In Readiness to Store: Washing by Hand

Closet Fashion Analysis:

Storing Woollens

A closet in readiness to return for work is the goal over the

Photo: JoyD

next while for my posts. As we transition from winter to spring, our closets need to be re-generated and re-invented. Today I will be sharing helpful hints regarding the chore of washing woollens and storing them over the summer.

Necessary - Washing by Hand

Handwash all your sweaters and tops, no matter the fabric content - well, maybe not t-shirts - especially wool, cashmere, and all natural fibres including silk. Those with dry-clean only labels are there because most people do not know how and so the manufacturer errs on the side of caution and recommends dry-cleaning of your merino wool sweater when in fact it is safe to wash by hand. Other than blazers, I have even washed camel hair pants by hand and ironed them myself.

Having said that, you must remember to:

• Always use cold or cool, never warm or hot water. 

• Use a lanolin based soap or baby shampoo for all woollens from cashmere to mohair to angora to camel hair.  

• Gently manipulate by pressing the suds through the fabric without any scrubbing friction. You can use stronger action on reinforced areas like collars and cuffs but hold off on a lot of friction. 

• Rinse by letting the soapy water drain and refill the sink with more water.

• Rinse at least twice with the same gentle touch you used to wash. 

• Add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to the last rinse. 

• Do not wring out between rinses. 

• When the water no longer appears to have any soapy residue, drain the sink and press as much water as possible out with your hands pushing the fabric against the side of the sink, then . . .

• Roll the item within a thick cotton towel to remove excess moisture. 

• Lay flat, reforming shoulders, sleeves and body into proper position on a clean dry towel. 

• Lay on a flat surface or on top of a clothing drying rack. I usually lay it on the floor to dry. 

• Check in a few hours or a whole day and turn the item over. Replace with a dry towel if the towel if damp.

• When dry you may want to iron out the creases and you can but with great care. Using a barely damp clean white cotton, or other natural fibre cloth such as linen, spread out on top of the article you want to iron. Making sure you have a low temperature setting, lightly pass the iron over the creases. Have patience, it will take some time and it will work, but not too much heat. 

It's a time consuming process but you have time. Space to dry for more than a day can be an issue so only do as many as you can dry properly at any one time. For me that's three maximum.

Necessary for Storage

• Make sure your articles are completely dry before you store them. 

• Roll, so you don't get any fold lines, and tuck in a dryer sheet to give a fresh scent or add a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil to an unscented dryer sheet and tuck into the rolled article. The lavender or peppermint will also deter any insects and save you from the anguish of finding a tiny holes in your stored woollens. (I absolutely must do this when in France.) Cedar blocks sold especially for storage purposes are also a good idea. 

• Store rolled in a drawer. Do not hang or else you will end up with "hanger bumps" on the shoulders and a stretched out body. I also shy away from storing in plastic bins.

I know what you're thinking - but really beautiful wool, cashmere and mohair sweaters cost a lot and in order to get your money's worth, you need to do this. If you don't want to, consider buying acrylic next time 😉 but you still need to wash them for storage.

Any helpful hints and your comments are always much appreciated. 

😃Spring 2021 Update: Does dis-order in your life overwhelm you? Changing Spaces by Design has recently published a guided journal with inspiring affirmations, suggested daily strategies to create clutter-free spaces, time management recommendations, and charts to record your project. Shirley B says, "I embarked on the process and am pleased to say that it really does work. I put my stuff in order, found stuff I had forgotten I owned, and got rid of stuff I no longer need (that is somebody else’s stuff now). The result – I know what I have, and where to find it. Amazing!"

You can check out their launch page at 30 Day Journal to Triumph Over Clutter.