THE colder weather has officially arrived now that we’re approaching November, which means most of us are digging out the cosy, warm knitwear.
With wind, rain and dropping temperatures looming, the big jumpers, thick jackets and winter boots are all returning to our wardrobe.
Knitwear is a winter staple for most Scots – it’s comfortable, cosy, durable and looks great in all styles while keeping us warm.
But did you know that most of us are actually washing it wrong? And it could be causing more harm than good.
Experts at fashion firm SilkFred have found that almost 60 per cent of us are not looking after it properly, and it costing us money in the long run.
Now, they’ve teamed up with TV cleaning expert Lynsey, who is known as the Queen of Clean, to reveal how often we really should be washing our knitwear.
And she’s also shared her handy hacks on how we should be washing it, plus tips on what to do if we accidentally shrink our beloved outfits.
While most of us wait until we’ve worn out knitwear up to four times before washing it, Lynsey has said that this is risky.
She revealed that we should be washing it after around two to three wears to keep it in the best condition.
Lynsey explains: “First things first, it’s important to know that it is best to wash your knitted clothing items every two to three wears.
“You can get away with washing your knitwear less frequently than say your t-shirts and shirts, as usually you often wear a base layer underneath your knitwear which should absorb any oil or moisture.
“However, washing them every three to four wears may be risky as the garments may have picked up numerous germs and bacteria, particularly if you’ve been wearing them outside of the house.”
To keep it looking and feeling its best for longer, Lyndey advises buying knitwear-specific detergent and putting it through a delicate wash.
And there are some items that you could be washing with it that could be wrecking your knitwear.
She adds: “It may seem like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised by the amount of people who don’t always follow the care label instructions.
“Always, always check what it says as you may be surprised what is classed as hand wash and what isn’t.
“If it is machine washable, it’s wise to use a knitwear-specific laundry detergent and make sure you use the delicate or knitwear setting on your machine.
“You should also save up your knitwear and wash them together, ensuring you don’t mix them with other items that could cause damage such as zips or bra clasps.”
Lynsey also has a handy hack to stop our lovely, dark winter knitwear outfits from losing their colour.
All you need to do is add a little sea salt to your wash and it’ll stop the machine from stripping its colour.
ACCIDENTALLY shrinking knitwear in the washing machine is so easily done.
And most of us would be tempted to throw our outfits out if they come out of the machine looking too small.
But Lynsey has revealed that we can actually salvage our beloved outfits – and her handy tips have shown how we can actually reverse the damage.
She said: “If you happen to have a knitwear disaster then this handy hack might help revive your items.
“You will simply need to soak your knitwear in cold water with a measure of fabric conditioner mixed in with the water.
“Leave overnight and in the morning, wring out and try and stretch it back into shape.
“Your knitwear should then be salvaged!”
And if you’re worried about the colour of your knitwear in general, Lynsey advises picking up some colour catchers to throw in the machine.
She said: “When it comes to colours, always ensure you wash your items inside out and opt for a colour catcher – you can pick them up cheap on Amazon or even at the supermarket.
“Some people may shy away from fabric conditioners as they believe it can affect bright colours – but it actually has the opposite effect as it manages to make colours last longer.
“Just ensure you’re using the right measure as using too much can sometimes cause fading.
“Colour fading or bleeding is usually caused by washing items on temperature settings that are too high. When this happens, the heat strips the colour.
“To avoid your dark colour knitwear fading, add in some sea salt to your wash – trust me!”
KEEPING your knitwear in tip-top shape is about more than just taking care when washing it.
How you store your knitwear can also impact its condition, how well it looks and how long it lasts.
Lynsey says: “When it comes to storing your knitwear, always ensure you fold it so your items maintain shape.
“Never, ever hang knitwear on a hanger as it will lose its shape extremely quickly.
“There’s nothing worse than your favourite jumper’s neck becoming all baggy!”
