I’m a clothing expert – the exact temperature to wash knitwear at to stop it shrinking & the five steps you must follow
WARM, cosy knitwear has become a staple in our wardrobes over the last few months as winter brings darker and colder nights.
And since the country has been warned to brace for freezing temperatures and heavy snow this week amid a polar plunge, we’ll be relying on it more than ever.
Which means it’s time to make sure that the thick coats, winter boots and cosy jumpers are all in good condition.
If we want that extra layer of warmth, it’s the knitwear that comes out on top during the winter.
From chunky knits to fine gauge knits, it can suit all styles and occasions and provide versatility.
It’s all too easy for our trusty knitwear to become damaged when it’s constantly put in the washing machine – the soft texture can easily become bobbled or even shrink.
Luckily, experts have shared their top tips for making sure this doesn’t happen.
Professionals at leading appliance brand, Hisense, have revealed the exact temperature we should be washing our knitwear to stop it from shrinking.
And they’ve even shared their key five-step process that helps avoid ruining our delicate jumpers throughout the winter period.
Chloe Blanchfield, Product Manager at Hisense said the first step is knowing each programme, function, and feature of your appliance.
Doing so means you can easily use the right setting to wash your beloved knitwear.
And she revealed that the best temperature we should be washing it at is 30 degrees.
Chloe said: “If opting to use your washing machine, it is important to fully understand each programme, feature, and function to ensure you’re getting the best out of your appliance – and using the correct setting for washing knitwear and jumpers.
“Use a short, gentle cycle for knitwear, as a regular cycle can cause the garment to shrink.
“Choosing the right temperature will also help avoid shrinkage – usually 30 degrees”.
The expert also revealed that one mistake people make is not actually reading the label of our knitwear, which can cause it to be washed wrong and then ruined as a result.
She explained: “Always check the label when purchasing knitwear to ensure you know how to properly care for it!
“Mohair, cashmere and lamb’s wool should always be washed by hand, whereas merino wool and sheep wool can be machine washed if done delicately.
“It’s worth noting that sheep wool stays fresher for longer than cashmere, so it’s likely that the frequency you’ll need to actually wash your everyday jumpers is less than you think (unless of course there’s a stain or spillage!)”.
The third part of her five-step process involves choosing the right detergent for your wash.
And Chloe says she always advises people to opt for a mild detergent.
She adds: “Choosing a milder soap with a neutral PH will ensure that any harsh chemicals don’t damage the garment.”
How often you should be washing your knitwear revealed
KNITWEAR is a winter staple for most Scots - it's comfortable, cosy, durable and looks great in all styles while keeping us warm.
But did you know that most of us are actually washing it wrong? And it could be causing more harm than good.
Experts at fashion firm SilkFred have found that almost 60 per cent of us are not looking after it properly, and it costing us money in the long run.
Now, they’ve teamed up with TV cleaning expert Lynsey, who is known as the Queen of Clean, to reveal how often we really should be washing our knitwear.
And she’s also shared her handy hacks on how we should be washing it, plus tips on what to do if we accidentally shrink our beloved outfits.
While most of us wait until we’ve worn out knitwear up to four times before washing it, Lynsey has said that this is risky.
She revealed that we should be washing it after around two to three wears to keep it in the best condition.
Lynsey explains: “First things first, it’s important to know that it is best to wash your knitted clothing items every two to three wears.
“You can get away with washing your knitwear less frequently than say your t-shirts and shirts, as usually you often wear a base layer underneath your knitwear which should absorb any oil or moisture.
“However, washing them every three to four wears may be risky as the garments may have picked up numerous germs and bacteria, particularly if you’ve been wearing them outside of the house.”
One thing that most people don’t do when washing knitwear is turn it inside out before it goes into the washing machine.
But the expert says that this is key to keeping it stay in good condition for longer even though most people don’t realise it.
Chloe explains: “Always wash knitwear garments inside out – this helps protect against any possible marks from detergents and also against bobbling.”
It can be tempting to put our knitwear straight on the clothes horse or airer as soon as it comes out of the machine.
But Chloe says we should avoid hanging it up to drip dry if possible as this can damage its shape.
She adds: “If you’re struggling to dry knitwear, you can look to use your washing machine’s spin cycle to drain excess water.
“Then lay the knitwear garment flat to avoid stretching or pulling the item out of shape when air drying.”