From now on you'll know all about how to wash your knitwear!

Hello, everyone,

In this article we'll explain how to wash your natural wool knitwear properly. There will be no more tears or sadness when you find a sweater that was once a size L transformed into an XS for ever and ever? sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it?

Washing wool is easy. Wool is naturally resistant to stains, odors and also creases, so it requires less washing. This means that caring for wool is both easy and environmentally friendly. But when it's time to wash wool clothes, you can easily wash them in the washing machine or by hand.

Can I wash wool in the washing machine?

Yes! Washing wool is really easy and many wool garments can be machine washed, meaning more time to do the things you love. 

Although some delicate wool items should be washed by hand, many pieces such as heavy sweaters, blankets and even wool coats can be machine washed using gentle methods and a specific detergent. Wool, felt and other similar fabrics should be washed with water at 30º and low spin.

Water at 30º and a low spin will help ensure that your wool doesn't shrink, deform or fray during washing. A spin rate of 400 or less is important. 

First, turn the wool item inside out. Select the delicate, "hand wash" or wool cycle on the washing machine, make sure the water temperature is 30º or less and the spin setting is low (check that the program you are using has a minimum spin setting). Add the appropriate amount of detergent according to the size of the machine and the load. Remove items promptly from the washing machine as soon as the cycle is finished to reduce creasing.

Can I put Knitwear in the dryer? NEVER!

What is the best way to dry wool? The safest - and only - way to dry wool is in the air. Never, ever put wool garments, including wool blends, in the dryer. The heat (even low heat) from tumble drying will immediately shrink the wool. When drying, avoid direct sunlight and heat sources such as radiators, as they can yellow, shrink or damage.

Never hang wet wool, as the weight of the fabric can cause it to deform and stretch permanently into an undesirable shape.

To remove difficult creases from dry wool garments, we recommend steaming for the best and safest finish.

Do not iron, as the iron will crush or flatten the natural hairiness of the strands.

Keep in mind that smoothing wet wool fabric will help prevent creases from appearing in the first place.

To freshen up the wool between washes, you can simply steam it with the iron, using your fingers to "compose" the garment and it's ready for another use.

Always wash woolen items before storing them for the summer season, as insects are attracted to residues of sweat and body oils (see our blog article"How to store your woollens after the cold season").

But where does that leave us? Hand wash or machine wash?

For us at Achega, the best way is to wash at home. Washing by hand allows you to control the temperature of the water, the agitation and the amount of product used, providing the gentlest cleaning process. We recommend hand-washing softer, thinner items from Cashmere . 

Place your wool item in its natural form on a drying rack or on a clean towel to dry. Again, don't put it in the dryer! To achieve a crease-free finish, it's important to use your hands to reshape the wool item and press gently to remove the creases. With the item in its original form, roll it up in the towel (like a sleeping bag) to remove excess water.