Should I wash home knitted clothes?

[strawberrybubblegum]

Both the Grandmothers-to-be have knitted some beautiful jumpers, hats and booties. They're awesome

I know that you're meant to wash all bought clothes in non-bio liquid before-hand. Does anyone know whether this applies to hand-knitted clothes too? I suppose the wool was exposed to the same things as clothes would be, so it would make sense to.

They're just so soft and fluffy and pretty that I'm reluctant to put them through the machine (even though I know they'll be going through pretty soon anyway!)

I think the reason shop ones are washed is because theyve been in plastic. Im wondering if your supposed to wash all the second hand clothes your given aswell. I shouldnt think its necessary for the hand made ones though surely?

What kind of wool is it? Real wool or acrylic?

Acrylic can go in a normal 40 degree wash

Real wool needs hand washing in cold water with either hand soap or a special wool detergent, normal detergent does something bad, can't remember off the top of my head, probably felts it.
Gently squeeze the water out, never wring, place the garment on a towel, roll it up and press the remaining water out, then dry flat away from direct heat.

it's just stuff thats been bought in as when it's made in places like Indian sweatshops etc they spray them with pesticides unless the grannies are total mingers when it comes to housework, I think they will be fine :)

Gosh, that's scary that bought clothes (i.e. everything else I've got) might have been sprayed with pesticides!! I think I'm now going to be triple-washing everything!

Good question about what kind of wool it is, bamboo. It feels like acrylic to me, but I'll check with them both before washing them.

Sounds like the general consensus is that I don't need to wash them before first using them. Grannies have nice clean houses Thanks, everyone.

Good question Ive wondered that too, I have been given some lovely hand knitted soft snuggly baby things, I thought NO they wouldnt need to be washed until Bub has worn them.
Then gods knows how I'll wash them I just chuck all my woolens in a 30 degree fast cycle that I do all mine and my other halfs washing on, I'll have to think about bubs lovely delicates so I dont ruin them. oohh ????

It's worth asking exactly what yarn it is. Many yarns - even pure wool and cashmere mixes - are now superwash and you can do them in the machine on a 30 degree cycle. Acrylic you can treat as any other manmade fibre. But no, you definitely don't need to wash before wearing.

YY to the pesticides and fungicides - it's so they don't rot in storage and transit.

I use bamboo yarn to crochet and have put it in a normal 30 degrees wash with other clothes, works a treat. (That's baby bamboo yarn by Sidar).

All yarn will have washing instructions on the label though so I'd check with the maker

Fabrics & yarns are also generally treated in the way that new clothes are. So, I'd wash them first, following advice from previous posters. There are non bio delicates & woolens detergents available.