How to wash a sweater in a washing machine

Woolen garments offer a number of outstanding advantages thanks to the natural fibers, but they also have their downsides: wool is very sensitive and susceptible to temperature fluctuations and moisture. Many housewives are frankly afraid to machine wash a wool sweater. Are these concerns unfounded or justified?

Washing in automatic mode correctly

To be honest, pure wool items aren't made anymore, at least not in factories. To improve durability, synthetic fibers are added. Thanks to this technique, washing such a sweater in a washing machine is entirely possible, but with extreme caution and following the instructions.

1. If your machine has a Wool program, select only it and do not use any other additional settings.
2. If there is no special mode, select one that will handle washing as quickly as possible (15-30 minutes).
3. Turn off rinse, soak and other functions that will prolong the product's contact with water.
4. The washing temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. Some models have a minimum temperature of 40, but this is the maximum allowable limit.
5. As for detergent, use half the usual amount, as it's extremely difficult to remove from the clinging wool fibers. Moreover, you'll have to skip the rinsing process.

Important! Can I use fabric softener? A wool sweater won't mind. However, opt for special wool conditioners to be absolutely sure your garment is safe.

Never wring out the item, twist it, shake it, or anything else. No matter how wet it is, remove it and let it drain naturally, such as in a sink or bathtub. Once the sweater has drained, hang it away from any heat, light, or direct sunlight.

Caring for an acrylic sweater

If your item has decorative acrylic inserts, its washing parameters become even more stringent.In general, it is not recommended to wash such a sweater automatically; it is better to do it by hand using wool washing powder.If you still want to wash it in the washing machine, use the most delicate cycle.

Drying guidelines are the same: do not iron, do not wring, and do not place near heating appliances or light sources. The only thing you can do to speed up the drying process is lay the item on a terry towel to absorb excess moisture.

Expert advice

As mentioned above, wool items can be pure wool or mixed wool. Items containing synthetic fibers can be machine washed, and we've covered how. However, if you're lucky enough to have a pure wool item, you should only wash it by hand. What problems can improper washing instructions lead to?

1. Shrinkage of the item (from contact with hot water, for example).
2. Stretching.
3. Rolling up.

To make washing a wool garment even smoother, turn the item inside out before washing. It's best to use regular baby shampoo, which will handle stains much more gently. Spinning has already been mentioned above. Of course, a wool item can withstand it, and even spinning in a washing machine may not be as dangerous, but you never know. Therefore, leaving the sweater to drain in the bottom of the bathtub is the safest option.

   

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