Washing knitwear in a washing machine

Washing knitwear in a washing machine Knitwear is considered one of the most popular and comfortable clothing options. Both adults and children love knitwear for its softness and durability. Cotton, silk, linen, wool, and sometimes synthetic additives are used as raw materials in its production.

To ensure your favorite knit T-shirt lasts as long as possible, it's important to follow certain care instructions. Let's explore how to properly machine wash knitwear, which detergent to choose, and the best way to dry the fabric.

Learn a number of rules

Knitted items are resistant to various mechanical influences, but at the same time, they are prone to deformation. Often, if washed and dried incorrectly, knitwear stretches and pilling appears on the clothes. To avoid this, it is important to follow a few rules:

Before washing an item, be sure to turn it inside out. This way, most of the friction will be on the inside of the fabric, reducing the likelihood of lint pilling on the outside.
Use appropriate detergents. It's best to use gels; dry detergents increase the risk of pilling.
Run a delicate cycle with a short duration. The less the item spins in the drum, the better for the fabric;
To keep your knitted T-shirt from losing its shape, choose a program without soaking;
Dry the item horizontally on a clean, dry sheet. Hanging the knitwear on a clothesline or radiator may cause it to become misshapen.
To prevent the neckline and sleeves from stretching, sew these areas with light-colored thread using large stitches before loading into the washing machine. After drying, the thread will be easy to remove without leaving marks on the fabric.
It is better to refuse automatic spinning, or set the minimum speed (up to 400 per minute);
If your garment has buttons, treat the inside of the buttonholes with clear varnish before loading them into the drum. This will prevent them from stretching.

The likelihood of pilling on knitwear is higher in a washing machine, so it is better to wash items by hand if possible.

By following simple guidelines, knitwear will last longer without losing its quality or original appearance. It's equally important to follow certain wearing guidelines—if the fabric constantly rubs against a belt, bag, or backpack, pilling will become impossible to prevent.

Automatic cleaning of knitwear

Machine-washable knitwear is generally acceptable if the fabric contains synthetic fibers. After purchasing, check the care label for basic care instructions. When loading knitwear into the washing machine, it's important to remember:

cleaning should be carried out on a gentle cycle, for example, hand or delicate, on the “Wool” program;
water heating temperature maximum 40°C;
It is best to turn off the spin cycle or set the minimum rotation speed;
For compression garments, any spinning is prohibited. Even the lowest spin speed can damage the structure of the frame threads that make up the material.
double rinsing is recommended;
It is ideal to wash knitwear in a washing machine in special laundry bags.

It is important that the drum of the washing machine is loaded no more than halfway, otherwise knitted sweaters, dresses and T-shirts will become tangled and stretched.

It's best to keep the program running for 40-50 minutes. Too much contact with water can negatively impact the knitwear.

Traditional cleaning

If the item's label specifically prohibits machine washing, you'll have to clean it by hand. In fact, dirt is easily washed out of knitwear, so cleaning shouldn't be a problem.

Hand washing is carried out in three stages:

First, the item is soaked in warm soapy water for 10-20 minutes;
then stains and dirt are removed with gentle kneading movements;
then the product is rinsed several times in clean water.

If there's a stubborn stain on a knit sweater, don't wash it under any circumstances. Instead, soak the stain with a mild detergent and wait 15 minutes. Then, wash the sweater as usual.

When washing knitwear by hand, you should also follow the basic rules:

The water temperature should not exceed 40°C. Ideally, 20-30°C. Hot washing will cause the garment to lose its shape;
the procedure itself should not exceed 40 minutes – longer contact with water is undesirable for the fabric;
To prevent fading of colored items, it's best to add a spoonful of vinegar to the soap solution. This will prevent the knitwear from fading.

For more precise washing instructions, check the garment label. For example, the recommended water temperature will vary slightly for different knitwear compositions. However, the general rules for hand washing are roughly the same.

Choosing the right product

Avoid using powders to clean knitwear. The granules don't fully dissolve in cool water, clog the fibers, and rinse poorly, leaving streaks. It is recommended to wash knitted items with gels or other liquid detergents.

Gels dissolve quickly in water, rinse easily from fabric, are more economical, and provide gentle care. For washing delicate fabrics, you can purchase the following liquid detergents:

BioMio Bio-Sensitive with cotton extract;
Persil Gel;
Ariel;
Synergetic for delicate fabrics;
Burti Wolle & Seide for wool, silk and delicate fabrics;
Chirton concentrate, etc.

It's easy to make your own gel. This way, you can create a completely safe and eco-friendly product. This homemade solution can be used to refresh children's clothes and the clothing of those with allergies. You'll need:

200 grams of baking soda;
a bar of laundry or baby soap;
3 liters of water.

A bar of soap is grated or melted in a double boiler, then added to the water. Baking soda is added as well. It's important to stir the solution until the granules are completely dissolved. The mixture is left for 24 hours, then poured into a bottle and used as directed.

Getting rid of moisture

To preserve knitwear, it's important not only to wash it gently but also to dry it properly. Here are some basic guidelines to follow:

Avoid hanging knitwear on radiators or near heaters. Rushed drying will cause the garment to lose its shape.
Limit exposure to direct sunlight. Otherwise, the material will shrink and lose color;
do not hang knitted clothes on a line;
Dry items on a horizontal surface, placing a soft towel underneath them.

If you need to dry a knit dress or sweater quickly, you can hang it on a hanger and blow it with a hairdryer from at least 20 cm away. You can also use an electric dryer, lining it with a sheet and placing the knitted garment on top.