Washing Angora Knitwear

Cleaning

The number one rule is do not over clean sweaters. Only clean them when they are really soiled. Many people have the misconception you have to clean knitwear before storage and after storage — this is necessary only if they are really dirty.

• Wash your angora knitwear by hand (do not dry clean) in cold or lukewarm water and a neutral Ph balanced or acidic shampoo or soap (angora and wool are protein fibers). Rinse in cool water to remove all soap or shampoo residue without rubbing. Lay flat to dry at room temperature. AVOID tumble-drying, sunlight and bleaching. Do not EVER place an angora garment in the dryer, or the cylinder: it will felt.

• Shampoo can be used with any “hair” fiber, such as angora yarn or wool. Hair conditioner in the rinse water will help soften and relax “hair” fibers. We have also successfully used Orvus soap (pH balanced), Eucalan™ or Delicare™. All are gentle and do not contain bleach.

• Water temperature: cool to lukewarm. Cool doesn’t mean, “ice-cold.” Ice-cold water combined with soap will shock protein fibers and will cause wool to felt and sometimes cause dye to run. Warm water causes fibers to relax which allows soil to be released. Warm water will also set dye and some stains, while cold water will release excess dye. Heat, soap, and agitation will cause wool to “felt.”

• Let the garment soak for about 20 minutes, stirring it around only once in a while. Drain the water and refill the basin with cold water to rinse. Keep draining and refilling the basin until the water runs clear. If using Eucalan™, do not rinse if leaving it in as a moth repellant.

• When water runs clear, drain the basin and let garment drain thoroughly before removing it. Roll the garment in a towel to remove excess moisture.

• Safely wash your fine handcrafted sweaters in oversized mesh laundry bags. Made of polyester with a zipper closure. Keep one bag for light sweaters and one bag for darker sweaters to protect against darker colors transferring to lighter colored garments. 

• Do not wring out the sweater - roll in a towel and gently push on the towel to remove excess water. Then lay it flat to dry over something with ventilation, like a clothes rack. Never hang a sweater, a scarf or any knitwear on a hanger or a doorknob – it will stretch the shape.

Ironing

• Do not iron angora sweaters.

Storage

• The best way to store a sweater is folded on a shelf where there is some ventilation. Cedar is best for protection from moths – or if using mothballs, try cedar-scented ones.