What could be better than slipping into your favourite sweater made of a soft cuddly knit during chilly winter months? It is truly unbeatable, and when you find pieces you love, you’ll want to make it last. We want to share 5 tips and trick on how you can make the most of your knitwear and enjoy them for years to come!
Tip #1: Washing Knitwear Properly
As a general rule, wash your knitwear as infrequently as possible! Your sweaters and cardigans do not need to go into the wash after every wear, it is often enough to hang them outside, or in a room to air out! This works best in humid night air – so creases and odors disappear. It is also important to pay attention to the care instructions on the label. The symbols on it indicate whether the garment is machine washable. When machine washing, be sure to use a mild detergent or wool detergent and select the wool wash cycle. Be careful not to load the washing machine too full – ideally, it should be filled no more than halfway for the best wash! If only hand washing is needed according to the care label, make sure the temperature of the water is correct – the water should be warm, but not too hot and we recommend a maximum temperature of 30 degrees. First mix some wool detergent into the water and then put in your garment turned inside out. Gently move it back and forth and then rinse it with clean water. Ensure you avoid any vigorous rubbing, wringing, or kneading to preserve the fibers.
Tip #2: Drying Knitwear Properly
There are a few tips and trips to keep in mind while drying knits! Once these pieces have been worn 2-3 times and washed, to ensure your knits are drying properly we suggest taking a large towel, spreading your garment out on it and rolling it up. The towel will absorb the water from the wet sweater. Shortly thereafter, you can let it finish drying on a drying rack – never hang it! Hanging will cause the knit piece to lose its shape very quickly, it is much better to lay it lengthwise over a drying rack. Never put your sweaters and knitwear on the heater, or in the dryer because the wool can quickly lose its soft texture and shape from the hot air.
Tip #3: Remove Pilling
After you’ve worn your knit sweater a few times, unsightly lint and knots can form on the fabric. However, the so-called pilling is not necessarily a sign of poor quality. The reason for this is fibers that come loose from the loosely spun yarn over time and become matted. Under no circumstances should you pluck off these nodules by hand. This loosens new fibers, which in turn also become knotted – creating a vicious circle. The solution to this problem is small pilling razors! With these, you can quickly and easily cut off the knots from the fabric surface. When using the razor, be careful not to press too hard – the fabric could otherwise be thinned out too much.
Tip #4: Store Knitwear Properly
As nice as it may look when your favorite sweaters are lined up and sorted by color, hanging in your closet – we’d suggest you store them lying down to keep them looking just like new! Preferably loosely folded (not too small, otherwise the fibers will rub against each other too much) and out of direct sunlight. You can also place a sheet of tissue paper between particularly delicate knit styles to protect the fibers from too much friction.
Tip #5: Keep Moths Away
The best and most exemplary care of knitwear is of no use if moths suddenly make themselves at home in your closet and eat holes in your favorite pieces! How to prevent against the little beasts? Since moths are very sensitive to odors, strongly scented herbs such as rosemary, mint or lavender are perfect. Small bags of these herbs in the closet can be the saviors in distress and drive away the unwanted visitors immediately!
With these 5 small but extremely effective tips, you will be able to enjoy your cuddly soft knitted clothes for a very long time. We promise! At Olsen you will find a large selection of timeless knitwear pieces in high quality that will make cold winter days that much nicer. Feel free to browse through our wide range: https://www.olsen.ca/collections/novelty-knit-picks