quick laundry query!... v. housewifey!!!! :)

[bea]

quick! i have two handknitted cardies (from each granny!) and cannot be a*d to handwash them! (i've got a million other more pressing things to do of course!)

can i put them through the machine and if so what temp!?

ta!
(dd away at nursery this morning! i have four hours and counting to do all the jobs around the house!... make up some food.... get the video working!... put some washes on... put the hoover around... unpack some boxes - just moved... pin up some curtains!... etc etc etc!)

i think i may have set too many targets!!!

You can put them through the w/machine on the coldest, briefest wash setting you have, and use half load/economy facility if you have that too. Best to use a tiny bit of handwash powder or liquid as the usual Persil or whatever roughs up the woollen fibres more and assists felting/matting. Allow them to dry naturally away from any heat source (will shrink).

I always use a liquid wool detergent and put the machine on the woollens setting on cold. I always put delicate knits in one of those zip-up bags you use to wash tights in (very common in Australia, not so readily available here). I have never had any problems, even with cashmere.

I've washed my hanad knitted stuffs on the special woollen prog the machine has...it is cooler wash (30 degrees I think) and it does everything in a more slower, gentler way, I also use Persil's special "wool & silk" liquid it's in a clear bottle with pink lid. Also just drip dry as mentioned by someone else.

If you don't have a net bag use a pillow-case.

ooo!!! thanks to you all very much... made loads of pureed food all cooling now ready to be ice cubed... will put the wash on now... (using pillow case!) and then go tackle the video player!

ta very much!!!

My attitude towards delicate woollens etc is, if it can't handle the washing machine, then it belongs in the rubbish/dog's basket anyway!

bea, did you get those curtains pinned up

sml - i couldn't do that!!! they were handkitted with love from grannies!!! plus i don;t have a dog!!

enid! - did i knickers!!!! i started them the other day - and there they still are hanging there and taunting me!!!

though i did make up 4 batches of food, and tried to fix the video - unsuccesful of course!, then went to baby group!!!

bea, you don't say what the cardies are made of? I put the millions of hand knit cardies/pulls etc. from my mil through the normal warm wash with no ill effects. Most of them are synthetics (acrylic etc.). There are a few made from real wools/cottons that I have purchased and I do the same with them. Most of the modern wools are treated so that you can put them through a warm wash...just don't stick them in the dryer (though some you can even dry too). If you don't know what they're made of ask the grannies, I'm sure they do. Like you I can't be bothered to handwash anything. I put my own cashmere sweaters in the delicate cycle of my washing machine with no ill effects. Just be careful not to put anything with velcro (ie bibs etc.) in the same wash as they will shred the knitted items.