laundry help

[some_stars]

Today I have to hand-wash a sweater, I think. It's 82% viscose 18% nylon, according to the label, which also tells me to hand-wash it (and to roll it in a towel to remove excess moisture). When looking online for instructions about this, though, I found a website that says viscose garments, unless they're no more than 70% viscose, shouldn't be gotten wet at all because they become too fragile. I really really don't want to break another sweater, so: help?

Comments

[holli]

Let it soak in Woolite and water in a bucket overnight. Rinse it, then spin out the water in your washing machine. That's basically what I do with fragile vintage clothes, and I have yet to ruin anything that way. (Of course, I have totally ruined stuff by not realizing that green velvet ribbon would bleed dye, but that's another story.)

[some_stars]

I am kind of scared of the washing machine after what happened to my last nice sweater. But soaking unattended sounds pretty good to me. Thanks :D

[holli]

Well, if you don't want to risk the spin cycle you can press out some of the extra water by rolling the sweater up in a towel and squeezing it out. It'll just take longer to dry than if you spin it.

[some_stars]

I think this is what I'll do. And also perhaps pray. (I was very traumatized by the loss of the last sweater.)

[neotoma]

Synthrapol is the detergent to use if you're worried something will bleed. It's the detergent that hobby dyers use to keep dyes from redepositing. I use it when I finish a knitted piece -- especially if it's red or purple.

For a modern viscose sweater, along long as it isn't see-through lace, soaking overnight in the sink or a bucket and then agitating it with your hands should be perfectly okay.