We wash woolen items by hand and in a washing machine. How to properly wash capricious woolen items by hand and in a machine? How often to wash woolen items

Soft and delicate clothing made from natural wool warms us during the cold season, making us feel comfortable and cozy. To preserve the properties of your favorite things, you need to properly care for them and follow the recommendations for washing and storage. Otherwise, they will lose their shape, shrink, and become stiff.

How to store wool products

Knitted products made from natural yarn are capricious and react to any changes in temperature and humidity. Their appearance suffers from careless wear and storage. Treat these items with care and they will last you for many years.

Storage rules:

  • Do not leave clothes on hangers; the fabric will stretch and lose its shape (except for suits).
  • Do not stack other things on it.
  • Be sure to use moth repellents.
  • Do not wash frequently; if clothes have lost their freshness, hang them out in the fresh air for several days.
  • Do not iron.
  • Do not soak.
  • Remove any pellets that appear with special machines.
  • Don't wear the same thing several days in a row.

To store wool clothes for the summer, first air them out and then carefully place them in a suitcase or hard-edged box. Things shouldn't crush each other. When autumn arrives, take your clothes out and air them again.

The sun and dry air thin out natural wool and make it harsh.

If stains remain on the fabric, remove them with folk remedies. Experienced housewives use vinegar for dark items, and hydrogen peroxide for light items. Also remember to follow the advice on the product label. The more carefully you treat clothes made from natural wool, the longer they will last you.

How to wash woolen items by hand

It is best to wash these items by hand, but this must be done correctly. First, no matter what type of wash you choose, separate the wool from other types of fabric, also separate the clothes by color and turn them inside out. If the item has buttons or zippers, fasten them. Only after this can you proceed directly to washing.

  1. Fill a bowl with cool water. Its temperature should not be higher than 30 degrees. You need a lot of water, as the yarn absorbs it well.
  2. Next, pour in detergent for wool or delicate fabrics according to the instructions and stir well. If you don't have one, use shampoo. The water should be soapy, but not too much.
  3. Immerse the clothes and leave for a quarter of an hour. Then gently rub the contaminated areas with your hands.
  4. Rinse in clean, cool water several times. Gently squeeze, but do not twist.
  5. Shake to remove any remaining water and lay out to dry.

Most of all, natural wool does not like temperature changes and squeezing. To keep your products looking like new even after several seasons, remember this. If the wool becomes prickly after washing, it means that there is hard water in the water supply. A small amount of table vinegar will help soften it.

Machine washable

Modern washing machines are equipped with many modes and functions, which allows you to wash delicate items without worrying about their safety. If your equipment does not have a program for woolen fabrics or hand washing, change the settings yourself. Set the cold water mode, set the minimum speed and turn off the push-up. And an additional rinse will not be superfluous.

It is equally important to choose high-quality washing powder. It is better if it is a liquid product. Look for the “for natural wool” label on the label. Make sure there is no chlorine in the composition. Products made from angora are best washed with shampoo. If you have hard water in your home, you need to additionally use fabric softener. It will add a pleasant aroma, fluffiness and softness.

It is not recommended to frequently wash wool products in a machine, as they quickly lose their shape and softness. If there is still a need for this, then the duration of the program should not be more than 40 minutes.

How to dry woolen items correctly

It is equally important to dry such items correctly. When wet, fibers are easily deformed and difficult to restore. The first thing to do after washing is to gently wring out the wool, wrap it in a terry towel and let the water soak into it.

You need to prepare in advance the place where you will dry. This should not be done in the open sun, in a room with humid air, or on heating appliances. It is best to dry it in the fresh air in the shade.

Do not hang items on a rope or hanger; this will cause them to stretch and become unusable. Place a blanket or towel on a horizontal surface, place woolen items on it, straighten out all the wrinkles, and check from time to time. If the fabric is dense, then the product must be turned over every 12 hours. This will help avoid mustiness.

Do not use a hairdryer or iron to dry the item faster; it should dry on its own. Also remember that if the item feels dry, there may be moisture trapped within the fibers. Therefore, after drying, wait another day.

There are emergency cases when ironing an item is necessary. The following tips will help you do this correctly and without harm to delicate fabric:

Study the product label; it contains all the necessary information about care, including whether it can be ironed and in what mode.

  • Never iron an under-dried item.
  • Do not use the steam mode.
  • Monitor the condition of the fabric while ironing.
  • Always turn the product inside out.
  • Iron only through dry cotton cloth or gauze.
  • Do not press, but move the iron gently.
  • Iron only the creases.

This information will help you avoid mistakes and damage to your favorite things. But to prevent the situation from getting to this point, try to dry and store clothes properly.

Important Rules

Several Yet important rules, which will help extend the service life of products. They apply not only to woolen items, but also to products made from any delicate fabrics:

  1. If you get a stain, don't rush to wash it off. First, dry it and then carefully remove it with a soft brush.
  2. If the white wool has turned yellow, place it in water acidified with lemon juice for 10 minutes.
  3. You can wash a dark woolen item without harm with mustard powder. Fill the package with several liters of boiling water, stir well, let cool and place the product in it.
  4. If the clothes have shrunk, then after washing the fabric should be slightly pulled in all directions.
  5. In the case when it is stretched, you need to gather it up a little with your hands and put it to dry near a radiator or heater.
  6. Manufacturers recommend washing wool items no more than once every 6 months; the rest of the time you can dry clean them.
  7. Do not dry natural fabrics in the kitchen, as they absorb odors well.
  8. To prevent the item from shrinking, lay it out on a large piece of thick fabric and trace it. After each wash, when the clothes have dried a little, lay them out on the linen and pin them along the outline.

Problems such as a shrunken sweater or a favorite scarf that has stretched out will no longer bother you. After all, now you know all the secrets of caring for, storing and washing woolen items.

Video: how to easily wash wool

Reading time: 7 minutes

Woolen items may shrink in size during washing. This occurs under the influence of high temperature or due to the high speed of the washing machine drum. As a result, the structure of the material changes and the threads shrink. Frequently washing wool is not recommended. If there are no visible contaminants, then it is better to simply ventilate the clothes. The less contact with moisture, the longer the original appearance will be preserved. The article provides recommendations on how to wash woolen items.

Before washing sheep wool at home, you need to clean out the trash. Then the products are divided into white, colored and dark. They also select very dirty items with stains. If there are heavily soiled areas, clean them using a clothes brush or special products. If there are holes, the clothes must be sewn up to prevent them from tearing further. When washing for the first time, it is advisable to do a shedding test.

Options for washing woolen items

Clothing made from wool requires special care. Therefore, you need to know at what temperature you need to wash so as not to spoil the item. It should not exceed 30 degrees. To prevent items from shrinking, avoid washing in hot water.

There are two ways:

  • manually;
  • in the typewriter.

When wondering how to wash wool by hand and in what, it is important to know that you need to use a lot of water (melt and rain water work well). Things are turned inside out. Do not twist too much to avoid deforming the material. It is recommended that the water itself be glassed. Then twist it a little with a terry towel.

When washing in a washing machine, set to the “wool” mode without spinning. Duration should be up to 45 minutes. There is no need to pre-soak.

Types of funds

It is necessary to wash woolen items using special means. To avoid leaving white marks, use liquid soap solutions. For those who do not know whether it is possible to wash wool with shampoo, you need to know that it is suitable for products. To prevent the wool from matting and to prevent it from itching, rinse with conditioner. You can use glycerin in the following proportions: half a tablespoon per 5 liters of water. To wash woolen products, you cannot use powder containing alkali.

The best products for washing a woolen sweater and mittens include: Perwoll, “Wool and Silk”, Villi.

Before washing wool, it is advisable to check whether it sheds or not. To do this, a piece of thread is placed in water with powder heated to a high temperature. Then they take it out and wrap it in light cotton cloth. If a print appears, vinegar should be added to the water in a ratio of 3 tbsp. l. for 1 bucket. This helps maintain the brightness of the colors.

If washing is done by hand, you can use stain removers suitable for wool or solvents.

If you are interested in how to wash dark-colored woolen items, you can use mustard. 1 cup of powder is diluted in two liters of slightly warm water. Using gauze, strain and set for three hours. Then dilute with water and wash in the solution. During rinsing, add 1 tsp per 10 liters. ammonia, which makes the material softer. There is no need to add soap products.

Whitening methods

White woolen items turn yellow over time. Do not use bleaches that contain chlorine, as the substance has a detrimental effect on wool. At home, this problem can be eliminated by the following means:

  • Crushed chalk. For a thing weighing 0.5 kg you will need 1 kg of chalk and 3 liters of cold water. In solution for 20-25 minutes. leave, stirring occasionally.
  • Hydrogen peroxide. 1 tsp. add to 1 liter of cold water. The product is soaked for a couple of hours.

Afterwards, the product is thoroughly rinsed and washed. Using such detergents for wool will help maintain the original appearance of the item.

Removing stains

To ensure that your clothes retain their appearance and shape longer and to remove stains of any origin, you can turn to dry cleaning services. You can also tidy up woolen items at home. Special stain removers for such materials are commercially available. You should strictly follow the instructions and observe the soaking time.

It is better to erase local contamination from the borders, moving to the middle. This will prevent the stain from spreading.

Sequence of stain removal steps:

  • clean the item first with a dry and then with a damp brush to remove dust;
  • turn inside out;
  • place a piece of cotton fabric under the treated area;
  • apply the product;
  • remove the stain.

Before using the stain remover, it is advisable to apply it to the wrong side so as not to spoil the clothes.

Among the available wool products you can use:

  • glycerol;
  • potato starch;
  • turpentine;
  • kitchen or sea salt;
  • petrol;
  • powder for cleaning teeth;
  • hydrogen peroxide;
  • talc;
  • laundry soap;
  • alcohol (can be purchased at a pharmacy).

Fresh stains are removed with soap. It is necessary to prepare a solution at a warm temperature. Rub the stain. Rinse in cool water. Squeeze a little. Then leave for 5 minutes. in a mixture of vinegar and water (1 to 1). And rinse again.

If there are greasy stains on the product, cover the stained areas with dry powder for cleaning teeth or talcum powder. After three and a half hours, the item is gutted and then washed.

Do not wash stains from blood, milk, or eggs in water heated to a high temperature.

Rules for drying wool clothes

You need to dry the wool on a straight surface, turning it over periodically. If you hang the product on a rope, it may stretch. It is preferable to dry on the table. You cannot leave things in the area where food is being prepared. They quickly absorb foreign odors. When the threads contain synthetic components in addition to wool, they are wrung out a little, carefully straightened and hung on hangers to dry.

If the room is cold and the products take a long time to dry, you can use a hair dryer. When the device is switched on, do not bring it close. It is not advisable to place the product on a hot battery.

Wool thread becomes brittle under the influence of temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius and low humidity levels. These conditions can also cause yellow spots to appear.

Ironing

Some items can be ironed by first turning them inside out. It is better to do this through gauze or thin cotton cloth soaked in a mixture of a glass of water and half a tablespoon of table vinegar. This way you can avoid the appearance of shine on the material. Ironing helps to stretch out shrunken clothes a little. To do this, you just need to moisten it a little. The iron is set to position 2 or “wool”, depending on the model of the electrical appliance.

When ironing, do not press hard on the iron so as not to greatly deform the clothes. An exception to the rule is when the material needs to be specially stretched.

How to get shrunken clothes back into shape

During washing, clothes may shrink. In this case, you can try to stretch it. Therefore, it is necessary to know at what temperature things shrink so as not to spoil the product. There are several ways to restore shrunken clothes.

1 way. Turn the clothes inside out and moisten with a spray bottle. Then stretch it in different directions with your hands and let it dry. Method 2. Gives more effective results. Warm temperature water (not higher than 30 degrees) is poured into the container. Water that is too cool can further change the shape. Add a little conditioner intended for rinsing. After 10 minutes, remove the product and remove the water with a terry towel. Place on a flat surface in a horizontal position, straightening it out. When the item is dry, every 20 minutes you need to slightly stretch the material in different directions. You can also put the clothes on yourself if it is not too uncomfortable. It is convenient to stretch the hat so that it does not shrink, drying it in a three-liter jar. 3 way. Considered the most radical. Apply if the first two options do not help. However, there is a risk of damaging the product. Sequencing:
  • make a soap solution;
  • add 3 tbsp. lie ammonia and 1 tbsp. lie turpentine;
  • soak for 24 hours;
  • stretch carefully.

It is better to perform such actions with things that contain only wool. Since after a long stay in the mixture, the structure of the fibers is damaged and the warming qualities deteriorate.

Before stretching an item, you should also read the care instructions on the label. If individual parts have come together (sleeves, collar), not the entire product can be wetted.

It is advisable to store washed clothes on a shelf in a closet. It is recommended to carry out treatment against moths, which can damage the material. Bulky things are placed down and light things on top. It is necessary to periodically remove and air the wool. This will prevent creases from appearing.

Now that you know how to properly wash woolen items, you can provide proper care at home.

A cozy thing made of wool perfectly warms you up in the winter cold. It can last for more than one season, delighting with its comfortable cut and beauty, if you know how to wash woolen items.

This material is very capricious and requires special care so that the product does not stretch or, conversely, shrink after washing; you should familiarize yourself with simple recommendations.

Basic rules of care

Items made of wool do not like rough and too intense impact, so preference should be given to hand washing. Nevertheless, the question of how to wash woolen items in a washing machine without causing serious harm to them worries many housewives. If you follow all the rules, it is unlikely that a rare automatic wash will cause significant damage to the product.

But even when planning to wash a woolen item by hand, we must not forget about some nuances so as not to spoil the item of clothing. So, before you start washing, you need to understand the following points:

  1. If the item is very fluffy, the material is carefully combed before putting it in water. This measure will make the washing procedure easier, since surface particles of dirt and pellets will first be removed.
  2. The product should not be dipped into a basin or loaded into a washing machine drum without turning it inside out. It is necessary to carefully study the label, which contains detailed information regarding the rules for caring for the item.
  3. Clothes made from wool are washed separately from other items, and packaging by color is also important. Although wool is not subject to shedding, the fibers can stick to other products.
  4. The temperature of the water in which the washing will be carried out plays an important role. The material does not tolerate either too cold liquid or too hot one. Sudden temperature changes should not be allowed, otherwise the wool fibers will be destroyed and the item can be thrown away.
  5. When thinking about the question of what detergent to use for washing, you should choose a powder or gel specially designed for such material.

Features of hand washing

If time permits, it is better not to be lazy and wash a woolen item by hand, thereby leaving it safe and sound. Those who do not know how to wash woolen items by hand can always turn to quick reminder:

Cleaning in the washing machine

Every modern washing machine has a delicate wash mode, so, in principle, no problems should arise. In addition, many models are equipped with a special washing program designed for processing woolen items.

Set the required parameters. It is important that spin is turned off in the settings, otherwise the washed item will lose its previous shape. To prevent things from shrinking, as in the case of hand washing, the temperature should not exceed 30 degrees.

For machine washing, purchase a special liquid product, the label of which indicates that it is suitable for processing products made from natural wool. Using such means, you can be sure that the item will not stretch or become one size smaller. A pleasant bonus is the fresh aroma after washing.

Drying woolen items

Even if the washing went without any surprises, a dilemma automatically arises about how to dry a woolen sweater or other items so that they retain their original appearance. To do this, you just need to remember these simple tips:

Damage to the appearance of a wool product, no matter how high quality it is, most likely indicates inattention, haste or lack of experience. To remove old stains from things and at the same time prevent shrinkage, you should pay attention to

It’s hard to imagine a winter wardrobe without cozy and beautiful sweaters and knitted dresses, which are simply irreplaceable in cold weather. But, unfortunately, it happens that a new woolen blouse makes us happy until the first wash, after which it loses its shape and becomes unsuitable for further wear.

To avoid such troubles, it is important to follow some rules when washing wool items. Then your favorite clothes will last a long time without losing their external qualities.

Wool is a rather capricious material that requires careful handling. Such products easily stretch or shrink when washed; high water temperatures are strictly contraindicated for them.

You should forget about spinning, and even more so about machine drying when washing knitted items: if you accidentally set the spin cycle, there is a chance that the item will be damaged irrevocably.

How to prepare items for washing

In order for wardrobe items to be washed well and not deformed, they should be prepared in advance:

  1. If among the contaminated items there are items made of angora or mohair, set them aside: they require only hand washing.
  2. Sort items into dark and light ones; they should be washed separately from each other.
  3. If the item will be washed for the first time, you need to find out whether it is fading. To do this, wet the edge of the product and iron it on a white fabric. If you see a mark of color, such clothing should be washed separately from other items.

What tools to use

For washing, you can use both liquid and powder detergents. The main thing is that the packaging should indicate that the composition can be used for hair care.

Under no circumstances use powders that are not intended for this purpose to wash woolen items. They may contain components that are destructive to wool fibers.

Common products that can be found in household chemical stores:


Features of hand washing wool

  • Clothes should be kept in water as little as possible, so they should not be pre-soaked
  • The optimal water temperature for washing will be 35 degrees, you need to rinse at the same temperature
  • You should wash it no longer than 50 minutes, otherwise the wool may lose its original shape.
  • When rinsing, the water must be changed until it becomes clear.

For washing, you can use both store-bought products and traditional methods.

Bean decoction for washing

This product effectively removes dirt and prevents the formation of pilling during washing. White beans are used, which must be boiled (for 5 liters of water - 1 kg of beans), let it brew a little and strain.

Potato broth

Washing with potato decoction gives excellent results. The process looks the same as washing in bean broth.

To prevent the potato smell from remaining on clothes, at the end you need to use fabric softener or a solution of soda and salt (one pinch of each substance per 1 liter of water).

Using mustard

One of the components of mustard powder is alyl oil, which perfectly dissolves fats and is gentle on things. Dry mustard should be dissolved in water in a ratio of 15 g per 1 liter, mix well and wait about 2-3 hours. Next, the liquid must be poured without sediment into a basin with water at a temperature of 30-40 °C. Do the same procedure again with the sediment. It is in the resulting “mustard water” that you need to wash things (if the product is heavily soiled, then the solution should be changed once during the washing process to a fresh one).

Features of washing white woolen items

Sometimes white products darken or acquire an unpleasant yellowish tint. To return clothes to their original snow-white color, various folk methods are used.

Application of chalk

1 kg of chalk, crushed to dust, should be diluted in lukewarm water and the product should be soaked in this solution for 30 minutes, during which the water should be stirred occasionally. At the next stage, the item must be rinsed thoroughly and then washed in the usual way.

Hydrogen peroxide

Pour peroxide into a bowl of cold water at the rate of 1 part peroxide to 8 parts water, soak the product for half an hour, then rinse and wash.

Machine washable wool items

Many people are afraid to wash sweaters and scarves in the machine, thinking that the items may get damaged. In fact, if you take into account some nuances, machine washing will not cause any harm to your clothes.

Preparation of products and mode selection

Before putting woolen items in the drum, turn them inside out. This technique will prevent the products from fluffing up excessively on the reverse side, and they will not “bite”. It is recommended to remove all metal fittings (buttons, locks, buckles) that may leave rust marks or damage the knitted fabric.

Many machines have a special mode for wool. If it is missing, it is worth installing a program for delicate fabrics.

Washing features

To prevent things from matting or shrinking, the water temperature should be no higher than 30 degrees. If the products are heavily soiled, then all problem areas should be washed first, since washing at a low temperature may not cope with them.

Both powder and liquid formulations marked “for wool” are suitable as laundry detergents.

You can learn some more tips on washing woolen items from the video:

Rinsing

Please note that liquid formulations are better washed out of wool than powdered ones. Therefore, if you use the latter, you should set the additional rinse option.

To prevent the appearance of pilling, you can use special rinses for woolen products.

Spin

You cannot wring out knitted items, even at minimum speed.

To remove excess moisture from the product, after washing, place it on a terry towel, roll it into a roll and wait a couple of minutes. Then you need to unroll the roll, change the towel to a dry one and do it all again.

Dark things tend to shed more than light ones. To fix the dye on the fabric when washing by hand, you can pour a little vinegar into the basin.

If you wash in a machine, you can add a liquid composition for washing black clothes to the wool detergent - it will help the product retain its original shade longer.

How to dry wool items

It is correct to dry such products only in a horizontal position. You should spread a towel on a flat, level surface and place the item on top, carefully straightening it out (do not stretch it!). If the sweater is coarsely knit and takes a long time to dry, then the towel should be changed to a dry one as needed.

You cannot throw a woolen item over a rope: it will leave a fold that will be difficult to remove.

How to iron woolen items

Ironing is usually not necessary, it is only needed if there are folds on the product. Any finished product has a tag that indicates the rules for care, including ironing. But if the item was knitted by hand or the label was lost, then follow the general recommendations:

  • Most irons indicate the optimal setting for wool, usually a division with two dots
  • Before ironing, the item must be turned inside out.
  • The iron must be lifted and moved to another place, because ironing in the usual way can stretch the material

What to do if the item shrinks

If the product has decreased in size after washing, the following measures must be taken:

  • Wet the “affected” item completely, except for the shoulders and neckline.
  • Dry by wrapping in a towel
  • After this, stretch it in different directions and lay it out to dry.
  • Periodically, stretch the sweater with your hands, and when it is almost dry, hang it on a hanger.

What to do if a woolen product is stretched

The opposite situation also happens - when you take out an item from the drum that is 1-2 sizes larger than the original one. In this case, you need to soak it in water at a temperature of 40 - 50 degrees for 10 minutes, and then dry it in a horizontal position.

If only a separate part of the product is stretched, for example, the sleeves, then only them need to be soaked.

How to restore softness to a product after washing

To ensure that the sweater remains as soft after washing as before, when washing by hand, glycerin should be added to the water before the last rinse (2 teaspoons per 10 liters of water). You can also use your favorite hair conditioner, because wool is similar in structure to hair.

So, the process of washing woolen items is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. You just need to follow certain rules, and your woolen items will remain in perfect condition for a long time.

Wool is the general name for natural threads from which woven and knitted products are made. They have both general properties and features that must be taken into account when washing. How and with what should you wash woolen items?

Preliminary preparation

Before immersing woolen items in a basin of water or placing them in a machine drum, preliminary preparation should be carried out. It is as follows:

  • Any wool products are first cleaned with a brush to remove dust, and then shaken several times. Blankets and rugs can be beaten out with a carpet beater or vacuumed. If clothes have pockets, they should be cleared of debris. The slotted ones are first pulled out.
  • Use a razor, a special device or another convenient method to remove it or a blanket.
  • Removes stains from the surface and refreshes shiny areas. Fresh, small stains are cleaned with a brush with talc (starch). Stubborn stains are treated with gasoline, turpentine or acetone.
  • Turn the item inside out and use a toothbrush or a cotton pad slightly moistened with water to remove accumulated dust from the seams.
  • On woven models, buttons, zippers and snaps are fastened. To prevent the loops from becoming deformed, they are sutured with a temporary “needle forward” suture. The fur collar is unfastened (paired) from the coat and the belt is removed.
  • If you plan to wash several items at the same time, they are sorted by color, quality of material and degree of contamination.

Not all woolen items can be washed. If the manufacturer prohibits contact of the product with water, it is better to limit it to dry cleaning or contact a professional.

Handwash

Unless otherwise stated on the label, hand washing is suitable for all wool items. Moreover, some fabrics only tolerate it well. Wash exclusively by hand:

  • large rugs and blankets;
  • coat made of natural drape, rattin, tweed;
  • alpaca sweaters;
  • cardigans made of vigony and wool velor.

Hand washing is carried out in the following sequence:

A bathtub or basin is filled with warm (optimally 30°) water. Water temperature plays a decisive role when washing wool. At 45° and above, a natural item becomes deformed. The washing algorithm will be different if you need to return the size.

Liquid detergent for delicate fabrics and wool is poured into the water. You can use shampoo to wash your hair or bath soap, preferably baby soap, grated and whipped into foam.

Washing powder and laundry soap should not be used, as they are very difficult to rinse. In addition, the latter contains alkali, which causes felting of the woolen fabric.

If there are a lot of hardness salts in the water, after contact with it the natural product will lose its softness. To prevent this from happening, an industrial water softener, baking soda (1 tsp per 10 l) or ammonia (2 tbsp per 10 l) are added to the basin along with the detergent.

It is extremely undesirable to soak a woolen item, so keep it in the washing solution for no more than 15 minutes. The exception is heavily soiled socks or work clothes. They can be left in the basin for 1-2 hours.

To prevent the canvas from turning into felt, it is not rubbed, but only squeezed with your hands in different places. Large items (coats and blankets) are turned over during the washing process. Places of heavy contamination are carefully rubbed with a clothes brush, collecting foam on it.

The clean product is lightly wrung out by hand and moved to the edge of the bath or transferred to a free container. Do not let a stream of water from the tap directly onto the item.

Woolen models are rinsed, changing the water several times, gradually lowering the temperature. During the last rinse, conditioner is added to the water to give the fabric a pleasant smell and rid it of static electricity. When washing colored wool, it is advisable to replace it with table vinegar (1 tsp per 10 l). The acid will preserve the color and make things shine.

Delicate natural fibers are completely resistant to chlorine. Therefore, if bleach is needed, the choice should be made in favor of a ready-made oxygen product or a “folk” one, for example: hydrogen peroxide or citric acid.

Machine washable

Automatic washing is less labor-intensive, but dangerous for delicate materials. Therefore, before starting the program, the following conditions must be met:

  1. Pour washing gel and conditioner into the powder receptacle compartments.
  2. Place your personal items in a special bag, and roll up your blanket or coat.
  3. In this form, place the woolen products in the drum along with ribbed balls, which will fluff up the pile.
  4. Set the “delicate wash”, “wool” or “synthetic” modes on the panel. The “spin” and “drying” modes must be turned off. After this, the washing machine is started.

It should be remembered that models made from natural threads do not tolerate water well. Therefore, wool should be washed no more than once every 6-12 months.

Drying and ironing

It is important not only to wash thoroughly, but also to properly dry woolen items after washing. What do you need to know?

  1. Washed wool should not be twisted. It should swell naturally. Small items are left in the basin, and large ones are laid out on stools installed at the bottom of the bathroom. From time to time, lightly squeeze the water from the edges.
  2. When most of the moisture has left the product, wrap it in a terry towel or soft fabric that absorbs water well. Then they are unrolled and placed on a hard horizontal surface covered with dry cloth to dry.

To speed up the process, the woolen fabric is covered on top, and a fan is also turned on. Drying with a radiator or with a hairdryer is prohibited.

To finally prepare the item for wear, they usually use an iron. What should you know about ironing wool?

  • Properly dried woven and knitted models are ironed on the reverse side through a damp thin cloth or gauze.
  • Some fabrics, for example: angora, mohair, are prohibited from ironing.
  • Vigoni cannot be touched with an iron, so they are ironed with steam through a cloth.
  • Using an iron, shrunken and deformed items are returned to their original size and shape. They are ironed dry when wet. But there are other ways to return the size to a wool sweater or blouse.

Thus, for woolen things It is quite possible to care for it at home without resorting to expensive dry cleaning services.

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