I have a new 100% 2 ply cashmere sweater I bought. Can I hand wash it instead of drycleaning? If so, can you give me any guidelines?

Thank you very much for your consideration & input.

Susan

Of course you can wash it! In warm to hot water with a ph neutral soap (I use liquid Tide) submerge your sweater and gently swish it so the sweater gets thoroughly saturated and the soap is well mixed. Drain the water and gently squeeze the water from the sweater. Rinse several times with warm to hot water until the soap is completely removed--this will take several rinse baths. Roll the sweater up in a large towel and squeeze out excess moisture. Put it flat on another towel, block it into shape, and leave to dry. It will probably take several days to dry completely.

I hope this helped!

Stefie

I am exasperated at trying to find out how to get yellowing out of "old" white wool knit sweaters? Washing and soaking havent done a thing. Can you offer any tips please?

LYN

Without seeing the sweaters, I really don't know. I would recommend using a ph neutral soap like Liquid Tide in hot water, and see what happens. You don't say what the fiber is, but I a presuming it's wool. Most wools have a cream color, not a stark white. Some wool comes with a yellowy color because of something called "canary yellow" that has to do with the conditions in which the sheep was raised that affects the color of the fleece. However, that would have been that color when the wool was first spun, and not changed with age. If this is a color change, my only thought is that the fiber was originally treated with something that has changed with age. In that case, I don't think there is much you can do except enjoy the sweater the way we enjoy a sepia-toned photograph.

Good luck,

Stefie

What is the best care for fine merino wool sweaters? Can they be washed or do they need to be dry cleaned? Thank you for any help.

Nancy

Any wool can be washed with great success. Use a ph neutral soap like liquid Tide and hot water. Soak the garment until it is thoroughly wet. Add the soap and swish gently. Squeeze out the soapy water and rinse several times to remove all the soap. You can use water as hot as your hands can stand or as needed to get the garment clean. When all the soap is rinsed out, roll the garment between towels and work to remove as much excess moisture as possible. Lay flat to dry.

Good luck,

Stefie

NOTE FROM CAROL: Too much agitation and hot water or heat will "felt" wool - this is what actually happens when a wool sweater "shrinks" if you put it into the washer or dryer. So, when you are swishing gently, don't over do it - I usually press the garment down through the soapy water 1 or 2 times and then let it soak, without movement for about 20-30 minutes. When you rinse - try and make the rinse water the same temperature as the water you just took the garment out of. It helps if you have two sinks and fill them up at the same time - put soap in one and save the other for rinse water. Again, press the garment down into the water once or twice then remove. Let the water out - press the garment, rolled up, against the side of the sink to remove excess water, fill the rinse tubs again, and repeat, making each rinse bath around the same temp. as the one before it. I usually put vinegar in the 2nd to last rinse (just a splash) this helps remove soap, and then I put a squirt of creme rinse in the last rinse - it works on wool the same way it works on your hair - making it smell nice and feel softer. After pressing against the side of the sink to remove excess water, lay the sweater down flat on a towel and roll it up into the towel (use a big towel), then I tread on the towel a couple of times to remove the moisture (without shoes). Lay flat to dry.

I have little pill that form on my sweaters. There used to be a hand tool to remove them. Can you help me in locating one? Thanks for your possible help in advance.

Marsha

Sorry, I have never used a pill remover, so I have no idea where to get one. If I have pilling on sweaters, I usually just pick them out by hand.

Stefie