers of wear and damage to the fiber structure - will definitely appear on a sweater if you wash it with items that have metal parts. Actually, woolen and knitted wardrobe items generally need to be stored separately. However, this rule is extremely rarely followed.
3. If the jacket itself has a steel lock, it should be wrapped with thread or temporarily sewn up before washing.
4. Machine spinning should be abandoned. When washing by hand, do not twist or rub the edges of the item against each other. At the end of the process, let the water drain. Do not hang the product on a radiator or on a hanger. In the first case, deformation will occur due to temperature changes and prolonged heating; in the second, the item will stretch under its own weight and the gravity of the water.
5. Dry on a horizontal surface. Thrifty housewives cover a wet sweater with towels and fabrics that absorb liquids well. Change them when they get wet.