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Of course, this does come with a little extra work. I always try to buy knitted garments that can be machine washed, however some of the finer wools and knits do need a bit more tender loving care.
If you can machine wash a jumper, choose a gentle cycle and a product that is specially formulated for delicate items. Use a softening solution with cold to lukewarm water, followed by the spin cycle for woollens.
If you are washing knits made from pure wool, angora, lamb’s wool, alpaca or similar delicate fibres, hand-washing is the only way to go. Use lukewarm water with a very mild solution, otherwise you may find your garments will shrink. Wash garments separately, rinse thoroughly and squeeze as much water out as you can. Do not wring or twist. Roll up in a towel to remove excess water.
Do not use bleach or soak for too long and never use hot water.
When drying, tumble drying or hanging can pull garments out of shape or shrink them, or worse still, both.
Spread a towel on a flat surface and place the garment on it to dry and make sure it’s away from sunlight and heat.
When ironing, have the iron on a very low temperature, place a damp cloth over the garment and press gently.
There are some very fine wool blends that do need dry cleaning. Always check the label,
One of the things that can cause your lovely woollens to have a shorter life than necessary is over-washing. If you have worn your favourite jumper with clothing under it, it probably doesn’t need to be washed every time it is worn.
Be good to your valuable winter clothing and it will last for years. Think about your purchase with regard to colour, style and what else you have at home and within a few years, you will have a flexible, quality winter wardrobe.
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