Looking after
your knits
At White Stuff we love natural fibres and we have a sneaky feeling that's what makes our knits so soft and cosy to wear. But keeping them soft and beautiful requires a little TLC. Follow these simple steps and you'll keep yours looking (and feeling) lovely for years to come.
Pilling
Contrary to popular belief, pilling is quite normal and doesn't mean your jumper is poor quality. In most cases, those tiny bobbles of fluff are caused by friction, but regular washing can help to keep those bobbles at bay. Before you put your jumper in the wash, we recommend using a pilling comb to de-pill your knitwear of those bobbles. Following the length of the garment, draw the comb gently but firmly over the affected area. Once they are removed, wash as instructed. Follow this ritual regularly and you should find your knitwear is bobble-free for life.
Shedding
Don't panic, your jumper isn't turning into a pet!
Certain natural fibres such as mohair, alpaca and cashmere have a tendency to shed the
first
few times you wear them. To prevent excess shedding, use a lint brush or roller to
frequently
remove any excess hair from
your garment.
General
Washing
Instructions
- Always follow the care label for washing instructions
- Remember to always use a delicate laundry liquid never bleach as this will break down the fibres.
- Treat stains with liquid detergent, never rub as this will encourage pilling
- Re-shape the garment whilst damp, taking special care, as wet knitwear fibres can stretch out of shape
- Dry flat, away from sunlight or direct heat sources
- Never tumble dry knitwear
- Once dry, press lightly on the reverse side with a cool iron
Machine Wash
- Wash inside out - helps prevent friction against other garments in the washing machine and reduce pilling.
- Following the general washing instructions
- Ensure you select the correct setting on your machine as stated on the care label. Always follow the correct temperature to ensure your garment keeps its shape and appearance
- Remove from the washing machine immediately after the washing cycle has ended
Hand Wash
- Following the general washing instructions
- Wash in cool water with a delicate laundry liquid. Never soak wool as this may cause your knitwear to shrink
- Gently squish the water through the fabric , do not rub, wring or stretch the garment
- Rinse thoroughly in clean cool water using the same squishing action until the water is clear
- Gently squeeze out excess water (alternatively using the shortest, most delicate spin, in the washing machine), taking care not to stretch your garment
Dry Cleaning
We know it's a pain, so we try not to use 'dry cleaning only' care instructions in our garments unless it's' absolutely necessary, but occasionally some garments just can't be cleaned any other way. This may be due to the size of the garment or the type of knit structure.
Storing Knitwear
Best way to store your knitwear is to fold and keep it flat as this will help to keep it's shape, and always store clean garments in cool, dry places. Moths aren't so much attracted to the fibre, but to stains, perspiration or body oils on a garment.
Cashmere
Did you know it can take a single goat four years to produce enough wool to make just one jumper?
Silky soft and eight times warmer than regular wool, our cashmere is responsibly sourced from inner Mongolia. The fibres are harvested by clipping, shearing and natural shedding - with no harm to the animals.
Luxury fibres like Cashmere often need a little extra care to help
them look their best.
After wearing, air your cashmere, you don't always need to wash
it!
When you do need to wash it, follow the care label. All of our
cashmere is
machine washable on a wool programme. After washing please
follow the instructions above.
-
Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is the best way to deal with stains that washing cannot remove.
-
Storing Cashmere
Only ever put clean garments away. Moths aren't so much attracted to the fibre, but to the food, dirt, perspiration or body oils on a garment. You may want to store cashmere in a breathable zip-up plastic bag in a cool place.
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Alternatives to mothballs
Cedar wood balls are a good, modern, natural alternative to traditional mothballs. Not only do they have a pleasant fragrance, they are effective at repelling moths, mildew and mustiness. We recommend replacing cedar balls every 6-12 months.