How to wash knitted baby clothes????

starjumper

A very lovely lady at work has very kindly knitted some beautiful cardigans for my soon to be born niece or nephew, they are stunning but need to be washed before baby is born (and I imagine pretty frequently after then).

She was unable to give me washing instructions and wondered if any of you would be able to offer me advice, she suggested handwashing but it'd be handier for the mum to be to be able to bob them in the wash. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Mrs_Thrify

Dreft soap powder and hand wash for wollies

aliadds

I'd use either Persil non bio or Fairy and wash in the machine on a delicate wash!

Sharra

Yup, I'd chuck em in the machine on a wool wash. Handwash only clothes for a newborn just wouldn't get worn
Although - most baby wool is machine washable at 40 these days anyway. Can she show you the label from the wool she bought? or tell you where she got it from? the wool labels all have washing instructions on them.

Counting_Pennies_2

I had loads of knitted clothes for mine, and I found a 30 wash, or a hand wash function on my washing machine always worked well.

calpj

Agreed, chuck them in the washing machine, cool-ish wash with some non-bio, we have a pile that great aunties, friends parents and even strangers(!) knitted for us and every single one has been fine time and time again.

valk_scot

Depends entirely on what they're knitted from. Acrylic? Superwash wool? Non-superwash wool? Some exotic fibre like bamboo? Clues, please? I'm a knitter of forty years standing, a spinner for ten and I can assure you there have been more hand knitted garments ruined by guessing at the washing instructions than you would belive possible.

If in doubt though, hand wash in tepid water with a little mild soap or baby shampoo, minimal agitation, squeeze out the water by rolling the item in a towel, reshape and lay flat to dry.

karren

handwash cycle in the machine, you have enough to do with anewborn let alone wash things by hand! I id with my first,didnt with the second, id learnt by then!

Chipps

Yes, I'd agree with most others - delicate or handwash in the washing machine. Years ago, knitted things did get ruined in washing machines, cos they didn't have so many choices for types of wash, nor for that matter did makers of knitting yarns think about the practicalities of getting the stuff clean, but as long as you are careful it should be fine.
I don't handwash if I can help it (only time I do is for things that leak dye - and they tend not to get worn too much!!!!)

sassyblue

Hiya, if in doubt wash on a 30 degree wash (all non bio stuff) and use the rinse hold function (or drain), you can lay them on a towel and roll the towel up like valk-scot says, l'm positive they won't ruin.

and l agree with Karren, your sister (or sister in law) is going to be very busy so always machine wash if possible, l still can't get over the amount of time a baby takes up - and mine is 3 and a half!!!

oystercatcher

When I had three under threes I'm afraid that everything was put in the machine and anything that didn't survive was binned. A terrible shame when someone has spent hours knitting but it's just not practical to be hand washing baby clothes .