CARDI CARE
How to care for luxury natural fibres
Hand-washing know how...
- Clean all your surfaces and wipe dry, leaving no traces of detergent etc.
- Half fill your (kitchen?) sink with cool water - not so cold it freezes your hands off but not hot either - about luke warm. Try the elbow thing.
- Add a small squirt of baby shampoo - just enough to get some bubbles going.
- Gently squeeze the cardi in the water. Donn't stretch it by pulling it or twisting. We said DON'T pull it.
- Put the cardi on the draining board or in a bowl while you replace the soapy water with clean. Rinse.
- Repeat until the water runs clear. If your squirt of baby shampoo was too big, this will take longer - so go easy on it.
- If you have a drawstring bag or a zippered pillowcase, secure the cardi inside then pop it in the washing machine on a slow spin cycle for around 10 minutes. If you don't, lay the cardi flat in between two towels and roll it up like you used to with your swimm
- Re-shape the cardigan by gently, (gently) pulling and sort of wafting it, to loosen the stitches that may have matted together during the wash.
- Dry your cardi flat between two towels away, from direct heat – eg in an airing cupboard. (mohair dries quite quickly). If you want, pin the two ends of the button stand together with a safety pin, to hold them level.
- DO NOT TUMBLE DRY or it will shrink.
- Teasel with a teasel (or a soft brush) if you fancy a bit of a fluff up, but just a gentle flick to lift the pile and catch any strays.
- Once dry, do the gentle pulling and wafting again, stretching it vertically and horizontally to free up the stitches from each other.
How to care for wool/cashmere
- Same as above but don't brush it afterwards.
- Never dry cashmere outside as it loses its colour.