I’m a laundry expert – here’s my top 9 tips to make sure you don’t ruin your Christmas jumpers
Plus tips on how you can save your knitwear if it's accidentally shrunk in the washing machine
COSY, warm knitwear has become a staple in our wardrobes over the winter months as the dark nights bring colder temperatures.
And over the festive period, we tend to wear more knitwear than ever with Christmas jumpers, comfortable cardigans and vests all making their return.
But the soft and cosy texture can mean it requires extra care because it can easily become bobbled or shrink in the wash.
Since we only wear our knitwear and Christmas jumpers one season a year, we want to look after them so they last longer.
But experts at FatFace have found that over 50 per cent of us worry about washing knitted clothing out of fear of causing damage.
And 45 per cent of us admitted to avoiding the task altogether in case they do something wrong.
To help us get over this fear, the fashion giant enlisted the help of senior knitwear designer Jan Yalchin.
And she has shared her top tips for washing, storing and maintaining knitted clothes.
This includes tips on how to remove stubborn stains and how to safely machine-wash our clothing to make it last.
She also revealed the correct way to store knitwear to help reduce the need to replace these items next Christmas.
So if you’re looking to get rid of stains on your festive jumpers in the days after Christmas you’ve come to the right place.
Jan shared her top nine tips on how to look after your knitwear.
1. Spot clean and avoid overwashing
The first thing Jan advises us to do is try and wash out knitwear as little as possible.
She says: “To avoid damaging the fabric, keep washing of knitwear to a minimum.
“If it’s a stain that needs treating, try spot-cleaning the area first rather than washing the whole garment.
“If the garment has picked up any food smells or needs refreshing, leave it on the line outside for a couple of hours instead”.
2. Hand wash where possible
Experts at FatFace found that nearly 30 per cent of people feel like they don’t know how to hand wash knitwear correctly.
To help us become more confident, Jan advises: “Hand washing is the safest option for preventing stretching or shrinking of a knitted garment, and can also help maintain its softness.
“Place the item of clothing in a bowl of lukewarm water and mild detergent and leave to soak for 10 to 15 minutes, before gently massaging the soap out in a bowl of clean water.
“Repeat until all soap residue has been removed and leave to air dry.”
3. Never hang, always fold
Many of us tend to hang our knitwear in our wardrobes, but the experts say that this is the wrong way to store our beloved outfits.
They revealed: “Where possible, always avoid hanging knitted garments on hangers as the weight of the fabric can cause it to pull downwards changing its shape.
“This is particularly important for wool, cashmere, or any heavier knits.
“Instead, fold and place flat into drawers, avoiding over-packing the drawers as this can cause uneven pressure, fold lines, and aggravation when looking through the drawer to find other items.”
4. Avoid direct sunlight when drying
Another key thing to remember with knitwear is to keep it out of direct sunlight when drying it.
This is because it is far more likely to shrink when it is hit by a high heat.
Jan suggests: “Knitwear can be susceptible to shrinking when in contact with high heat.
“Therefore once washed, dry knitted items in a cool shaded area rather than in direct sunlight and avoid using the dryer.”
How to correctly wash knitwear in a washing machine
AROUND 31 per cent of us lack confidence in knowing which washing machine settings to apply for knitwear.
So Jan has shared her top tips on how to make sure we do it safely without damaging our clothing.
She said: “If you’d prefer to wash your knitted garment in the washing machine rather than by hand then make sure your machine is set to the correct settings to avoid any damage.
“Check the care label first, but typically you should use the delicate or wool cycle on a cold water cycle, to minimise agitation.
“Turn the garment inside out before placing it in the machine and use a mesh bag to protect the machine drum and other garments from damaging the knitted item.
“Any smaller items like gloves or socks can be placed in an old pair of tights.”
5. A fabric shaver can help remove pilling
One of the most frustrating things about knitwear is that it often suffers from pilling and bobbling.
But the experts have shared their top tips on how to get rid of this problem.
They said: “Pilling refers to the bobbles of yarn that form on the surface of a knitted garment after several wears or when the fabric is subject to excessive friction.
“If bobbling does occur, using a fabric shaver can be a great way to remove these build-ups of fibres, alternatively, a clean sharp razor can also work.
“But take care to avoid puncturing the surface. Regular removal can prevent larger bobbles from forming.”
6. Consider high-friction areas
Another problem with bobbling is that it often occurs in areas that often experience friction.
Certain areas on jumpers like the armpits, elbows, and shoulders that rub against bag straps, are all likely to become bobbled.
To fix this, Jan suggests: “Since pilling is caused from excess friction on the fabric’s surface, it tends to occur under the armpits of a garment or the areas most in contact with a bag.
“To prevent this, consider what bag you’re planning to use when wearing knitted clothing.
“If you can swap to a rucksack or remove items to reduce the weight this can help to reduce friction.”
What happens if your knitwear shrinks?
ACCIDENTALLY shrinking knitwear in the washing machine is so easily done.
And most of us would be tempted to throw our outfits out if they came out of the machine looking too small.
But Jan has revealed that we can actually salvage our beloved outfits – and her handy tips have shown how we can actually reverse the damage.
She said: “If an item of knitwear has shrunk from being in the washing machine, dryer, or by contact with sunlight, it doesn’t mean the garment has to be thrown away.
“Start by submerging it in cold to lukewarm water with a tablespoon of fabric softener or hair conditioner, and leave to soak for 30 minutes before gently rinsing in clean water to remove the conditioner.
“The fabric conditioner helps to relax the fibres and allows the shape to open up.
“Transfer to a towel and gently roll up with the garment inside to absorb any excess moisture, unroll, then lay flat on a dry towel.
“Once flat carefully and slowly stretch the item of clothing back to its original shape and size before leaving to air dry.
“If you have any round and heavy objects that can be used to pin the garment to the correct shape without puncturing the fabric then do so.”
7. Wash with other delicate garments
If you can’t wash your knitwear by hand, then the experts advise washing it in the machine alongside other delicate garments.
The experts say: “When washing a garment in the machine rather than by hand, wash with similarly soft fabrics such as light cotton or other knitwear.
“Avoid washing with anything that may cause damage such as coarse materials, buttons, sequins, or zips.”
8. Removing pen and ink stains
It’s all too easy for our knitwear to end up with ink and pen stains – especially along the sleeve, wrists or cuffs.
To get rid of these, Jan recommends using rubbing alcohol.
She says: “Alcohol-based solutions like rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser are great options for removing pen stains from knitwear.
“First plot the stain with a dry paper towel to remove excess then
damp a cloth with the solution and gently blot until it starts to lift, only targeting the stained area.”
9. Take care when storing long-term
If you want your festive jumps and knitwear to last a long time, then you need to make sure you store it correctly.
The experts say: “Typically knitted garments like jumpers and scarves are stored away over the summer and brought back out in the colder months.
“This means it’s vital these items are stored correctly to prevent any damage occurring.
“For best results, I’d recommend storing in breathable cotton garment bags with a lavender sachet, to protect from dust and pests as lavender is a natural repellent.”
