Caring for your Hand Knit Items - From your friends at The Yarn and Fiber Company.

Here are a few tips as to how you should care for your knitted garments to ensure that they last a long time.
We also explain the meaning of the different European symbols on the washing label.

• Colored garments last longer if they are washed inside out.
• Knitted garments retain their shape better if they are dried flat.
• Never allow colored garments to dry outdoors in sunlight. They can become discolored and "sun-bleached".

The bowl symbol, indicates that the garment can be washed in water in a washing machine or by hand. Within the bowl, there is a figure indicating the temperature, in number of degrees Celsius, that should be used to wash the garment. The line under the bowl indicates any limitations to the normal washing process.

Wash in a filled machine at the indicated water temperature. Normal spin.

Wash in a machine at the indicated water temperature. The machine should only be half filled. Spin for one minute only. In a separate spin dryer, half a minute only. The line under the bowl indicates that extra care should be taken.

Always make sure that the washing powder is completely dissolved in the water before putting the garment into it. Never sprinkle or pour washing powder directly onto the garment or allow colored garments to soak. This can result in discoloration. Avoid leaving garments to soak!

Hand wash only. Max 40. Do not rub, do not ring out.

Do not wash in water.

Garments of untreated wool or silk, for example, with washing instructions "hand wash, max 40C", demand special care. Use a washing powder that is specifically intended for 40C washing in water. Do not soak. Wash directly in water of the correct temperature with the washing powder well dissolved in the water. Gently squeeze the garment in the washing water, do not rub or ring out. Rinse thoroughly. A short spin removes excess water best. Shake out the garment once it is half dry, to give it a "fuller" feel. Dry heavy knitted garments flat.

The iron symbol means that the garment can be normally ironed or a rotary iron used. Within the symbol there is/are one or more dots to indicate the ironing temperature.

High temperature, max. 200C For example, cotton, linen.

Medium temperature max. 150C For example, wool, natural silk

Low temperature, max. 110C For example, polyamide, acrylic

Do not iron or rotary iron

The triangle indicates that the garment can be bleached using chlorine. The letters CL, the chemical symbol for chlorine can be seen inside the triangle

Can be bleached with chlorine

Must not be bleached

The circle indicates that the garment can be dry cleaned. The letter inside the circle indicates the type of dry cleaning fluid to be used.

Will not stand a stronger dry cleaning fluid than perchloroethane. Perchloroethane is the most common dry cleaning fluid used..

Dry cleaning fluid such as P. The limitation refers to the water added, the mechanical process used and/or the drying temperature.

Will not stand a stronger dry cleaning fluid than naphtha.

Do not dry clean.

In addition, there is a new washing instruction called Wet Clean. This indicates a professional wash with a mixture of water and synthetic tensides.

The rectangle is a symbol for drying. Water must removed from the textile before drying. Virtually all textiles can be given a short spin, for a maximum of one minute. Many garments can also be tumble dried. Garments with a Gore-Tex membrane should, for example, be tumble dried for best results. On the other hand, avoid tumble drying garments that you particularly cherish, as tumble drying wears the garment. The most important thing is to follow the symbol that indicates whether or not the garment should be tumble dried.

Tumble drying

Low

Normal

High heat in the tumble drier

Do not tumble dry

Hang dry

Flat dry