Knitwear Care
We review three popular wool wash products that can be used to care for your handknit sweaters, socks and shawls
Find the right wool wash for you
EUCALAN Gentle care for woollen fabrics, enriched with essential oils and lanolin
Eucalan’s Delicate Wash is ideal for handknits, and requires no rinsing. It is scented with essential oils, which have antiseptic and moth-repellant properties, as well as smelling gorgeous!
The range includes Eucalyptus, which has a clean, strong scent; Lavender; an unscented Natural option; and zingy Grapefruit, with grapefruit oil that acts as a natural antiseptic. Wrapture, meanwhile, has the distinctive floral scent of jasmine, and has been created by knitwear designer Kristin Omdahl.
Delicate Wash includes a touch of lanolin to naturally condition fibres, and is a non-toxic, biodegradable formula. Soak your knits for a few minutes (you only need a tiny amount), and there’s no need to rinse after use.
Choose from single-use sachets (60p), 100ml bottles (20 hand washes, £3.50), or 500ml bottles (95 washes, £11.50). For UK stockists, contact Get Knitted (0117 300 5211; www.getknitted.com) or Woolstack (01242 300280; www.woolstack.co.uk).
SOAK Delicious perfumes make this no-rinse wool wash formula a treat to use
If you love scented laundry products, then Soak is a great choice for your knits. It has a range of sophisticated perfumes to choose from, including Celebration, a fresh smell reminiscent of elderflowers; the warm, sweet Fig; tropical Pineapple Grove; the floral Yuzu; and the fresh, feminine Lacey (our tester’s personal favourite). There’s a scentless option for sensitive skin, too.
There’s no need to rinse your knits after using this product - you simply add a few drops to tepid water, immerse the fabric for a few minutes, squeeze then remove to dry. It’s claimed to be eco-friendly, and can be used on baby items and even on your pets!
The range has Minisoak individual sachets (£1.75), 90ml bottles (18+ washes, £7), and 375ml bottles (75+ washes, £15). Gift sets containing a range of scents are also available.
‘Soak School’ has online advice on washing knits at Soakwash.com. For UK stockists, contact Purl Nova (01865 589944; www.purlnova.com).
UNICORN FIBRE Deep cleaning products that can be used for handwashing or in the machine
Unicorn Fibre produces a range of different products suitable for washing and conditioning your knitwear. Its Fibre Wash cleans and refreshes woollen fabrics, and is good at removing stains. Unlike Soak and Eucalan, it needs to be rinsed after use; it’s suitable for both hand- and machine-washing. It has a pleasant, light scent, and is low-foaming and biodegradable. It comes in 114ml bottles (8 washes, £3.99) or 454ml bottles (32 washes, £12.99).
Also available is Fibre Rinse, a conditioning treatment for handknits and delicates that leaves fabrics feeling softer and fresher. It costs £3.50 for a 114ml bottle or £10.99 for the 454ml size.
For more soiled knits, there is the Beyond Clean Laundry Wash. This concentrated formula is fragrance-free and offers deeper cleaning, yet is gentle on fibres. Like all the Unicorn products, it has a high level of biodegradability. A 114ml bottle costs £4.49. Sold in the UK by Wildcraft (01202 886262; www.wildcraft.co.uk).