How To Wash Knit Clothing
Back in the day, the main type of knit clothing was made from real wool. However, with the dawn of synthetics, knit clothing has come a long way. Thankfully this translates into more ways to care for your beloved sweaters, hats, scarves, and blankets. The trick to properly wash knit clothing is to know what your knit laundry is made of and then go from there.
Washing Machine Safe Knit Cleaning
Synthetic blends of material woven into beautiful, soft, warm yarns mean you now have knit laundry that is washing machine-friendly. We always suggest that you read the tag’s care instructions so you know whether your laundry is machine-washable or hand-wash only. As a matter of fact, if you don’t want to hand wash, NOT EVER! Then, you should read the tag before you make a purchase. If the tag says to hand wash only (See symbol above), then you may want to pass up the purchase.
When washing knit items in a washing machine, you still want to follow some best practices to help them keep their shape, and prevent pilling or snagging. We suggest cold water on a delicate cycle and lay flat to dry. If your machine is a top load, or you are washing the item with other items, you may want to put the item into a mesh laundry bag. This will help prevent snagging or stretching.
Hand Wash Only
If you’re unsure whether your beloved item is washing machine safe (Handmade items usually don’t have care instructions), play it safe and hand wash it only. Hand washing is easy if you have the right products. Consider buying a detergent such as Woolite, which is made specifically for hand washing delicate items. Because of this, it’s gentle on both your hands and the fabric.
Fill a bucket, tub, or sink with warm water and add the recommended amount of detergent. Turn the item inside out, and gently fold and squeeze. Lightly rub the areas susceptible to the most debris like the armpits. Let the dirty water out and gently squeeze and fold as you run warm water over the item. Once the water runs clear, squeeze the water out (Never wring). Place the item on a towel, roll the towel, and press out extra water. Turn the item right side out, reshape it, and lay it flat to dry.
