How to machine and hand wash knitted items

Knitted items are relevant at all times. They are gentle, soft to the touch and warm in the cold season. But in the process of wearing, clothes become dirty and require regular cleaning. It is necessary to wash knitted things taking into account their characteristics. After all, any wrong actions can lead to deformation of the fibers. As a result, the clothes will be spoiled and unsuitable for further use.

Knitted items require a delicate wash

Can knitted items be washed

Such clothes have a number of undeniable advantages, but at the same time they require more careful care. Therefore, washing should be carried out in a gentle mode. This is the only way to preserve the quality of knitted items and clean them from dirt.

General washing rules:

1. Such things, regardless of the type of yarn, are recommended to be washed by hand or in an automatic machine, choosing a delicate mode.
2. The frequency of cleaning should be within the limits of once every 30-45 days, since with frequent contact with water, such clothes lose their original luster.
3. Before washing, you must study all the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the label.
4. The edge of the collar and cuffs should be reinforced with a thick thread in advance to avoid stretching.
5. Before cleaning the stains should be treated with detergent in advance and left in this form for 15 minutes.
6. When washing, do not rub the material too much; if necessary, use a soft bristle brush.
7. It is recommended to use a liquid detergent for the procedure, as it rinses out better.
8. Clothes must be turned inside out before washing.

How to wash a knitted garment to make it shrink

With prolonged wear, knitted items stretch, and this negatively affects their appearance. But it is quite possible to restore the product by washing, you just need to know some of the features of this procedure.

What to use for washing knitted items

For cleaning, use liquid gels that are designed for delicate items. It is also recommended to use a fabric softener when rinsing, which will make the fabric softer and eliminate the possibility of creases and pills.

At what temperature to wash knitted items

In order for the product to shrink, it must be washed in hot water. To do this, initially you should study the recommended temperature on the label and increase it by 10-20 degrees.

It is also important to rinse the washed item in cold water afterwards. The temperature difference helps to achieve the desired result. To increase the shrinkage of the garment, rinse it several times, alternating between warm and cold water.

What mode to wash knitted things

When washing stretched clothes in an automatic machine, you must select a delicate mode, and be sure to use spinning, but not more than 500 revolutions. When placing a knitted item in the drum, put it in a special bag for washing.

If in the end the product does not decrease to the required size, then the spin rinse must be repeated.

How to properly wash knitted items

You can wash such clothes by hand and in an automatic machine. The procedure is slightly different depending on the chosen cleaning method. Therefore, before proceeding with cleaning, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the general rules.

Before washing knitted items made of acrylic or other kind of material, you must first remove the stains. To do this, you will need to prepare a cleaning solution and apply it to the contaminated area for 20 minutes. At the same time, rubbing must not be done so as not to damage the fiber structure. After the time has elapsed, the product must be sent to the wash.

How to hand wash knitted items

This cleaning method is advantageous for knitted items. In this case, your favorite sweater, hat or gloves will not deform and will retain their presentable appearance.

Algorithm for cleaning in manual mode:

1. Collect warm water with a temperature of 30-35 degrees in a basin, while the volume of liquid should be sufficient to completely cover the product.
2. Dissolve the detergent gel, shampoo or shavings of baby soap in it, mix until a uniform composition, beat the foam.
3. Immerse the thing, wrinkle it slightly.
4. Leave the product in this state for 5-10 minutes.
5. After a while, squeeze out a little and rinse in cool water with the addition of conditioner.
6. At the end of the procedure, put the washed item on the edge of the bathtub, and allow excess water to drain.

It is not recommended to rub even lightly rubbing clothes made of angora, merino wool during washing, as any impact can disrupt the structure of the material.

If the water darkens significantly during washing, then it must be replaced with a new one.

How to wash knitted items in an automatic machine

This cleaning method is only suitable for knitted items with a dense structure. It is not recommended to wash more delicate items in the automatic mode.

Algorithm of the procedure:

1. Turn the garment inside out, put it in a bag for washing.
2. Pour detergent and conditioner into the machine compartment.
3. Set it to a delicate mode, heating the water at 30 degrees, and turn off the spinning if the item does not need to shrink.
4. Start washing.

If the garment feels soapy at the end, rinse it again. Detergent residues can cause brown streaks after drying.

You need to squeeze the product by hand very carefully, without twisting the fibers

How to wash a newly knitted item

Handmade knitted items must be washed before wearing. Experts recommend doing this procedure before the final assembly of the product. In this case, soak all parts in warm soapy water and wash lightly. Then rinse and dry.

Experienced knitters recommend testing the yarn from which it is made before washing the finished knitted product. This will allow you to determine the degree of shrinkage and select the optimal temperature regime of water in order to avoid deformation.

How to dry knitted items after washing

It is important not only to wash your clothes correctly, but also to dry them. The quality of the washed product directly depends on this.

After washing, leave the garment on the edge of the tub until the water drains. Then you need to lay the product horizontally on a terry towel. After preparation, the washed knitted item must be unrolled on a flat surface, placing an absorbent layer under the bottom.

Periodically, the product needs to be turned over and the bedding replaced to speed up the process. In this form, the thing should remain until completely dry.

Basic drying rules:

1. Do not hang the washed knitted item on the clothesline, otherwise it will stretch out.
2. Drying should take place in a well-ventilated area, as prolonged drying for more than 48 hours can lead to damage to the product.
3. Knitted garments should dry naturally without the use of a hair dryer, battery or heater, as these will cause brown streaks.
4. It is impossible to dry knitted items in the kitchen, as wet fibers absorb foreign odors, so the product will not smell fresh.

Excess moisture can be removed by wrapping the item in a terry towel

What to do if a knitted item shrinks after washing

If you ignore the washing instructions for knitted items, shrinkage may occur. This happens when the wrong cleaning mode is selected. In this case, you can return it to a presentable appearance, but you have to try.

The main ways to help restore a knitted thing if it has sat down:

1. Soak for 10 minutes. into warm water. Then squeeze lightly and stretch evenly in different directions. Then attach the product with needles or pins along the edge to the backing. Leave in this form until completely dry.
2. You can return a presentable look using temperature exposure. To do this, soak the shrunken product for 10 minutes. Then take it out and let the water drain. After that, spread the item on a terry towel and go over the top with a steam iron.
3. To restore the product, you can soak it in a special solution of hydrogen peroxide (1.5 tablespoons) and water (5 liters). Leave in this form for 1 hour. After that, squeeze slightly, stretch in all directions and dry in a horizontal position.
4. If the thing is made of mixed threads, then a more radical method can be used. To do this, you will need to initially soak it in cool water for 15 minutes. Then squeeze lightly and send to the machine for a full wash cycle without detergent and rinse. When finished, wring out the knitted garment, stretch in different directions and dry in a horizontal position on a terry towel.

Conclusion

It is necessary to wash knitted things carefully, since any wrong action negatively affects the appearance of the product. All details should be considered when cleaning, regardless of manual or automatic mode. It is also important to take good care of such products, and not to wash them often, as this procedure significantly reduces the operational life of knitted items.