The return of the little wools

Generally, you should turn a knit inside out and hand wash it in cold or lukewarm water.

If you prefer to use the washing machine, go for the appropriate or “delicate” cycle and tuck the garment into a mesh bag or pillowcase to protect it. Turn the garment inside out to avoid the formation of pills that appear after several washes or if there is friction between the parts of the knitting.

Use a mild liquid soap, without bleach, suitable for woolens. The best trick to prevent the knit from felting is to use the same temperature for the water for washing and rinsing, so cold or at room temperature. Avoid prolonged soaking. Do not rub or twist woolens.

When rinsing, add liquid fabric softener to the water or 1 tbsp (15 ml) hair conditioner which will loosen the wool.

Forget the dryer!

Wool should dry flat on a large terry towel, away from direct sunlight and any heat source that could damage the fibers of the wool.

The most fragile wools

Merino wool

Clothing made from merino wool is easy to care for. They can be washed in cold water and machine dried at low heat or in the open air. They don’t retain body odor, so they don’t need to be washed after each use and won’t pilling.

Alpaca wool

Hand wash these clothes in cold water with a few drops of mild soap. Dry flat without stretching the fibers.

Cashmere

Check the care sheet carefully before washing the garment. If dry cleaning is recommended, then it is best to send this garment to the dyer. Otherwise, wash it in cold water without adding fabric softener to the rinse. Lay flat to dry.

Mohair and angora

Mohair and Angora sweaters should be turned inside out before washing them in lukewarm water with mild soap or baby shampoo. Avoid prolonged soaking, rinse and wring gently without twisting them.

Before wearing a mohair or angora garment, put it in the refrigerator for an hour or two and take it out 30 minutes before wearing it. The garment will shed much less hair.

Virgin wool

This wool comes from living, healthy lambs and sheep. Wash the garment in cold or lukewarm water with a soap designed for this wool or with Marseille soap. After washing, do not twist the knitting. Roll it up in a dry towel, which will absorb the excess water. Lay flat to dry.

Sheep’s wool

Usually, these clothes are machine washable at low temperature. Read the garment label carefully and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Solutions to 5 problems

Pilling

You can remove pilling from a knitting by holding it firmly on an ironing board or on a hard surface such as a table and gently running a disposable razor from the top to the bottom of the garment, in the direction of the stitch. The razor blades will file down the pills.

Smell of perspiration

As this smell permeates the woolens, simply add a small glass of white vinegar to the soapy water. The smell will disappear during washing without the garment giving off a vinegar odor.

Distorted, shrunken or felted wool

Wash the knitting with mild soap, add a few drops of glycerin to the cold washing water. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. Dry the woolen flat, stretching it as much as possible until you reach the desired size.

The “duckbills”

If a woolen garment has been hung on a hanger and has deformities on the shoulders, place the deformed parts of the garment over a pot of boiling water or a kettle so that the steam can permeate the area. oldest boy. Spread the moistened knitting on a terry towel and restore it to its original shape.

And if it stings!

Store the woolen cloth in the freezer for a few hours or even a few days. Then wash the garment with a mild soap in cold water with a capful of hair conditioner. Rinse and lay flat to dry. The wool will be much less irritating.