How to wash a knitted thing so that it sits?

Unfortunately, many knitted items lose their perfect shape and stretch over time. Basically, this problem can be encountered after regular wear of the sweater: the sleeves become stretched, deformation appears on the elbows or neck. Of course, in this case, I want to return to the former state of my favorite product. Therefore, we will talk about how to wash a knitted thing so that it sits, and how to do it correctly at home.

Before you fix a problem, you need to know exactly the reason why it arose.

The reasons for the deformation of knitted sweaters and hats can be very different:

• The first is improper care and improper washing. Many make a mistake and wash wool products along with clothes from other fabrics. At the same time, the product is washed in the washing machine using a mode that is completely unsuitable for washing woolen things. Thus, a sweater or other piece of clothing is deformed and loses its original appearance.
• Secondly, the cause of deformation may be improper drying. For example, if you dry a sweater on a clothesline, then it can stretch so that then it will be unpleasant to wear it.
• Thirdly, the reason why the woolen thing is deformed may simply be sloppy sock of your favorite clothes. In addition, such products are deformed due to improper storage, for example, if a sweater or dress is constantly hanging on the shoulders.

Whatever it is, if your favorite thing has become stretched, it can be saved. The main thing is to know the rules of shrinkage.

You can easily return your favorite clothes to their old look, and you don’t need to specially buy expensive powders or other detergents. Any of you at home can do this.

In order for the knitted thing from the stretched product to become the same again, you need to remember some rules for shrinkage of such things:

• You must know the exact composition of the woolen product. This is easy to do, since all information should be on a tag;
• the degree of shrinkage of a particular wool item depends on the temperature of the water in which it will be washed;
• information on comfortable temperature, on which method and in which mode the product can be washed, can also be found on the tag;

• remember that from too hot water the fibers become softer, and from rapid rotation, for example, during washing in a machine, knitted and woolen products become smaller;
• knitted clothes, in order to sit down, can be washed in a washing machine or by hands;
• in order for the stretched wool hat to return to its previous size, it will be enough to dry it after washing in the usual way. That is, without the use of a towel;
• before drying, in no case should you shake the thing, otherwise shrinkage will not happen and the thing will remain stretched.

There are various ways of washing knitted clothes: manual or using a washing machine. To wash a knitted item by hand so that it sits is quite real. The main thing is to follow some washing rules.

In addition, a woolen product, such as a sweater, can be washed even in a washing machine. The main thing is to choose the right washing mode and optimal temperature regime.

Many modern washing machines have a special mode for washing wool. If there is no “Wool” mode, then you can select the “Delicate” washing mode or the “Hand wash” program. Remember that the cycle time should not be more than forty minutes, otherwise you run the risk of overwriting the thing and thereby ruining it.

As a rule, the recommended temperature for washing knitted and woolen things is thirty, a maximum of forty degrees. If you want to achieve shrinkage of the product, you should wash it at fifty to sixty degrees.

As mentioned above, it is best to use liquid powder for washing wool clothes. In addition, air conditioning should be added so that the product does not lose its softness after washing.

By the way as for spinning, do not set more than 500 revolutions. Such an average spin mode will help achieve shrinkage. If the result after the end of the spin cycle does not suit you, the spin can be repeated again.

And one more little secret that will help to achieve high-quality shrinkage. When the washing process is complete, dip the product in cold water. You can add ice cubes to the same water. In such water, the product should be left for ten minutes. This method helps the fabric recover, as the wool shrinks better from sudden changes in temperature.

If you don’t have a washing machine or if you’re afraid that it will ruin your favorite knitted item, then use the manual washing method, which is also effective and will certainly help restore the item.

Compliance with such simple rules gives the desired result and helps to restore knitted clothes that have lost their original appearance.

Since you need to ensure that the fabric sits a little, the water in which you will be washing should be twenty degrees hotter than the indicated temperature on the tag. A knitted sweater or a woolen dress should be soaked in water for half an hourthen rinse them in low temperature water. If necessary, you can add liquid powder to the water or just a little fabric softener.

We strongly recommend that you do not use powder or washing soap in hand washing. If there is no liquid detergent, then at least children's laundry detergent can be used.

To dry a woolen product, you need to follow all the rules, which you can learn about later from our material.

The washing process can go perfectly, but during improper drying, the product can still be ruined. Therefore, it is worth learning a few rules, thanks to which you can properly dry the knitted thing:

• Firstly, you can not squeeze the product out of wooltwist it. Thus, you deform it and in the end it will be ruined again. Leave the washed thing on a stand or a flat board, without crushing it, in a crumpled form. Let the sweater remain in this form exactly until the water drains completely.
• Secondly, take a large and clean towel. It would be nice if it will be terry or any other that absorbs moisture. Put the washed thing on it (but in no case stretch it) and roll it together into a roller. Once the towel is completely wet, picks up excess moisture, the roller can be unwound. Thus, you need to repeat this procedure several times, each time using a dry towel.
• Thirdly, in order for the wool fabric to completely dry, it must be laid out on a flat surface. To get started, prepare the surface with a clean, dry towel. Then lay out the neatly knitted thing and leave it until completely dry.

Also, be sure to check the length of the item before it is completely dry.

After complete drying, it will be impossible to return the previous length.

Remember that the quality of the appearance of your woolen clothes depends on proper drying.

Some woolen things after drying get an untidy, rumpled look. This is rare, but still happens. Of course, I don’t want to go in the rumpled sweater or dress, so the thing should be ironed:

• First, make sure that the wool product is completely dry. Next, prepare it for ironing, turning it on the wrong side.
• Secondly, it is necessary to iron a woolen thing through wet gauze, otherwise shiny strips will remain on it that will ruin the appearance of your favorite thing.
• Thirdly, iron wool products with a special mode, which can be easily installed on any iron. Ironing a thing is not necessary in the usual way, that is, you can not drive the iron on the canvas. Try to simply lower the iron onto the fabric and after a few seconds lift it. Thus, the entire surface of the thing should be ironed so that it becomes neat again.

We hope that thanks to our advice you will be able to restore the former presentable appearance of your knitted woolen item.

In order to henceforth do not have to again restore a damaged product from wool, you need to follow some rules for the care of such delicate things:

• Remember that knitted items, even new ones, may become deformed after the first wash. This can happen if you wash a thing without following the rules;
• Before you start to wash a knitted thing, turn it inside out;
• do not wash your clothes in too hot water, otherwise the new woolen thing can cause significant shrinkage, after which it will be small for you. Wash the product in warm water;
• try to wash woolen things with special tools that are designed to wash things of this particular type of fabric;
• keep clean woolen things rolled up in a closet, then they will not stretch and will always look great;
• if you clean the woolen things in the closet until the next winter, be sure to put special products nearby that will help prevent the appearance of moths;

• it is best to store woolen products in a dense bag with a reliable fastener or in a special case where the moth does not penetrate;
• if a lot of spools appeared on a woolen product, then you can get rid of them with a special brush, which you can buy at any hardware store;
• puffs sometimes form on knitted products; do not rush to cut them. The puff should be pulled with the needle to the wrong side, so the appearance of the item will not be damaged.

How to wash your favorite knitted items can be found in the video tutorial.