How to Care for Merino Wool

Merino KnitwearCaring for your wool garments is key to ensuring they last season after season. 

Cable's top tips for how to care for your Merino Wool clothing are: 

  1. Always wash in cold water (hand wash or machine wash).
  2. Use an approved wool detergent.
  3. Do not soak.  
  4. Leave to dry in a cool place (not direct heat or sunlight).  
  5. Read the care label on your knitwear to determine the process of washing. 

HAND WASHING

Use cold water only and mix with an approved wool detergent. Submerge the garment in the water and wash quickly for only a few minutes, DO NOT soak. Carefully rinse the garment with cold water. Squeeze as much water out of the garment as possible but remember DO NOT twist or wring the garment. Wrap the garment in a towel to remove all excess water. Pull garment back to shape and lay it flat on a new towel to let it dry in a cool place, do not dry in direct heat or sunlight 


MACHINE WASHING

Garments can only be washed in a machine if you have a wool/hand wash setting and cold-water setting washing machine. Turn your garment inside out. Set your washing machine on the wool/hand wash cycle and use cold water only with an approved wool detergent. Pull the garment back to shape and lay flat in a cool place, do not dry in direct heat or sunlight


IRONING

It is very important to read the care label on your knitwear to determine the ironing instructions. Set the iron on the wool setting or medium-hot. Lay the garment flat and reshape gently by hand. Spray the garment with a little water before applying the iron to the garment surface or; use the steam function and apply steam to the garment. Do not apply too much pressure as this could lead to scorching or the surface to become shiny. After ironing lay the garment flat to cool for 5 minutes before folding and storing as this will create further crease lines 


STORE SMART

Knitwear should be folded and stored flat, never stored on a hanger as this will cause stretching and the garment will grow out of shape. When packing your knitwear away for the summer season ensure they are freshly washed and dried completely, do not pack away if they are slightly damp. Pack your knitwear in an airtight sealed container away from direct sunlight. For extra protection from moths we recommend you use a Moth Repellent to store in a sealed container 


PILLING

Pilling is caused by rubbing during wear and is a natural process of knitwear. All-natural fibres have a natural tendency to move to the surface where they are subject to friction. This causes the surface yarn to intertwine with wear which results in pilling. 

Pilling can be prevented by turning your garments inside out when washing. After your garments have been washed a few times their fibres will strengthen, which will lessen the pilling.

We recommend using a battery operated depiller to remove the pilling, use on a flat surface and gently push down on the area in a circular motion. Ensure not to press down too hard as this could snag the threads and cause a hole in your garment. 


STAIN REMOVAL

Treating your garment immediately can help prevent staining. Dab the area with a solvent based stain remover or eucalyptus oil, applying a small amount at a time and working inwards to avoid spreading. Rinse the treated area with cold water and then hand wash as per washing instructions. Ensure to always try a test patch on the garment before attempting to remove a stain. 


REPAIRING HOLES & SNAGS

Knitwear garments are delicate items that need to be handled with care. It is recommended to remove all loose jewellery when dressing to minimise pulls and snags.  Belts, bags, seat-belts and other items that rub on knitwear can cause pulls and pilling and cannot be recognised as a manufacturing fault. If you have received your CABLE garment with a hole or snags please contact us on (03) 9827 7527 or info@cablemelbourne.com and we will organise an assessment of the garment to get repaired or replaced.Â