Cleaning a wool sweater can sometimes seem complicated and many people have unfortunately seen their beautiful sweater shrink, lose its shape, lose its softness or color after washing in the washing machine. Virgin wool , merino wool or any other type of wool are very fragile fabrics that must be maintained and cleaned with care to keep your sailor sweaters or any other wool sweaters for as long as possible. The knits and fibers that compose it can degrade and get damaged quickly if you don't take care of them. Baie des Caps has therefore put together this article to give you the best advice on how to clean a wool sweater without damaging it.
Are you ready? Then let's go!
How to clean a wool sweater by hand?
Do you want to clean your most beautiful sailor sweater made of 100% wool but you are afraid of damaging it? Know that a wool or merino sweater can be washed by hand or in the machine according to your preferences. And, of course, if you do not have a washing machine at home, we advise you to forget the laundromat and clean your wool sweater by hand.
To do this, you will need:
- A basin of lukewarm water . The water temperature should not exceed 30° . If the temperature is too high, your beautiful wool sweater will shrink and you will be unhappy;
- A special wool hand wash detergent because its neutral pH and foaming agents will protect the fiber. You can use Marseille soap or a mild baby shampoo if you can't find the right detergent.
To clean a wool sweater by hand, start by pouring a dose of detergent into the basin of lukewarm water.
Then soak your wool sweater and let it sit for about 20 minutes . If some stains are too ingrained and persist, consider rubbing your wool sweater very gently between your fingers directly in the soapy water. Marseille soap will be very effective for this. Do it very gently to prevent your wool sweater from pilling and the fibers from getting damaged.
The 20 minutes are up? Then rinse your sweater in cold water until there is no more detergent . Little tip: add 2 to 3 drops of white vinegar to the cold water to remove the last detergent residues and give shine to the wool.
Once your sweater is cleaned and rinsed, don't make the mistake of wringing it out by twisting or wringing it . Otherwise, you risk ending up with a wool sweater with damaged fibers and stitches.
Part of this article is dedicated to drying wool sweaters. So, just a little more patience to discover how to dry your wool sweater without damaging it.
How to clean a wool sweater in the machine?
Do you prefer to machine wash your sailor sweater or any other favorite wool sweater? Let's see together how to do it effectively with the right tips to avoid mistreating the fibers and knits and to find a clean wool sweater, ready to wear.
Preparing the wool sweater before putting it in the washing machine
After a hard day at work where you've sweated, you come home and take off your warm wool sweater to make yourself comfortable. You then decide to put it in the laundry basket to wash it later. Remember to fold it and especially not to ball it up . Indeed, the more it is twisted, the more the fibers of your wool sweater will be damaged.
Before placing your wool sweater in the washing machine to clean it, also remember to turn it inside out to prevent pilling from forming on the front side.
And to protect it further, place it in a special net for delicate clothing to prevent it from rubbing with other clothes.
Don't have a net? Use a cotton pillowcase, which will do the job just fine.
What temperature should I choose?
As with hand washing, to clean your wool sweater in the washing machine, choose a temperature not exceeding 30° to avoid shrinking or deforming it. Therefore, opt for a “cold” wash.
Which program to choose?
Before washing your wool sweater in the washing machine, make sure that your washing machine has a “delicates” or “special wool” program . Fortunately, most washing machines today offer these programs.
Also opt for a short washing program that lasts between 30 and 60 minutes . Any longer and it risks damaging the natural fibers and therefore the knitwear as well.
Which detergent to choose and how much?
As for the laundry, we advise you, to clean your beautiful sweater in virgin wool, merino wool or mohair wool, to use exclusively a special wool detergent . This will allow you to keep the material intact because the neutral Ph and the foaming agents of the wool detergent protect the fibers and the stitches in the drum of the machine.
In addition, a special wool detergent will restore volume to the threads of your sweater to make it brighter and keep its softness.
You will find two specialized brands on the market:
- My Wool and Delicates;
- Woolite.
You will also find ecological detergents like Phildar or You.
Regarding the quantity, use a small amount of detergent . Too much detergent will damage the wool fibers.
What spin intensity should I choose?
To clean your wool sweaters in the washing machine, Baie des Caps recommends that you set the spin intensity to the minimum . That is to say 400 revolutions per minute . You can overflow to 600 revolutions per minute maximum but you must not exceed this intensity. Otherwise, your wool sweaters will be damaged and felted.
How often should I wash a wool sweater?
If you are going to clean your wool sweater, ask yourself beforehand whether the previous wash was not too recent.
Indeed, washing a wool sweater too frequently will damage its stitches . In order to preserve the softness and quality of the stitches, we therefore advise you to space out washes as much as possible.
Wool is a natural material that self-generates and is therefore self-cleaning.
Virgin wool , for example , has the ability to retain heat by allowing moisture to evaporate. Merino wool, on the other hand, contains anti-bacterial properties and does not retain odors.
It is therefore not necessary to wash your wool sweater too often. We advise you instead to air it after wearing it all day.
If you wear it over a t-shirt or long-sleeved undershirt, you can wait until you have worn it 3 or 4 times before cleaning your wool sweater .
What drying method should I use to clean a wool sweater?
The fundamental rule to follow to the letter for drying your wool sweater is to avoid putting it in your dryer at all costs . It will shrink and lose its shape for sure.
Also avoid drying your wool sweater in the sun or on a radiator as this will damage the fibers and stitches.
And don't think about drying it on a hanger either, as this could cause your beautiful wool sweater to lose its shape, especially around the shoulders.
So, to dry your wool sweater without damaging it, place it flat on a towel (preferably a cotton towel) at the bottom of a bathtub or shower, pressing gently and delicately on it to wring it out.
Once this is done, roll your sweater in a dry towel and gently press it so that the last excess water is absorbed.
Next, lay your wool sweater on a new towel and let it air dry.
It doesn't matter whether you clean your wool sweater by hand or in the washing machine, the drying process will be the same.
What you need to know to clean a wool sweater without damaging it
Wool, like cashmere, is a very fragile material that must be maintained and washed with care.
Cleaning a wool sweater , whether by hand or in the washing machine, should be done with cold or lukewarm water not exceeding 30° .
In both cases, you will also need to choose a suitable detergent . That is to say, a special wool detergent which will protect the natural fibres of the wool.
To avoid damaging the fibers and stitches , and thus keep your wool sweater as long as possible for your outings at the seaside or in town, remember to never twist or ball up your wool . Fold it before putting it in the laundry basket and don't throw it in a corner of your room without thinking.
If you didn't already know, you may have also learned from this article that cleaning a wool sweater too frequently is a bad practice that is highly discouraged . Washing it after 3 or 4 uses will be more than enough . To do this, remember to air it at the end of the day when you have worn it.
Regarding drying, do not make the mistake of putting it in the dryer. At the risk of saying goodbye to your beautiful sailor sweater or any other wool sweater.
Preferably spin it flat before wrapping it in a towel to remove the water and then leave it to dry on a towel in the open air , away from heat sources such as the sun or radiators.
By following our few tips, you will enjoy a wool sweater that will last you for many years because you will have learned how to clean it without damaging it.
