Wool is a delicate material that requires a lot of love and care when it comes to washing. Washing your woollen jumpers and pure wool jumpers can be a daunting task but with the correct washing detergent and water temperature, your jumper will be smelling fresh and ready to wear again in no time.
Hand washing your wool jumper is the safest way to ensure the wool does not lose its shape or shrink. Although our Iggy & Burt Jumpers are machine washable on a delicate or wool cycle, we thought we would give you a step by step guide on how you can also handwash them.
Hand Washing Wool
1. Fill a sink or a basin with warm water, make sure it’s not too hot as you don’t want to watch your favourite jumper shrink! Try to avoid powdered detergents as you may find some of the powder will not dissolve and will get stuck in the wool, making it harder to wash out. We recommend using Woolite.
2. Allow your jumper to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. This way the detergent can move deeper into the fibres to lift off any stains and dirt.
3. You will then need to remove any excess water. To do this, roll your jumper into a ball and squeeze. Whatever you do, DO NOT ring your jumper out as wool tends to lose its shape quickly.
4. Replace the soapy water with fresh warm water to wash off the detergent. Keep rinsing with clean water until all of the detergent has been washed out.
Machine Washing Wool
If you don’t have the time or patience for hand washing, check the care label before machine washing. If your wool jumper is washed on a wool cycle or delicates wash, the spin cycle will not be as fast, dependent on your machine it can automatically wash your jumper on a lower temperature.
When washing wool, you need to find the balance between having warm enough water to remove stains, but cold enough water to ensure your jumper is not damaged by the heat. The usual temperature to wash a wool jumper is 30 degrees and under. Using a protective washbag for your jumper can be an added layer of protection against the drum of the machine.
After washing your jumper, lay it out flat on a towel. Avoid using clothes pegs as your jumper will lose its shape and stay away from hanging when the jumper is wet.
Stretching Your Wool Jumper
For those who have unfortunately shrunk their jumpers, do not fear…there is still hope!
1. Place your jumper in warm water and add some baby shampoo or conditioner. Leave your jumper to soak for 10 minutes (or 20 if the jumper is really small).
2. Remove the jumper from the water and roll into a ball to remove excess water.
3. Whilst the jumper is wet, lay it out flat on a towel. You can then lay another towel on top and roll the jumper up to remove excess water.
4. Now begin to carefully stretch the jumper out in sections. Gently pull from side to side and top to bottom. Be aware that this can cause damage and your jumper may not be what it once was.
5. Ensure that you leave your wool jumper to dry on a flat surface. You may need to repeat the process depending on how much your jumper has shrunk. And Voila! Your wool jumper should now go over your head with ease. Check out How To Unshrink Your Wool Jumper for more information.
