How to wash beloved woolen Christmas Jumper

[adogisforlife91]

It was my mum's, label says 1989! (older than me) Very thick knitted wool cardigan, with a Christmas village scene all around the bottom and a Sleigh and reindeer leaping right across the chest. The ugliest thing you ever saw....

It was dug out of the loft a few years ago and I haven't dared to wash it properly since it's only worn once or twice a year....but it really does need freshening up.

Any advice on how to not completely ruin this beloved monstrosity?

Hand wash in Woolite, water not to hot. Gently squeeze it, don't rub or pull. Don't wring it out - lie it on a towel then roll it up to get the worst of the water out. Put another towel on top of a table in a warm room and lie it flat on top of the towel to dry.

Sounds delightfully ugly!

We need a photo, @adogisforlife91.

You want the water to be lukewarm or just ever so slightly warmer.

Wool sort of cleans itself, so I would not wash i unless I had to but would hang it outside on a cold dry windy day.

It sounds fabulous @adogisforlife91! Much as @rbe78 says. Wash it very, very gently using Woolite, I think the old fashioned advice was that the water should be 'blood temperature'. Don't wring it out, roll in a towel and then dry flat. I've washed a hand knitted blanket like this and as long as you treat it gently you'll be fine!

The advice above is very good.
When washing wool you are trying to avoid:
-sudden temperature changes
-friction
-stretching
The first two cause felting which is irreversible and shrinks it.

You could use Eucalan which doesn't need rinsing and will replenish the natural oils in the wool. Give it a soak and swish in the bath and then gently wring out the water and dry flat, re-shaping as it dries.