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Washing Knitwear – Our Easy to Follow Guide

Knitwear up close

Knitwear is an all-time classic. It’s made from various natural fibres like cotton and wool and has remained consistently popular due to its combination of comfort, cosiness, breathability, and durability.

The style has maintained its popularity, not just with the fashion-forward individual, but also the environmentally conscious. This is primarily due to its biodegradability and renewability, making it an ideal choice for those looking to invest in slow fashion.

But how do you look after it? Compared to more hard-wearing materials like polyester, knitwear needs a touch more care. But why, and how can you keep yours in good condition for longer?

In this article, we’ll provide our own guide on how to correctly wash and dry knitwear and help keep your cosy clothing in better shape for longer! 

How knitwear can become damaged and washing techniques to avoid:

Picture the scene, you’ve purchased new knitwear (or even made it yourself), you’ve worn it a few times, but unfortunately, you’ve picked up stains somewhere along the way.

With knitwear, it’s always best to spot clean with cold water, but sometimes that’s not enough so now’s the time to give it a wash. Unfortunately, unlike synthetic fibres, knitwear is far more delicate and can become stretched. This can happen for several reasons, and if not considered, can cause the material to decay quicker, or even shrink.

Ruining your knitwear can be caused by several reasons, including:

1. Hot temperatures

Washing clothes on a higher temperature can prove problematic for natural fibres. While synthetic wool can handle this a little better, this may cause your knitwear to shrink. 

2. Intense wash cycles

With knitwear, it is recommended that whatever you do, the fibre should not be stressed excessively. This means that longer, more intense wash cycles should be avoided.

If possible, wash knitwear items individually on a specific wool setting. By washing this way, the structural integrity of the material can be maintained.

3. Tumble drying

After washing, the same kind of unnecessary stress should be avoided from your tumble dryer, as the excess heat will also cause potential shrinkage unless stated on the garment. 

The best ways to clean knitwear - hand washing

Now that we’ve looked at some of the things to avoid when cleaning your knitwear, let’s look at some of the specific ways to wash them.

Of course, dry cleaning is the least invasive (and recommended) method, but you can still achieve fantastic results through simple at-home methods.

A good rule of thumb for natural fibre knitwear is that handwashing is the best approach and allows your clothing’s structural integrity to stay stronger for longer.

1.Start by turning your knitwear inside out, preventing pilling by reducing friction and stress.

2. Then, fill a basin or sink with soap and water (you can even purchase specific soaps and shampoos perfect for sensitive materials that require extra attention such as wool and cashmere). Avoid using fabric softener here, as this tends to create unnecessary pilling. 

3. Place your clothing in the water and allow time to soak. This will allow the soap to gently penetrate and clean the fabric without excessive movement.

4. Finally, drain the soapy water, and rinse. If you’re washing more than one item, rinse each in turn to ensure that all the soap is removed. 

What to do after washing

Now that you have successfully washed your item(s), the next step is drying. As mentioned, tumble drying is best avoided to minimise stretching and shrinking, so what should you do?

With natural fibres, allowing them to dry naturally is often the best approach. However, this should be done ideally without suspension, as this can cause the clothing to stretch and feel uneven upon wear. The same goes for storing your item: fold, don’t hang! 

For more fashion info, tips, and tricks, check out our other blog articles here. Alternatively, you can view our lovely range of knitwear items from some of the best brands available by clicking the button below:

Browse our Knitwear items
Marisa Davis

Marisa Davis

Marisa Davis, the owner of Brenda Muir, immerses herself in the world of fashion. She can often be found travelling the world, driven by a relentless passion to bring the ladies of Glasgow unique and quirky new designs.

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