Washer with wool program

[kushami]

One factor to consider is that not everyone can wrap their knits in a towel and tread them to remove the excess water. I am sometimes unwell, and at those times I’m disabled to the point that I can’t do this. Luckily I usually feel better after a few weeks and washing can usually wait.

But some people need to rely on a machine wash. Hopefully washing a swatch a few times will reveal whether a garment can be machine washed safely.

O a different note, I remember being told is that a short, high spin is better for woollies. My Miele uses a high spin on the wool cycle. I think it is because a lower-speed spin can allow the item to stretch, but it’s been a long time since I studied physics, so maybe someone else could chime in on that topic!

[kushami]

Here’s the advice I saw. Peer Gynt is not superwash; it’s one of those wools that can be machine washed under the right conditions. Instructions are wool cycle at 30 deg. C.

At least, I’m pretty sure that’s the case. I have some and it is definitely not superwash treated in terms of the plasticky coating. It could have scales removed. I have not tried to felt it. It travelled all the way from Norway so I don’t want to sacrifice any, even for a small test squre.

Peer Gynt

For machine washing, we recommend that all wool garments be washed separately on a wool program, to ensure the gentlest treatment. Centrifuge well and dry the garment flat, preferably on top of a towel. Never use a laundry bag when washing hand-knitted wool garments. This creates friction that can cause the garment to felt.

The English info page doesn’t say that it’s non-superwash, but the Norwegian version does. (“Ikke” means “not”.)

[PortCityKnitter]

Walmart has fine mesh large lingerie bags with plastic hidden zippers. I throw my handknits that can go through the washer in that then pop them on my clothes drying rack ($12 @ wm) and have the ceiling fan on in my craft room. Anything that has to be hand washed goes in a plastic tub with some Soak (no rinse needed) for a bit, gently squeezed then rolled up in a thick bath towel, pinned on foam blocking boards covered with a towel (I picked up the foam floor tiles at wm during back to school) and again under the ceiling fan to dry overnight.

[GrumpyGramma]

I’ll make a guess that it’s centrifugal force. The faster spin holds things against the wall of the tub more effectively so things stay in one place. Less movement of items = less friction. That’s my guess and I’m sticking with it. For at least five minutes.

My daughter’s washer and dryer are Miele. The set they got is no longer sold in the US. She wouldn’t trade them for any other brand. Hers is huge! and very, very gentle on clothes. I think she might have told me it has a wool setting but I can’t say for sure.

[GrumpyGramma]

That’s interesting! Niggling in the back of my mind is a vague recollection of Arne & Carlos saying something about washing hand knits on the wool cycle. I wonder if I might find it or am I just recollecting wrongly.

[KnittingNana2]

I am assuming you are in the US. And if I am correct, the reason the one podcaster you referenced is able to wash her sweaters/jumpers in the washing machine is because she is in Europe and European washing machines usually come with a wool wash setting. However, even with a wool wash setting, sweaters/jumpers should only be washed at 600 RPM or less. Anything higher than 600 RPM will felt the wool. (Learned this from a very reliable source).

We are starting to see all-in-one combo washer/dryers being sold in the US which do have a wool wash. I inquired at a big box hardware store about how low the wool setting RPMs go and the salesman couldn’t tell me. So I inquired directly to the manufacturer. I did not purchase a new combo washer/dryer. Yet. The motivation to do so would be for the wool wash.

Happy knitting

[OffJumpsJack]

I doubt there are any knitters on here old enough to have used the old roller wringers. I was wondering if roller wringers uld work kindly with hand knit wool?

Another instance of falling “victim” to “bigger, better, stronger” progress.