As you know, knitwear requires special care. Therefore, in order for knitted clothing for home and leisure to serve you longer and not become a household item too quickly, you should adhere to some rules and recommendations for caring for knitted products, namely:
- First of all, you need to read the label on the product to find out the appropriate washing, spinning, and drying modes.
- Knitwear made from cotton, wool, chemical fibers and their mixtures should be washed in warm water up to 40 °C in a soap solution, using mild detergents specifically designed for washing knitwear, otherwise deformation and shrinkage of the items may occur. When washing in the washing machine, use a gentle, delicate wash cycle.
- It is advisable to wash any knitwear by hand and squeeze it rather than rub it, otherwise pilling may appear on it.
- When washing knitwear, you should not use detergents containing all types of bleaches, bioadditives (enzymes), alkalis and their compounds, or colored granules.
- Products of different colors must be washed separately from each other, since lint from one product may stick to another product, and subsequent cleaning will be labor-intensive.
- It is not recommended to soak the product for a long time, no more than 20 minutes. The water should be cool, because in hot water the knitwear shrinks and falls off.
- Products made from artificial and synthetic threads, light-colored products with colored patterns or finishing materials, products with hot-melt patterns, three-dimensional printing or embroidery cannot be soaked or boiled.
- Rinse knitwear first in warm and then in cold water.
- To keep knitted items soft and fluffy, add glycerin to the water when rinsing in a ratio of 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water. And then rinse again in cold water with the addition of ammonia in the same proportion.
- Knitted items should be wrung out gently, without twisting. It is recommended to briefly wrap the product in a dry towel or sheet.
- Knitwear should be dried flat on a horizontal surface at room temperature. Hanging knitted items is not recommended, as they can stretch and lose their shape.
- It is necessary to iron knitted items from the wrong side and in the direction of the loops with a moderately heated iron, no more than 110 °C.
- Remember, if a knitted product has finishing inserts made of suede, leather or fur, it is better not to experiment and take it to the dry cleaner.
- Knitwear has a loop structure, so when wet, you can slightly change the linear dimensions: lengthen or shorten the sleeves, change the length of the product.
- Due to improper care of knitted products, lumps of matted fibers - pellets - often form on them. It is best to remove pellets with a special brush or a special peeling machine.
- Also, if you do not wear the item for a long time, you should store it folded, since hangers can distort the shape of the knitwear. When storing knitted clothes, it is recommended to use plastic boxes to protect them from bugs and moths.
Caring for cotton products
Cotton fabrics are durable and resistant to high temperatures, and also absorb moisture well. May shrink when washed.
For cotton items, it is recommended to hand wash in warm water at a temperature of 30 - 40 °C, or machine wash on a delicate cycle. For colored products, a powder labeled “Color” is recommended. It is not recommended to use powder with bleaching additives, and such products cannot be bleached.
If the product sheds a lot, it should be washed in cold water and dried flat immediately after rinsing. For rinsing, it is recommended to add salt to the water (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water).
If the product is slightly colored, just fill it with hot water with the addition of soda and leave for 10 - 12 hours, then wash and rinse several times.
Use the dryer only if recommended by the manufacturer. If you dry a product outdoors, you must take into account that fabrics can fade in the bright sun, and negative temperatures can promote bleaching, which is undesirable for colored and black products.
Ironing is an equally important process, in which you also need to know some subtleties. Cotton is ironed wet from the front side, and if there is embroidery on the fabric, it is ironed from the back.
You can iron cotton with a high temperature iron.
Caring for viscose products
Viscose fiber, when processed differently, can resemble silk, cotton or even wool in its luster and density. Products made from viscose absorb moisture well, but when wet they lose strength, so they require especially careful washing.
Viscose can be washed in a washing machine on a gentle cycle at a temperature of 30 - 40 °C or by hand with washing powder for delicate fabrics or using mild detergents.
Viscose cannot be rubbed, twisted, much less squeezed in a centrifuge.
Viscose items can be hung to dry without wrung out, or they can be rolled into a sheet and gently wrung out.
Iron viscose products damp or through a damp cloth at a temperature of 150 °C, with the iron thermostat set to “silk”.
Products made from viscose fabric can be dry cleaned.
Caring for polyester products
Products made from polyester are easy to wash and dry in a machine and can withstand dry cleaning well. Polyester should be removed from the machine immediately after the drying cycle is complete. When ironing, the iron should be warm, but not hot.
Polyester can be washed in a washing machine at 40°C. At higher temperatures, wrinkles form on the fabric, which are then almost impossible to remove. True, some polyester fibers can withstand temperatures of 60 °C.
White fabrics should be washed with universal powder, colored fabrics with powder for delicate fabrics.
Polyester can only be slightly dried in a machine at a low temperature, but in no case to dryness. In this case, it is necessary to follow the care instructions indicated on the label so that difficult-to-remove wrinkles do not appear.
Polyester does not require ironing, but if it is still needed, it must be ironed with a moderately heated iron through a damp cloth, the iron thermostat should be in the “silk” position.
Polyester items can be dry cleaned.
RULES FOR CARE OF KNITWEAR
The peculiarity of knitwear is that its fabric is not woven, but knitted. The yarn can be wool, cotton, viscose, etc. Natural fiber absorbs moisture well and allows air to pass through. Cotton jersey is soft and durable. Wool knitwear is more elastic than cotton or viscose and holds its shape well. Synthetic knitwear (nylon, polyester, acrylic) is machine washable, does not wrinkle, does not absorb moisture, and therefore dries quickly. Its disadvantage can be considered the fact that it does not allow air to pass through and is electrified. Often knitted fabric is knitted from mixed threads.
The quality of knitwear depends on the quality of the yarn, the type of weaving, and the knitting density. Often pills form on knitted items. This happens due to the addition of synthetic materials, loosely twisted threads, long thread broaches when knitting fabric, and due to improper care of the item. The more elastic the fabric is, the more it rolls. Pills especially “love” to form on knitwear made from bulky yarn. They sit firmly. But they can be easily torn off from natural fibers. They are simply cut off from synthetic products with small scissors.
The basic rule for caring for knitted clothing is that the larger the loops, the more care it requires. (The loop can be hooked with a ring, fingernail, etc.).
You can wash knitwear, preferably by hand in warm water, without rubbing or twisting. When washed in hot water, knitted items shrink and become deformed. And if you rub them, pellets appear on them. You shouldn't soak them either. If you wash it in a washing machine, use the delicate cycle. It is advisable to dry it flat on a terry towel (so that it absorbs moisture).
You can iron knitwear in the direction of the loops at a temperature corresponding to the composition of the fibers. It is best to take clothes made from high-quality wool knitwear to the dry cleaner - you will receive them clean and ironed.
- Most often, in knitwear, the sleeve cuffs stretch during wear (except when they are wide according to the style). After washing, they fit your hand and then stretch out. To avoid washing, you can wet only the cuffs and lay the item out to dry, placing a terry towel under them.
- When rinsing wool items, the first rinse water should be at the same temperature as the washing water to prevent the wool from matting or shrinking. To prevent the golf collar from stretching out during washing, you will have to work with a needle and thread: you should sew the collar along the edge with wide stitches using a thick thread. After washing the dry collar, simply remove the thread.
- If your favorite sweater has become felted, you can wash it in the water in which the beans were soaked for several hours.
- It is better not to iron wrinkled items made of wool and knitwear, but to hang them on hangers over a basin of hot water. The rising steam will “smooth out” the bruises.
- Pills formed on the fabric can be removed using an electric razor.
- Moisten the scorched areas with a 2% hydrogen peroxide solution and expose the item to bright light. (You can add a few drops of ammonia to the solution). After a few minutes, rinse in cold water.
- Moisten the scorched area with cold water, sprinkle with salt and expose the item to the sun. After a while, shake off the salt and rinse in cold water.
- You can also wipe the tan marks with a cut onion and wash the stain with a detergent solution.
- Treat scorch marks on silk or woolen fabric with a paste of baking soda and water. When it dries, brush off the soda and rinse the item in cold water. Caution: Dyed fabrics may change color. As a rule, it can be restored by moistening the stain with a solution of vinegar and water.
- Significant scorch marks that have caused deep destruction of the tissue cannot be removed
Wash
It is advisable to always wash knitted items by hand, without rubbing, but only gently squeezing them, because If you rub, pills may appear on the product.
To reduce shrinkage or eliminate it altogether, the water temperature during washing and rinsing should be the same.
To prevent the product from fading, rinse the product in cold water with vinegar, the vinegar fixes the paint and the product does not fade.
If you do wash it in a machine, you must follow the symbols indicated on the sew-in label. It is advisable to use the “gentle wash” mode, do not wring or dry in the machine, and do not use powders containing bleach for colored knitwear.
Products of different colors must be washed separately from each other, because... lint from one product may stick to another product, and subsequent cleaning will be very labor-intensive. If the product is not heavily linted with foreign fibers, you can remove them using wide tape.
To wash delicate knitwear (angora, cashmere, mohair, wool, wool mixture) you must use special detergents.
Knitted items should be washed in soft water. If the water is hard, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the laundry solution.
Knitted items should not be soaked for a long time, more than half an hour. And let the water be cool rather than too hot, since when washed in hot water, knitwear shrinks and falls off.
To remove all stains, proceed as follows: dilute detergent in a bowl of water, and the solution may be more concentrated than usual. Carefully inspect the entire product and soak the stained areas with the detergent solution. Leave the item for 15 minutes and then wash as usual.
When rinsing wool items, the first rinse water must be at the same temperature as the washing water (otherwise the wool may pill). Rinse the product one last time in cool water.
Drying and ironing
Never hang knitted items to dry: they will stretch and lose their shape. It is best to lightly wring out the knitwear and lay it horizontally on a towel; you can cover it with a dry towel on top. After about an hour, remove the top towel and replace the bottom one with a dry one. When the bottom towel gets wet, you can change it a second time.
A completely dried product can be steamed from the face by lightly touching it with an iron. If the knitwear has a print on it or the product has a high pile, then the product must be ironed from the wrong side.
Do not steam embossed patterns with an iron, otherwise they will stretch out or become flat.
Knitwear has a loop structure, so when wet, you can slightly change the linear dimensions: lengthen or shorten the sleeves, change the length of the product.
Modern knitwear can have finishing inserts made of suede, leather, fur, etc. Such products must be dry cleaned.
Storing the product and combating pilling
The packaging bag containing the knitted product always contains a bag of special granules that can absorb odors and excess moisture. If you are going to store the purchased item in a bag, do not throw away the granules - you will need them later. The storage bag should have holes for ventilation, and don’t forget to put a bag of granules in there.
Pilling on knitted products is inevitable, and if pills appear on your product (loose lumps of tangled fibers that are more or less firmly held on the surface of the material), then it is better not to tear them off, but use a special machine. It can be purchased at hardware stores. Pills appearing on the surface of materials made from wool, silk, cotton and viscose fibers are quickly removed, coming off on their own, and are therefore less noticeable. Materials made from synthetic fibers and mixed yarns are most prone to pilling. The pills are held most stably by polyamide (PA) fibers, and to a lesser extent by polyester (PE) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Products with the composition “cotton with PA” have their advantages - they are more shape-resistant, have brighter colors and retain them after washing.
VISCOSE is an artificial, but not synthetic fiber, made from wood (cellulose), that is, it is natural. Sometimes it is called "tree silk". Viscose is the very first artificial fiber produced by man at the end of the 19th century, but to this day it retains its importance and is the most widespread. The world produces it twice as much as wool. Its wide distribution was facilitated by the high profitability of production and the presence of many positive properties in the product. Since viscose is made from a natural material - cellulose, it is the most “natural” of all chemical fibers. By changing the thickness and nature of the fibers, you can obtain fabrics that are very similar to natural ones - wool, cotton, silk and linen. The main qualities of viscose: pleasant to the touch, hygroscopic, breathable. High color intensity allows you to create products in bright colors. Using viscose, you can improve the properties of cotton: adding it to cotton yarn increases the rate of moisture absorption, which is low in cotton. It should also be noted that viscose does not accumulate static electricity. When washing, viscose products require especially careful care. You should not twist them too much.
Care Tips:
- To preserve the appearance of the product and its original qualities, we offer you some care tips:
- Sort your laundry before washing. Always wash white laundry separately from colored laundry.
- Do not soak laundry before washing
- Follow the recommended temperature conditions
- Do not tumble dry knits
- Dry the product in a straightened form, giving the desired shape
- Maintain the specified temperature when ironing the product
Symbols on clothing labels:
1. Hand wash.
2. Washing is prohibited.
3. Hand wash only at a maximum temperature of 30 degrees, do not rub or wring.
4. Hand or machine wash at a temperature not higher than specified.
5. Hand or machine wash. Carefully adhere to the specified temperature, do not subject it to strong mechanical processing, rinse, gradually turning to cold water, and when spinning in the washing machine, set the centrifuge to a slow setting.
6. Very delicate wash in plenty of water, minimal mechanical processing, quick rinse at low speed.
7. Washing with bleaches containing chlorine is allowed. Use only cold water, make sure the powder is completely dissolved.
8. When washing, do not use products containing bleaches (chlorine).
9. Ironing is allowed.
10. Ironing is allowed at a maximum temperature of 110 degrees. The same rules apply to synthetic fibers: nylon, polyester, acetate and others. Use a cloth pad, do not use steam.
11. Ironing is allowed at a maximum temperature of 150 degrees. Suitable for wool and mixed fibers with polyester and viscose. Use a damp cloth.
12. Ironing is allowed at a maximum temperature of 200 degrees. Acceptable for linen and cotton. You can lightly moisten the product.
13. Dry clean only.
14. Dry cleaning with any solvent.
15. Cleaning with hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride and monofluorotrichloromethane only.
16. Cleaning using only hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane.
17. Cleaning only with hydrocarbon, ethylene chloride and monofluorotrichloromethane with limited addition of water, control of mechanical stress and drying temperature.
18. Cleaning only with hydrocarbon and trifluorotrichloromethane with limited addition of water, control of mechanical stress and drying temperature.
19. Allowed to wring and dry in a washing machine.
20. It is not allowed to spin or dry in a washing machine.
21. Dry at a warm temperature.
22.Normal drying in an electric dryer.
23. You cannot use the washing machine.
24. The product should only be hung.
25. A wet product must be laid out on a flat surface
Knitted items are always at the peak of popularity and occupy a worthy place in the hearts of fashionistas of all ages. Every year, designers from all fashion houses offer collections for everyday life. Knitted items are pleasant to wear and easy to care for. But it is important to follow some rules knitwear care, because each type of knitwear has its own characteristics.
Caring for cotton knitwear:
Cotton products are quite durable and can be washed in a washing machine using a gentle cycle at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees.
You can do it manually, but I don’t see any particular need for this, but if you still have concerns, you can use the washing bag in the washing machine. And of course, wash colored laundry separately from white. Knitted cotton clothes can be dried on a clothesline, but if the item is long enough, such as a dress, then it is better to lay it out on a flat surface. Iron at a temperature of 100 degrees in steam mode on the reverse side, without stopping the iron for a long time in one place. It is better to stretch the product onto the ironing board and use devices for ironing the sleeves, because... The seams of knitwear may leave marks. More than once I have seen, mainly on male individuals, an imprint from the front neckline on the back. You can immediately understand that the man is single, although he may have a negligent girlfriend.
Caring for wool knitwear:
Such products are washed only by hand, in water no more than 40 degrees, soaked for 10-15 minutes in a special detergent for woolen items. I don’t recommend using powder, because undissolved particles can remain between the weaving and ruin the item, but if you still want to use it, then you need to thoroughly dissolve the granules. Powders with bleaching properties are not suitable for washing woolen products; they destroy the fibers.
For washing, I use cheap hair shampoo, which has all the properties of a similar detergent, and the price is much lower. Lightly crush the product, lift it several times and immerse it in water with detergent, drain the water. To rinse, pour water at a temperature 2-3 degrees higher (this will prevent the formation of pills) than the one in which you washed. Rinse by lifting and lowering the product into the water, change the water again and repeat the procedure. You can add a spoonful of table vinegar, a static remover and a softening conditioner to the rinse water to add fluffiness, although shampoo is enough for me. Under no circumstances should you squeeze out a product of their wool; it is better to put it in a sink or on a wire rack, squeeze it into a ball, and leave it for 20-30 minutes to allow the water to drain. Then place it on a clean terry towel, roll it up and gently press along its entire length. Dry on a clothes drying rack, having previously laid it on a sheet so that the bars of the rack do not leave marks, turn it over several times during drying, after 5 hours remove the wet sheet and leave to dry on the rack. An iron may not be necessary for such items if dried properly, but if you still need to, iron them at a temperature of 100-150 degrees through a damp cloth. Naturally on an ironing board and using devices for ironing sleeves.
Caring for viscose knitwear:
Viscose threads are not durable when wet, so you need to wash such items by hand or in a washing machine at 30 degrees without spinning. Wring out in a towel or sheet, without pressing too hard, and dry flat on a flat surface. Iron from the wrong side with steam, at a temperature of 150 degrees, or in the “silk” mode.
Caring for knitwear made from artificial fibers:
Wash by hand or in a washing machine at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees on a delicate cycle without spinning. If you use special bags for washing, you don’t have to turn off the spin mode. The main problem with synthetic items is that they are difficult to rinse, and the powder is noticeable especially on black items, so it is better to use special mild detergents for synthetic items, or run the washing machine for an additional rinse, but only if you use laundry bags. You can wring it out by slightly twisting it, but it’s better to do without it, dry it on a clothesline. Steam it at a temperature of 50-60 degrees.
The main thing for all types of knitted products is that they cannot be stored in a suspended state; the shape of the product may stretch out and never take its previous shape. I knew one customer, she had a long knitted dress, which she came to shorten 4 times, only because she hung the dress on shoulder pads. Not only were there “bumps” in the shoulder area from the shoulder pads, but the stitching of the shoulder seam kept bursting from tension. It is better to store clean things in the closet, because... Knitwear absorbs odors, and cotton knitwear may develop stains. Find a place for each type of knitwear, and store separately colored and fluffy items that can leave lint on closely folded items.
And of course knitwear care A tag with recommendation icons will make it easier.
In the 30s Coco Chanel introduced to the general public a knitted fitted sweater and a cardigan of the same color. She was the first designer to use cheap fabric for women's clothing, which was used to make men's underwear at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, knitted items have become an integral part of the basic wardrobe, both women's and men's. To ensure that knitted items always look like new, they need to be washed, ironed and stored in a special way. Brand Marketing and PR Specialist Reserved Yulia Kleshchaeva told website 5 basic rules for caring for knitwear.
Knitwear is a fabric or product knitted from threads by hand or on knitting machines. Nowadays, a lot of things are made from knitwear - jackets, jumpers, skirts, coats, vests and much more. Most often, knitwear products form the base of any wardrobe. Knitted items require proper handling, as there is a risk of pilling and the possibility of deformation of the product.
First rule
Not so much about care, but about choosing knitwear: buy only good quality knitwear (we advise you to adhere to this policy when choosing all things).
There is no point in properly caring for items made from low-quality knitwear, because even with ideal care, they will still quickly lose their presentable appearance and go into the “home” or “dacha” clothing category. The quality of knitwear is quite easy to determine. You just need to rub the fabric a little and look closely at the fluff along its surface. In a good product, this fluff is practically absent, and if it is present, it is small and of the same length. A bad product, on the contrary, has long, uneven fluff, and the fabric feels loose and soft to the touch.
Also, the knitting density has a great influence on the durability of knitwear. Even if the knitwear is very thin, if the loops of threads fit tightly together, it will be more resistant to wear.
All brands state the rules for caring for items on internal labels. But, if you're the kind of person who likes to cut those mini instructions off, these next few rules are for you.
Second rule
Knitted items should be washed in warm water and, preferably, by hand. If you machine wash it, do it on the delicate cycle only. Knitwear does not like hot water, intense friction and torsion.
Stain removers for knitwear should only be used as a last resort. If possible, it is better to pre-test the product before using it on an old, unwanted knitwear product of similar quality. This will insure the clothes from local fading. Also, this fabric should not be rubbed too much.
By the way, pills on products appear precisely because of improper washing, including due to friction. To remove them, use a special machine.
Third rule
Do not dry knitted items on clothespins or hangers. This is especially true for chunky knitwear, since such products lose their shape much faster and, therefore, require more careful handling.
Of course, if you want your item to stretch out and take on a new (perhaps not better) shape, then this rule can be ignored. To preserve the original shape of the item, after washing it is better to place the item flat on a towel.
Fourth rule
Knitted items should be ironed while they are slightly damp. For this purpose, irons have a special steam function. Also, you need to turn the item inside out and use gauze. After ironing, it is better to leave the product unfolded for a while until it cools down.
Fifth rule
Store knitted items folded. In this case, the likelihood of deformation of the product is much less than when the item is stored on a hanger. But, if you still want to use a hanger to store a knitted item (dress, for example), choose strictly soft hangers. And, of course, do not forget to use special moth repellents.
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When creating a men's or women's wardrobe, it is impossible to do without knitted items that are suitable for all occasions. Knitwear is comfortable to wear, pleasant to the body and therefore has been very popular for many years.
However, knitted items need to be properly cared for, otherwise they quickly lose their appearance and look unpresentable.
How to extend the life of your favorite knitwear?
We erase
The water temperature when washing knitwear should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Such items should be washed by hand or at the “hand (delicate) wash” mark, separating them from other laundry. It is not recommended to use bleaches. To make knitwear extra soft, you can use special conditioners.
Knitted items often form pills, so they should not be subjected to strong friction when washing. To better wash the item, you should first soak it in cool or lukewarm water for a short time.
Drying
You also need to dry knitwear correctly, otherwise it may become deformed ahead of time. You should avoid twisting knitted clothes; drying them with a hanger is also contraindicated, because the deformation can be so severe that the item will become completely unusable. After washing, the knitwear is carefully wrung out, then laid out horizontally on a dry cloth and carefully wrapped. As the water is absorbed, the fabric is replaced with a dry one and these manipulations are continued until completely dry.
Removing pellets
Unfortunately, even if you care for knitwear correctly, pills may appear on it, giving the product an unkempt appearance. They need to be removed from time to time. This can be done using a special machine, brush or manicure scissors. You can use a safety razor, but you need to do this very carefully so as not to damage the product and not to injure yourself. But pulling out the pellets with your hands is undesirable - there is a risk of irreparably stretching the product.
Iron and steam
You also need to iron knitwear correctly so as not to damage its structure. You should act very carefully, turning the product inside out. The iron should glide over the surface smoothly and weakly, with a barely noticeable touch. It is recommended to turn on the steam supply, because the process of ironing knitted items is essentially steaming. Embossed, three-dimensional patterns should not be ironed, so as not to spoil them.
Storage rules
Knitwear also needs to be stored correctly. Do not place it on hangers - the product may stretch out and lose its original appearance. It is best to carefully fold things and place them on the shelves of the closet, after placing them in special bags with mini-containers that absorb moisture and foreign odors.
