Miyerkules, Setyembre 12, 2012
How to Wash a Cardigan?
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Is it not funny how sheep do not have a problem getting soaked in rain but sheared fleece wraps up and shrinks in water? Well, that’s what happens if one does not pay attention to woolen cardigans while washing them. Give it ten minutes in a washing machine and you may just end up with a kid’s sweater instead of a cardigan for your evening wear. So, here is a detailed description on the best way to wash woolen cardigans.
To safely wash woolen cardigans you need a mild liquid detergent, 2 large towels, a bucket or sink and one garbage bag. The first step is wetting the cardigan. Each cardigan should be soaked separately since woolen sweaters have a tendency to bleed dye. So, fill up a bucket with cold water and mix in a little detergent. Next, close up the zipper or buttons prior to pressing it into water and take your time when soaking it since doing this quick simply pushes water through the fabric without giving it time to absorb the detergent molecules. Wet cardigans can produce an awful smell. This is natural since soaked wool tends to leave a strong but distinctive odor.
In order to maintain a sweet smell and refreshing look, leave the cardigan in water for ten minutes or more and stir it gently. Never try to rub against stains in order to remove them as that will simply fray the fabric leaving a mark on it. Instead, wet the stain area and pour detergent over it directly. Wait for a few minutes and immerse the cardigan in water to remove the stain. Tougher stains will resist cold water treatment so try hot water but do not leave the cardigan inside for more than two minutes.
The next step is to rinse the woolen cardigan. To do this, simply remove the sweater and gently squeeze out water without tightening it too much. Avoid wriggling the sweater and then fill up another bucket with cold water washing the sweater in it again to remove all detergent trace. Repeat this process a few more times until soap residue or bubbles stop appearing.
Drying after a rinse is the tricky part with cardigans. Trying to do this fast by squeezing it a lot will cause the fabric to expand and hence it may never resume its original shape. Twisting woolen fabric tends to destroy its natural wrap patterns and leads to an increase in its size. Dry the sweater simply by hanging it on a wire or string using clips with a nice shape to it. Another process of drying cardigans inside the house is to spread a large garbage bag on a table and placing a dry towel over it. Next, place the cardigan and cover it with another towel. Leave it as such for two days or more to completely extract water from its woolen fibers.
A common mistake people make with cardigans, because of which they soon loses their shape, is that they forget to air them before storage. Airing requires leaving the cardigan as it is in the open for a day or two. To do this, simply place it flat on a garbage bag on the back of a chair or on a table.
I use this technique every time I wash my favorite Matinique Cardigans and it always turns out great. If you are also a Matinique fan I highly recommend you to check out their new collection. It is amazing.
Guest Post By: Katina Gerdzhikova
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