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AIBU?

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Original poster

To bin a ruined expensive jumper

94 replies

newmomaboutthreads · 20/06/2024 14:32

Help!!

I've shrunk my husbands jumper. I think it's quite expensive, it's Pal Zileri 100% extra fine Lana merino.

It has a hand wash symbol and so I just stuck in the machine on low heat. It would now fit a 5 year old!

Would I be unreasonable to just bin it and hope he never asks about it or can this be fixed at all?

I'm thinking bin it...

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/06/2024 14:33

Do you usually lie in your relationship?

TaraTories · 20/06/2024 14:35

Can you not give it to a 5 yr old? Seriously sounds like a waste of a jumper I'd re-sell as re-purposed...

I did the same with a few jumpers and used them on stuffed toys. I get that you don't want your husband to know but charity shop it at least!

pearlsundersea · 20/06/2024 14:36

You could try to rescue it with fabric conditioner. Soak it in fabric conditioner and warm water for an hour or two. Then gently stretch it out. Dry it flat on a towel.

Timeforabiscuit · 20/06/2024 14:37

What the hell!

You destroyed something belonging to someone else through your own carelessness - you should be an adult, fess up, and either get a replacement - or if this isn't possible an equivalent in monetary value.

MatildaTheCat · 20/06/2024 14:37

OMG I have inadvertently ruined a number of DH’s fancy branded clothes in the last year. It has coincided with getting a new washing machine which is clearly more violent than my beloved old Miele.

My policy is to hide the damage and only confess if absolutely necessary and then preferably when I’m owed praise for something else or he’s really cocked up.

I feel your pain.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 20/06/2024 14:37

It can’t be fixed I’m afraid. You might be able to persuade the fibres to relax a little bit so it would fit a 6 or maybe 7 year old but it isn’t going back to anywhere like its original size.
Not fair to bin it and not tell him though, it’s a bit gaslighty if he can’t find it and drives himself mad looking for it.

MatildaTheCat · 20/06/2024 14:39

And it’s an interesting question as to why, say M&S or Uniqlo can produce wool or cotton that doesn’t shrink if you look at it a bit funny but the expensive brands are so bloody delicate?

CeasarS · 20/06/2024 14:39

I doubt it can be saved, but I'm scared for you if you are really considering hiding it from him rather then telling him what happened.

I'd be telling mine, I'm very sorry I got it wrong, but if he's going to buy fancy handwash only clothes he can do his own laundry.

TaraTories · 20/06/2024 14:40

Can you put it on a teddy and present him with it and apologise - try to make a joke/light of it? If you need a new washing machine it could become a good bartering tool even.

AlpineMuesli · 20/06/2024 14:40

Buy a replacement.

Bluebuddha10 · 20/06/2024 14:41

I did this with my (adult) daughters jumper. She rescued it using hair conditioner, similar to what @pearlsundersea said. Google it for clarification. It came good in the end, repeated process a couple of times

Screamingabdabz · 20/06/2024 14:41

Nah. Make it disappear and deny all knowledge. He won’t be looking for it for a while yet - you’ll be over the guilt by then and will be able to do a convincing poker face.

TheCountessofLocksley · 20/06/2024 14:41

Why would you put a £550 -£600 jumper in the washing machine? I suspect you know the price despite your faux innocence of "I

TheCountessofLocksley · 20/06/2024 14:43

Posted too soon.

You need to calmly tell him what had happened and offer to replace it. If he ruined something of yours how would you like him to react/treat you.....there is your answer.

pasturesgreen · 20/06/2024 14:44

It has a hand wash symbol and so I just stuck in the machine on low heat.

Why on earth would you machine wash an expensive pure wool hand-wash-only jumper? By all means leave it for your DH to hand wash himself, but just why did you think it'd be okay to machine wash?

PickAChew · 20/06/2024 14:46

MatildaTheCat · 20/06/2024 14:39

And it’s an interesting question as to why, say M&S or Uniqlo can produce wool or cotton that doesn’t shrink if you look at it a bit funny but the expensive brands are so bloody delicate?

Because superwash wool is treated to minimise shrinkage and felting, which is where the fibres matt together, but that comes with other compromises like increased pilling and wear. Wool that hasn't been superwash treated lasts ages if properly cared for and the little bit of felting that happens with wear strengthens the garment a little.

cigarettesNalcohol · 20/06/2024 14:46

Let him do his washing next time and there'll be no more issues

Keepthosenamesgoing · 20/06/2024 14:46

It's probably no comfort now but for future reference hand-wash type items especially wool have two ways to shrink. One is the temp but the other is the agitation ie spin cycle and wash cycle. So even if the temp is suitable you need to use the handwash/wool cycle so that the spin speed is not too high as that also causes the shrinkage.

Too late now but just to explain

Sparklfairy · 20/06/2024 14:48

So you checked the label and still put it in the machine. And now you want to hide your stupidity from him?

No. Own up, apologise, and replace/give him the money.

And don't touch his things again. You can't be trusted.

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2024 14:52

If I was this scared of my husband's reaction, I'd be focusing on leaving him op. This is no way to live.

Or you have zero respect for him and are happy to gas light him about a simple mistake you made because you wAnt to save face

SleepingStandingUp · 20/06/2024 14:52

cigarettesNalcohol · 20/06/2024 14:46

Let him do his washing next time and there'll be no more issues

Would you say the same if he'd just ruined her expensive silk dress? Serves them right?

Meadowwild · 20/06/2024 14:54

pearlsundersea · 20/06/2024 14:36

You could try to rescue it with fabric conditioner. Soak it in fabric conditioner and warm water for an hour or two. Then gently stretch it out. Dry it flat on a towel.

That is brilliant advice. I ruined a gorgeous cashmere sweater that would now fit a five year old. I will try this. Thank you.

Meadowwild · 20/06/2024 14:55

Keepthosenamesgoing · 20/06/2024 14:46

It's probably no comfort now but for future reference hand-wash type items especially wool have two ways to shrink. One is the temp but the other is the agitation ie spin cycle and wash cycle. So even if the temp is suitable you need to use the handwash/wool cycle so that the spin speed is not too high as that also causes the shrinkage.

Too late now but just to explain

I didn;t know this. That explains why the cold wash fast spin ruined my cashmere sweater when I was too lazy to wash it by hand

Meadowwild · 20/06/2024 14:56

FWIW, I'd own up, get him a replacement and also try to make something from the wool - a hat, wristwarmers, hot-water bottle cover, soft toy etc. The wool is still gorgeous and worth saving, even if the garment is too small.

Oneearringlost · 20/06/2024 14:57

Has it 'felted'? ie, densed up, lost it's natural slackness?
If so, no amount of fabric conditioner, stretching, and stretching again will make any difference, I'm afraid.
I did this by accident to a cashmere jumper of mine that I meant to hand-wash but got scooped up by mistake and ended up in the washing machine.
I spent about 4 days on You Tube hacks trying to do this to no avail. Mine too, only ended up fitting a 5 year old, which is indeed where it went to. I was kicking myself.