How to Clean and Care for Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

How to Wash Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

1. Identify the Type of Yarn

   If the item is homemade and does not have a care label, you can test the yarn to see if it's a natural fiber (such as wool or cotton) or a synthetic such as acrylic or polyester. (Synthetic yarns can be machine-washed, but hand-knits made from natural fiber yarns should always be hand-washed.)

   Remove a bit of yarn for testing from an interior seam. Carefully light the yarn with a match or flame. If it smells like burning hair and turns to ash, it's a natural fiber. If it has a chemical smell and melts, it's synthetic.

   Another yarn test involves cutting a piece of yarn, unraveling the ends, and then putting them back together with a drop of water. Rub the ends together until they feel dry. If the ends stay together, the yarn is wool and it has felted. If the ends don't stay together, the yarn is acrylic or another manmade fiber.

2. Select the Correct Detergent

   Use a gentle detergent. For wool fibers, choose a formula designed for wool, such Woolite or Eucalan, which contains lanolin. Lanolin is a natural oil produced by sheep that helps preserve wool fibers and increases the water-resistance of wool. This type of detergent works well for any hand-knit items, even those made with synthetic yarns.

3. Mix the Washing Solution

   Use a sink, bathtub, or plastic storage container large enough to completely submerge the item into cleaning solution. Fill it with cold or cool water, mix in the detergent well, and completely submerge the item.

   Tip

   Blankets and clothing knit from synthetic yarns such as acrylic can be machine-washed in cold water on a gentle/delicate washer cycle. Do not dry any hand-knit items in a dryer, however.

4. Gently Agitate

   Gently agitate the knitted item in the water to clean it, but never wring or scrub. Being rough with the item can cause it to become misshapen.

5. Rinse Out the Suds

   Use cold water to rinse out the excess suds from the item. Continue to rinse until the water runs clear.

6. Prep for Drying

   Gently squeeze the item to remove excess water and lay it flat on a dry absorbent towel. Roll up the garment in the towel, pressing firmly as you roll. Don't wring the towel.

   Lay a dry bath towel on a flat surface large enough to hold your garment. A card table is a perfect size for air-drying sweaters and typically has a protective vinyl top. Always protect wood surfaces with a vinyl tablecloth placed under the towel.

7. Reshape the Item

   Place the knitted item on the dry towel, and reshape it into its original form. Pat it into shape, and avoid tugging or pulling. If it's a sweater, gently push the ribbing together at the neckline, wrists, and waist. Fasten the buttons, and fold the collar.

8. Allow to Air-Dry

   Allow the item to air-dry for 24 hours. If not completely dry, flip the item over onto another dry towel, arrange it into shape, and dry for at least another 24 hours. For large blankets or throws, support the weight with a drying rack. Shift the item around on the rack frequently so that the weight of the wet fibers won't pull the item out of shape.

Treating Stains on Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

Treat stains with a small amount of gentle detergent applied directly to the stain before washing. Work in the detergent with your fingers, and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before washing. If you're spot-treating a stain, after allowing the detergent to do its cleaning action, use a clean white cloth dipped in water to "rinse" the area. Repeat until no suds or stain remains.

Hand-Knit Clothing Care and Repair

If the tear or hole in a hand-knit item is small and you know how to knit, use a graft stitch or duplicate stitch to repair it. If you don't know how to knit, consider finding a local knitter to repair the item. Some very small holes can be stitched closed with a needle and thread. You can also easily fix a snag by pulling the thread from the right side of the fabric to the wrong side, using a needle and thread of the same color.

Storing Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

Store hand-knit items folded and flat on a shelf or in a garment box to keep them free from dust. Avoid hanging up hand-knitted items, such as sweaters, as it will cause them to lose their shape. For off-season storage, use natural moth repellant so the larvae won't be able to munch on stored hand-knit items during the summer when moths are most active.

How Often to Wash Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

Because of their delicate nature, hand-knit items will last longer if you wash them less frequently. Ideally, clean them only once or twice a season.

Tips for Washing Hand-Knit Clothes and Blankets

• If you're a knitter, use a gauge swatch to determine how the item will react to being hand-washed and air-dried before washing it.
• Avoid washing with hot water, which can melt some fibers and destroy the item.
• Wearing a cotton shirt underneath your knits will protect the yarn from body oils and odors and decrease the need for frequent laundering.
• To freshen your knits in between cleanings, try an occasional spritz of a clothing refresher spray.