With the onset of cold weather, the main place in the closet begins to occupy warm clothes. Clothing made of natural wool allows the skin to breathe and is highly valued for its warming qualities.
Care for woolen things requires special attention. Washing and drying of wool should take place in a delicate mode, without high temperatures. This step-by-step instruction will allow you to take care of preserving the appearance and durability of woolen closet items.
Hot water and temperature fluctuations are contraindicated for woolen clothes. Before learning how to wash woolen garments, read the manufacturer's care leaflet. Make sure the item is hand or machine washable. Pay attention to the permissible temperature level - it should not exceed 30 degrees.
Items made of natural wool and knitwear can shrink after hot washing, drying or ironing, reducing in size and losing their former appearance. The yarn manufacturing technology and weave structure explain why woolen garments shrink after washing. The main properties of natural wool fibers are high hygroscopicity and sensitivity to temperature. When placed in water, wool yarns swell. Threads can return to their original position when dried properly without intensive spinning.
To restore the shape of a shrunken woolen garment you need special approaches and means. One way is washing woolen things with vinegar. To do this, soak the clothes for half an hour in warm water with the addition of vinegar (1-2 tablespoons). Periodically stretch the product with your hands in the water. You can use the method of stretching with your hands when the item is spread out on a flat surface. Gently rinse the item in clean water and leave to dry.
To return elasticity and softness to the wool, you can use other available products, such as:
Shrunken clothes can be steamed with an iron on the lowest temperature possible. Start by ironing the sleeves to check the effect of steaming on the garment.
Before washing wool in the machine, pay attention to the label and read the manufacturer's instructions for the specific item. Check if the wool item can be washed at 40 degrees or if the temperature should be lower. Set a delicate washing cycle and follow the recommendations:
One of the most frequent questions on the care of knitted clothes about whether it is possible to wash wool at 40 degrees. For wool garments and materials with added wool, washing only in warm to 30°C is suitable. Washing wool in hot water above 40 ° C will lead to its deformation.
To care for woolen, cashmere and knitted things, you should use special washing agents. Before washing, read the information on the label of the means. Usually detergents contain lanolin or other components that smooth the fibers.
Wash wool clothing by avoiding harsh detergents and chemicals. Do not use bleach, lye or laundry soap to wash wool.
It is allowed to use universal gels for washing, which delicately clean wool in warm and cool water. Woolen products are made of animal hair fibers, the structure of which is similar to hair. Therefore, mild shampoos are suitable for washing wool.
Use a special laundry bag to prevent damage and lint formation. The bag protects the items from rubbing against the drum wall of the washing machine. Turn wool garments inside out to keep the front side of the garment looking good. If you run a total wash on wool garments, use multiple bags to keep items from touching each other. Use a softening conditioner for the laundry.
Manual mode is suitable if the woolen item needs to be washed especially gently and individually - separately from other items. Woolen clothes should not be soaked for a long time before washing. Otherwise, the wool fibers stretch and become coarse. Basic rules on how to wash woolen clothes by hand:
If you are looking for an answer to the question of how to properly wash a wool sweater by hand, the basic washing conditions are the same as for all woolen things6 minimum soaking time and water temperature up to 30 degrees. Careful spinning and smoothing will help prolong the life of your favorite knitted sweater.
Twisting woolen clothes after washing is inadmissible. You can get rid of excess moisture with a terry towel. For even drying of wool, place the product on a horizontal surface and gently spread it out. Avoid stretching. Do not dry in the traditional way on a hanger or rope with clothespins. Washing machine drying is not suitable for woolen items. Do not dry wool in the sun or close to heaters or radiators.
Following the simple rules of washing and care of woolen clothes, you can keep their excellent appearance and warming qualities for a long time.
