Knitwear

Some wools and animal fibers can be machine washed, but to play it safe we usually recommend hand washing.

  • Fill sink or bowl with lukewarm water.
  • Add 1 tsp of Eucalan per 1 gallon of water.
  • Submerge garment in water.
  • Gently swish the garment around but be careful to not agitate the water too much.
  • Soak for about 15 minutes.
  • Drain the water from the sink or bowl and press any excess water out of the sweater. Do not wring the water out as this can cause stretching and felting.

A great how-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEc3LTX1e0Y

DO NOT USE A DRYER! We're sure you already knew that but sometimes things get thrown into the dryer as a matter of habit and you end up with a tiny shrunken sweater. Never put wool in a dryer. Seriously, don’t do it.

  • When you’re picking up the wet garment be sure to support it from below. If you lift if from the top the weight of the water in the sweater can cause it to stretch.
  • Squeeze the water out of your garment.
  • Roll it in a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture. 
  • Lay the item on a dry towel and shape the garment back into its original shape.
  • Allow your sweater to dry completely, away from direct sunlight or heat.

Sometimes even the nicest wools and cashmere may pill where there is friction on the garment (like the underarms or shoulders). Pills are the little balls of fibre that start to gather on your sweater and can make the garment look shabby if not removed. These annoying little balls of fibre can be quickly taken care of with a small hand-held electric de-fuzzer, a sweater stone, or if you’re feeling super patient, by picking them off. This keeps your sweater looking fresh and new.

Garments have a tendency to pick up pet hair, people hair, and fluff. It is particularly obvious if your sweater is a dark color. Keep your clothes neat and tidy by using Eucalan’s lint remover sheets to remove those unwanted particles. Keeping a few in your purse or car (once you’ve gotten out of the reach of your fluffy feline) might be a good plan to keep your sweater looking sharp.

When you are finished wearing your sweater for the season, it is important to put it away clean and in a sealed container if possible. Pests like moths are attracted to body smells and will quickly eat a hole in your treasured garment if it is not cleaned before storing it away. Also, body oils, perfumes and deodorants can discolour fabric over time.

  • We recommend washing stored garments using Eucalan's Eucalyptus or Lavender scents to deter the pests.
  • Be sure to allow it to dry completely, then wrap your garment in several sheets of tissue paper and store in a sealed container. 
  • For extra protection, you can purchase sachets of lavender or cedar disks to put in the container with your garment. One great benefit of going this route is that everything will smell fantastic when you open the box to use your sweaters again.
  • If you have concerns that moths may be in your knits, place the article in a plastic bag and put in your freezer for 2 days to kill moths and larvae.