How to wash knitwear: washing, removing bobbles or mending jumpers
Knitwear can be quite tricky to care for depending on the material and how it is stitched. To keep your knitwear looking fresher for longer, we have put together a few simple tips and tricks on how to care for your knitted jumpers and cardigans. In this article, you can also find out how to mend holes and remove bobbling.
How to store knitwear neatly and space-efficiently
To ensure your knitted garments last a long time, you should treat them as gently as possible. The best way to care for them starts with how you store them: it’s best to store knitted garments flat. In addition, make sure to fold them loosely and neatly to help the fibres keep their shape. It is also important to protect your knitwear from direct sunlight.
You will need to put away your woollen jumpers and cardigans in spring to make room for your T-shirts and tops. Below you will find a couple of things to keep in mind when putting your jumpers and cardigans away for the summer.
Even in the summer, your knitted jumpers should be stored flat and in a dark place. Vacuum bags are one way of saving space when storing jumpers because you can suck the air out with a pump or a hoover and safely stow away your freshly washed jumpers. However, you should not use this method on knitwear made out of merino wool or cashmere as the pressure from the bags can damage the delicate fibres.
Your winter clothes are also safe in boxes or under-bed storage units during the summer. To give your jumpers and cardigans extra protection against dirt, you can also wrap them individually in silk or newspaper.
Tip: To prevent your favourite woollen jumpers from being attacked by moths in the summer, you should protect them with lavender sachets, cedar wood or special moth traps.
Make sure to choose a suitable wash program and laundry detergent for clothes made out of mixed materials. For example, if your jumper is made out of wool and cotton you should wash your jumper at a maximum temperature of 30°C because wool is more delicate than cotton.
Washing & drying knitwear
Washing and drying knitwear can be quite tricky. Most knitwear is made of wool, which makes washing it more difficult. Below we have put together the most important tips for washing and caring for knitwear so that your favourite knitwear does not shrink or become misshapen:
There are a few dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind when washing and drying woollen clothes:
Washing & drying do's:
Turn jumpers and cardigans inside out before washing to prevent bobbling.
Wash woollen clothes on a delicates or handwash program with a mild laundry detergent or a special laundry detergent for wool.
Carefully reshape your knitwear back into its original shape immediately after washing it.
Leave knitwear to dry lying down.
Washing & drying don'ts:
Do not wash knitwear too often – instead leave it out to air overnight.
Don't leave knitwear in the washing machine for too long.
Don’t wring out woollen jumpers after washing them.
Do not hang up knitwear to dry, but do not place in direct sunlight or near a radiator either.
You can use a large towel to quickly and gently dry knitwear. Put your knitwear on a large towel and roll the towel up and carefully squeeze it. The towel will absorb the excess moisture without putting too much strain on the fibres.
How to remove bobbles from jumpers
Bobbling is a common problem when it comes to knitwear. Bobbling and small knots can appear on all natural materials whether it's a high-quality knitted jumper made of cashmere or a cosy cardigan made out of wool. Bobbling always occurs in areas where the fabric is exposed to strong friction. This causes small fibres to detach from the material and they will then form small knots and start to bobble. The areas under the arms and at the hips are particularly susceptible to bobbling. The small knots don’t look great and they can also lead to small holes.
Bobbles can easily be removed from your jumper, which will help to prevent any damage to the delicate material. To do this, use either a fabric razor or, for more delicate materials such as cashmere, a special pilling comb. A simple disposable razor can also help you remove bobbles from your jumper. Carefully shave bobbles to create a nice smooth surface.
Tip: If you have bought a new woollen jumper, cardigan or knitted dress you can prevent bobbling by using a lint roller. This will help you to get rid of any loose threads. You can also wash your woollen clothes on a delicates wash program to help prevent any bobbles or knots.
How to make an itchy jumper soft
If you've had to wash your favourite jumper more than once it may lose its fluffiness. However, there are three easy ways to make your woollen jumper soft and comfortable again:
Freeze the jumper: You can freeze cashmere and woollen jumpers after washing them. Place the damp jumper in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. After a couple of hours, dry it using a towel as described above. The freezing temperatures will cause the fibres on the jumper to lock back into place and it will be comfortable to wear again.
Soak the jumper in vinegar: Wash your jumper in a vinegar bath. Vinegar can dissolve dirt and limescale deposits from the fibres and help to make woollen jumpers softer again. Put your jumper in a bowl of lukewarm water and add a dash of vinegar. Leave it to soak for about an hour, then rinse it carefully and leave it to dry as described on the care label.
Treat the jumper with wool wax: Dissolve a teaspoon of wool wax or lanolin with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in a bowl of hot water. When the water has cooled down to below 30°C pop your jumper into the water and leave it to soak overnight. The next morning dry it with a towel and the wool wax will make the fibres supple and soft again.
Practical tips on how to repair a jumper
It is easy to pull a thread or get a moth hole in your favourite jumper. You don’t need to throw away your favourite jumper if you follow our tips on how to mend a hole and repair a pulled thread.
How to fix a pulled thread
It’s easy to snag your jumper on a rough or sharp object and have a thread come loose. It’s annoying at first, but it’s no big deal. If the thread is still intact, you can gently pull the fabric up and down around the pulled thread. If you have only pulled the thread out a little bit, you can easily put it back into place.
If pulling the fabric does not fix it, you can turn the jumper inside out and pull the overhanging loop through to the inside. By using a needle you can follow the path of the thread. Follow the thread with the needle and loosen each stitch along the way until the thread has popped itself back into place again. You will need a little bit of patience for this, but the loose thread will disappear and your woollen jumper will look almost brand new again.
How to mend a hole in your jumper
If you get a hole in your jumper there are ways to fix it. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions below to quickly repair it.
Use a thread that matches the colour of the jumper or cardigan.
Thread the thread into a needle and double it up.
Turn the jumper inside out and place the hole over a darning mushroom. If you do not have one, then you can use an empty water bottle.
Next sew around the hole once. You can use the stitches that are already in the jumper. Continue to pass the thread around the hole alternating from top to bottom.
When you have sewn all the way around, sew across to the other side of the hole and back again until the hole is closed. The thread should be threaded in a serpentine pattern to close the hole.
Use the existing stitches again to sew from the bottom to the top and then from the top to the bottom. The hole is now securely closed.
How to repair a broken thread
First, you can try to knot the thread at both ends. This can be a bit tricky, but it is the best way to repair your woollen jumper. If this does not work, you can glue the ends on the inside with super glue or nail polish. However, this is only a quick fix and you will need to repeat the process each time after washing your jumper. If you would like to fix it, follow the step-by-step instructions above on how to mend a hole in your jumper.
Conclusion: how to remove bobbling and wash knitwear
Knitwear can be a bit fiddly to look after, but it is long-lasting and you can wear it time and time again. By following our tips in this guide, you can get the most out of your knitwear and quickly fix any problems such as pulled threads or bobbling.
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The image sources in this text are in chronological order
Covert photo: Anton – stock.adobe.com
1st image in text: Kristina89 – stock.adobe.com
2nd image in text: Viktoriya – stock.adobe.com
3rd image in text: iStock.com/Helin Loik-Tomson
4th image in text: Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
5th image in text: Evrymmnt – stock.adobe.com