Journal/Our Commitment/How To Care For Your Knitwear

Journal

How To Care For Your Knitwear

22 Jun 2023

Kate Mason

Like all things in life that are delicate, a little bit of care and attention will keep your knitwear looking fresh and ensure its longevity.

HOW TO STORE KNITWEAR

Make sure your knitwear is clean and aired out before you store it to prevent any dirt, damp or smells setting in over time. Always store your knitwear flat and folded instead of hung, as hanging can stretch or distort the knit.

If your knitwear is bulky, you can roll it up instead of folding it. Make sure the storage environment is cool and dry – knitwear hates prolonged heat and damp, which can cause mildew to develop. We suggest storing your garments in a breathable storage container or a cotton garment bag.

HOW TO CARE FOR MOHAIR KNITWEAR

Mohair is a durable but also delicate fibre, with its notable softness, sheen and lustre. Its luxurious texture is balanced by its natural elasticity, which allows it to stretch and retain its shape.

Mohair can be washed and cared for in the same way as wool and other knitwear types.

We recommend gently brushing your mohair in one direction as the fibres can sometimes get matted and tangled. This will restore your mohair to its naturally soft and fluffy self.

WASHING YOUR KNITWEAR

Wool is naturally stain and odour resistant and will often require less washing than other fibres. However when it is time for a freshen up, your wool knitwear will respond well to either a hand wash or gentle machine wash.

GENERAL WASHING & DRYING TIPS

Wash your wool knits separately or with similar colours. To avoid surface pilling from the rubbing of other garments, we recommend turning your wool garments inside out before washing, to dry, lay your garments flat on a clean towel.

HAND WASHING

Your wool can be hand-washed in cold water using a mild or gentle detergent labelled suitable for wool. Rinse thoroughly, and if you need to remove excess water you can roll your knitwear in a towel and press gently to absorb. Unroll your garment back into shape (do not wring or twist) and lay flat to dry.

MACHINE WASHING

If the care label reads ‘machine wash’, you can safely wash your knitwear on your washing machine’s ‘wool’ or ‘delicate’ setting only. Always follow the care label instructions. After washing, shake your garment gently and lay flat to dry.

DETERGENTS FOR WOOL

Wool is very sensitive to heavy duty or conventional detergents, and those containing bleaches. Concentrated detergents may damage or weaken fibres. Always use a detergent clearly marked suitable for wool, and liquid or easily dissolvable detergents are ideal.

WHAT IS PILLING?

Pilling is the formation of small balls of fibres on the surface of a fabric. It can happen for a multitude of reasons, but most often through the day-to-day actions of the wearer. Usually repeated rubbing or abrasion in the same area results in pilling, and it commonly occurs on the elbows, sleeves, belly or sides of a garment that may rub against a bag. While not necessarily an indicator of poor quality, excess pilling can make your knitwear look tired and shabby.

HOW TO REMOVE PILLS

By removing pills by hand or using a special device, your clothing will retain its new look and feel. To remove pills, SABA recommends a fabric comb. This should be done routinely, after drying or just prior to ironing – very gently and carefully to ensure no damage is done to the item of clothing. Please note that some pills can fall off the garment during the wash especially if it’s cashmere.

Step 1: Lay your knitwear flat

Step 2: Hold the knitwear comb upright and ensure the comb is laid against the knitwear. Use your other hand, hold down the knitwear taut.

Step 3: Brush in the direction away from you, in an upwards motion. Ensure to remove the pills from the comb throughout. Tip: repeat this process on different weaves of knitwear to achieve the same results

HOW TO AVOID PILLING

To reduce the risk of pilling, always turn the item inside-out when laundering. Any migration of fibres due to abrasion during washing will cause protruding fibres, which can result in pilling. When applying a domestic softener or conditioner in the final rinse stage, add a minimal amount. The presence of excessive softener or conditioner can assist in migration of the fibres to the surface.