How to wash woolen things?

Woolen things not only protect well from the cold, they are also very beautiful and pleasant to the touch. When buying a few people think about how to care for them. In fact, it is not so difficult. It is only necessary to take into account some recommendations that will preserve their purity and original appearance for many years.

So that the final cleaning result does not disappoint you, and the thing lasts a long time, certain conditions must be observed:

• In the course of washing throughout all its stages it is necessary to carefully monitor the observance of water temperature. Ideally, it should not exceed 40 degrees for sheep's wool. Camel and Angora prefer lower temperatures - from 20 to 30 degrees. Under the influence of high temperatures, the fibers stretch and change shape, which can lead to a change in the appearance of the woolen product for the worse or even damage to it.
• Powdered products should be preferred gels - they are better rinsed. They can not be applied directly to the fabric, it is better to dilute in water until completely dissolved. Alkali and chlorine are unacceptable, since the product processed by them becomes loose, hard, loses volume and changes color.

• Since washing many products can damage their appearance, you should resort to it only in extreme cases. Sometimes it’s enough to clean it with a non-rigid brush or to remove single impurities with the help of special liquids and a rag. Bad smells easily disappear on the balcony. Do not spray perfumes or use powder with a strong flavor.
• Soaking time should be limited.Optimum - 20 minutes, maximum - 3 hours.
• Before washing, it is necessary to separately remove all stains and be sure to turn inside out. Hinges and other openings can be temporarily protected so that they do not increase in size. The accessories are removed so that it does not damage the fabric.
• Rinse, spin and dry should be gentle to avoid stretching in length or width.

All the basic information on how to wash a particular item can be found on the tag or label. Most often, instructions are symbols that are important to interpret correctly.

The main washing methods are:

• In the washing machine - the most popular, as it saves time and effort, especially if the family has children. Modern models of this technique do not harm woolen things and greatly facilitate the work of a housewife.
• Hand - the most suitable for knitwear, but requires some effort and time.
• Dry cleaning that applies to certain products. For example, downy shawls, shawls in the form of a spider line, a coat of cashmere or boiled wool, felted items of shoes, clothes or toys. If a thing is especially dear to you, do not try to clean it yourself, it is better to use the services of professionals.

Machine washing wool consists of several stages:

1. Powder or liquid should be suitable for the machine. Put it in the appropriate compartment.
2. Put the item on the drum. Remember that the wool absorbs a lot of water and in this state has a lot of weight, so it is necessary to ensure that it does not exceed the maximum permissible.
3. Select the appropriate mode (“wool” or “delicate wash”). The number of revolutions should be minimal. Soaking and spinning for certain products and types of wool must be disabled.
4. After washing, do not pull out clean items immediately, let them drain and straighten. This method is suitable in cases where you need to wash bulk items (blanket, plaid, mattress cover, jacket).

You can wash it manually not only with the help of industrial means, but also with folk methods. An excellent substitute for powder can be soap dispenser or soap root. Children's suits, socks, hats, scarves, slings should be washed with children's hypoallergenic soap.

Mustard powder, diluted to the consistency of sour cream, can become an alternative to household chemicals. It is used for soaking, after which it is carefully rinsed and allowed to drain on a wire rack. Other auxiliary natural products can be a decoction of potatoes or beans, ash, crushed chalk, wine vinegar. For softness, glycerin or hair conditioner is added to the rinse water.

Before washing, things must be sorted into dark, color and light. Each group needs to be washed separately. The biggest problems can be with new colored things. To check how susceptible they are to molting, the first time it is better to wash the item manually.

If the clothes, when worn, are in close contact with the skin and at the same time stain the water, it's worth considering how safe it is. Poor-quality dyes with saturated pigment can cause a strong allergic reaction. This is especially true for thermal underwear and children's clothing.

To fix the color, use salted cold water (a tablespoon per liter) or vinegar. There are special products for colored, white or black things that help maintain color brightness.

If the thing nevertheless faded or there are stains on light things, the situation can still be corrected.The white thing can be bleached using any suitable bleach or hydrogen peroxide.. A solution of vinegar will help color shedding things. It is important to take these steps before the laundry dries.

You can get rid of stains by using professional dry cleaning services or by choosing a stain remover. Advanced products act gently and delicately. If money and time are not enough, you can use homemade products at home. The main thing is to make sure that it’s really safe, using a tissue sample or less noticeable part.

Grease stains and traces of chocolate can be removed in the following ways:

1. Sprinkle contamination with talcum powder, salt or tooth powder. After three hours, the residues can be shaken off and washed as usual.
2. Using a slurry of potato starch and low-fat gasoline, which must be applied for half an hour, remove the stain and wipe with soapy water.
3. Soak in saline for half an hour, then wash as usual.
4. Wipe with a mixture of vinegar (a tablespoon in a glass of water) and rinse thoroughly in cold water.

To remove yellow traces of sweat should be ammonia or medical alcohol, a strong aqueous solution of salt. Traces of cosmetics or paint are well removed with sunflower oil.

The next important step after removing contaminants and odors is drying. Be prepared for the fact that this is a very lengthy process, as the wool absorbs a lot of moisture. It is not necessary to squeeze out, all the more making efforts. It is enough to let the water drain, leaving the product folded or wrap it in a towel and press down without twisting.

So that the thing does not deform, Do not dry it vertically on a hanger or rope. Clothespins are also not suitable, since traces in the form of dents may remain after them. Drying should occur only in a horizontal position. Wet product should be carefully laid out without stretching onto fabrics (it is better if it is cotton - then drying will not take much time).

If other fibers are present in the composition, if necessary, you can speed up the process with the help of a special drying cabinet by adjusting its mode, or with a hair dryer - of course, you cannot bring it close and use elevated air temperature. Heaters and other heating appliances are prohibited, as they affect the structure and density of the fibers.

Sometimes, despite the observance of all precautions, the product can significantly decrease in size. In this case, a number of resuscitation measures can be carried out:

• spray the product from the spray gun;
• soak in clean water or a solution of hydrogen peroxide (10 ml per 10 liters of water);
• wash with conditioner (or shampoo) and dry.

Depending on how exactly the shrinkage occurred, you can do the following:

• If you need to stretch a sweater or sweater in different directions, after soaking or washing it must be placed on a flat surface and at certain intervals (for example, every 20-30 minutes) to give the necessary shape.
• If the matter concerns not the width but the length of the product (for example, trousers or dresses), you can hang it in an upright position and even hang a small load.The most extreme option is to put it on yourself and periodically pull the sleeves, legs or hem down.
• For hats, berets, socks and mittens, you can use items that are suitable in form - a pan, a can, or simply fill the interior with paper or other materials at hand.

The main advantage of pure wool models over mixed ones is that their structure itself promotes both stretching and compression, which is why knitted things sit well, fit the figure and emphasize all its advantages. If synthetics are included, recovery may be virtually impossible. Things can become great in three cases:

1. As a result of frequent or even daily wear. Low-quality products lose their original appearance faster. Especially if a person has a habit of pulling cuffs.
2. When setting the wrong temperature during washing or drying.
3. As a result of sloppy spin.

The following actions can solve this problem:

• Wash with the help of special products that increase the elasticity of the fabric in hot water.
• Ironing a product that has not yet been dried with an iron (naturally, through an additional layer of fabric).
• Using folk methods - you need to take for soaking aqueous solutions of ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, soda (2 liters 20 grams).

Despite the fact that the wool of a sheep is a natural material, it can become a strong allergen. Therefore, people with allergies to animals should be careful.

It is necessary to store outer clothing of this kind on the shoulders in covers. If things are placed on shelves, heavier things are placed below, and light ones on top. In order to avoid creases and strong bruises, do not fold it several times. Although wool has the property of restoring fiber shape due to elasticity, this need not be abused. They can be ironed, but very neatly, without much heat.

In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to provide reliable protection against moths. To do this, you can purchase special plates, spray or apply more traditional methods - store next to aromatic herbs.

See how to wash wool in the next video.