PRODUCT CARE
Yözh is in love with wool not least because clothes made from Merino wool are very easy to care for. You don't need to wash them often which is good for the environment and for you.
Easy care
Wool does not require much care and most woolen clothing can be machine washed at home
Odor resistant
Sweat won't spoil your sweater as wool is naturally odor resistant. Moreover, stains do not appear on it either
Afraid not of making it dirty
Spilt wine on your sweater? Don't worry, we have a remedy for that and for almost every stain you can imagine. Scroll down to find out more
Houston, we have no problem! Choose the page to learn how to easily care for knitwear or remove annoying stains.
Care symbols
When it looks like it’s time to wash your favourite sweater there's one golden rule to follow: always do it as denoted on your garment’s care label or in other recommendations attached to make sure your product lasts as long as it’s only possible.
Woolen garments are widely believed to need to be hand-washed or dry-cleaned only, however many such items can actually be put in the washing machine and even in the tumble dryer. Below we give washing recommendations and the meaning of the care symbols from the label.
40 °C (or 30 °C) very delicate wash
That means the sweater can be machine-washed. Make sure that the drum is filled by less than a third. Use a program for wool or delicate things.
Hand wash
If you decide to hand wash such an item, do it at the water temperatures of between 30°C and a maximum of 40°C. First dissolve a fine wool detergent in the amount of water enough to let the item get fully soaked.Do not rub, pull or wring out. Rinse the item well and press the water out of it carefully before pulling it out of the water. Don’t leave the item wet.
Do not wash
Items marked with a ‘Do Not Wash’ sign must not be washed. They may be sensitive to any kind of wet treatment or simply not intended for washing in a home washing machine.
Do not bleach
The triangle with a diagonal cross (St. Andrews Cross) indicates that bleaching is not allowed. Use only a bleach-free detergent.
Do not tumble dry
Clothes marked with the ‘Do Not Tumble Dry’ sign must not be placed in a dryer. Doing so may cause critical shrinkage.
Mild dry
Be careful tumble-drying such an item. Select a delicate program with a lower temperature and duration.
Iron at moderate temperature
Iron at maximum temperature of 150°C through a wet cloth. A steam iron can be used. Don’t apply too much pressure while ironing.
Professional dry-cleaning
Professional dry-cleaning with perchloroethylene, hydrocarbons (heavy benzines) to be (may be) done. Commercial soluble spotters may be used with some restrictions. A prior trial on a concealed part of the item is recommended.
These care symbols are owned by GINETEX and used under license.
Washing woolen products
Washing woolen products is easy. Wool is naturally stain, odour and crease resistant thus does not require washing it too often. This means that caring for wool is both easy and friendly to the planet. But when it is time to wash woolen clothes you can either wash them in a washing machine or hand wash with ease.
How to wash woolen clothes in a washing machine
Can I wash woolen items in a washing machine? The answer is ‘yes’ but not for all of them. Washing wool is really easy and many woolen garments can be machine washed leaving more time for doing things you enjoy. If your Woolmark-approved garment care recommendations say that you can machine wash your piece of woolen clothing it means you can safely do so multiple times without shrinking to occur.
1. Woolen garments should be washed on special programs for wool (usually gentle washing at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a special program use the cold water or delicate programs.
2. Use a neutral, mild, better Woolmark recommended detergent (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packaging).
3. It is recommended to dry the garments flat.
You may also find the Woolmark Apparel Care symbol on your washing machine or tumble dryer which means that your appliance has passed rigorous independent testing and has been approved by The Woolmark Company.
How to hand wash woolen clothes
If your Woolmark-approved garment care sign says ‘Hand Wash Only’, never get upset. Hand washing wool is really quick and easy. Follow these simple steps and you'll be done with the laundry in no time.
1. Turn your woolen garment inside out to wash in clean, lukewarm water of approximately 30°C using a mild and gentle detergent.
2. Allow it to soak for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly first in lukewarm water then finally in cold water.
Drying
Drying your favourite woolen sweater is easy. Follow these simple steps and your clothes will look, feel and smell new again in no time.
Woolen clothes are recommended to be dried flat, unless your garment’s care sign allows tumble drying. Woven clothes such as suit trousers or jackets can be dried on a hanger away from direct sunlight. Not only does air drying save you money on energy bills but also it makes less impact on the environment.
How to flat dry woolen clothes
To carefully flat dry woolen clothing it is recommended to place it on a pale coloured or white lint free towel.
Special drying mesh screens fittable over the bathtub can also be used to speed up the drying process. Before drying, gently knead the garment by hand to remove all possible creases or folds.
Piling problem
Piling means formation of fuzzy balls on the surface of woolen clothing that spoil the look.
Pilling is caused by rubbing. Although it can occur in any parts of the sweater, the most common places are where the sleeves constantly rub against the body of the sweater, that is on the elbows, armpits, sleeves, belly and the sides of the sweater.
Pilling depends on many factors including how you wear the item. It occurs if the wearer is more active or if the garment constantly comes into contact with other abrasion causing surfaces such as the back of a chair or a desk edge.
How to prevent pilling
It’s impossible to guarantee that piling won’t occur, but there is a number of ways to prevent it. There are also methods to remove pills if they have already appeared.
- Always turn your woolen clothes inside-out before washing;
- Do not use fabric softeners;
- Try to minimize rubbing while wearing woolen clothing.
3 easy ways to remove pilling
- An insignificant amount of pills can easily be removed manually. This should be done routinely after drying or before ironing;
- A comb can be used to remove pills but this should be done very gently and carefully;
- Small battery powered pill and lint removal devices known as either “de-pillers” or “fabric shavers” are low cost and very effective at removing pills, giving your clothing a new look again;
Stain removal
We all may have accidents like spilling wine or coffee or dropping butter on our favourite item. So how do you get rid of stains on clothes? Follow our step-by-step guide to remove stains from your favourite wool clothing.
Wool is easy to care for as its inherent benefits such as stain and odour resistance mean that woolen clothes require less frequent washing at lower temperatures compared to clothes made from other fibers. But if you do accidentally spill something on your favourite item and need to get rid of a stain, these handy tips will help make your clothes look new in no time.
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How to hand wash your sweater?
If you want to hand wash a woolen sweater, you need a bucket or a sink, a wool detergent and a towel. Use a special wool detergent for best result. First, fill the container with clean, lukewarm water and dissolve the detergent. Soak the sweater for 10 minutes and then wash it thoroughly. Do not rub, stretch or wring. If necessary, watch our stain removal videos. Then rinse the item well in cold water and gently squeeze the water out. Always remove water from colored and delicate items immediately. Do not leave them wet. Dry on a towel or over a rope. -
How to wash a sweater in a washing machine?
If you want to wash your sweater in the washing machine, you need a wash bag and a detergent. First, check the label to see if machine washing is allowed. If not, we do not recommend doing so. If yes, turn your product inside out first or put it in a wash bag. Put detergent into your washing machine and set it to a delicate cycle. If there is no such program, use a “cold water” one. -
How to remove grease stains?
If there is a grease stain, first scrape the stain with a spoon or a blunt knife to remove excess grease. Use a hot iron over layers of fabric for better absorption. If necessary, soak a lint-free cloth in a special degreaser or white spirit. Blot the spot gently for the solvent to work. Repeat if necessary, then let dry. Wash with a Woolmark approved detergent. -
How to remove stains from eggs or milk?
First, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in one glass of cool water and apply the solution to the stain. Rinse well and blot excess water. If the stain remains, add one teaspoon of detergent to a cup of warm water and apply this solution to the stain, then wait 15 minutes. Rinse well with clean water. Repeat with a cloth soaked in diluted white vinegar to neutralize the biological detergent. Wash with a Woolmark approved detergent. -
How to remove stains from red wine, fruit or fruit juices?
Wash off as much of the stain as possible with clean water, then apply a Woolmark approved detergent solution diluted in cool water. If the stain remains, make a mixture of 3 parts of surgical alcohol plus 1 part of cold water and apply the mixture to the stain. Wipe off excess liquid. Rinse well, then wash with an approved Woolmark detergent. -
How to remove chocolate stains?
First, gently blot the edges of the stain with a lint-free cloth soaked with a warm water solution of a Woolmark approved detergent. Blot gently using a cloth or towel. If the greasy stain still remains after drying, gently blot it from the edges with a cloth soaked in white spirit. Press gently on an absorbent cloth or towel to absorb excess solvent then allow it to dry. Wash with a Woolmark approved detergent. -
How to remove black coffee stains?
Ideally, rinse immediately under cold running water to dilute the coffee. If the stain already got dry, make a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water. Dip a lint-free cloth in the solution and carefully wipe the contaminated area. Gently press the absorbent cloth. If the stain remains apply a solution of 3 parts of rubbing alcohol plus 1 part cold water. Gently press the absorbent cloth. Rinse well, then wash with an approved Woolmark detergent.
Ironing
Despite the natural resistance to folds formation some items require ironing. But only if the care symbols on the label allow it.
How to iron wool?
Set the iron temperature according to the material. Too hot ironing can cause colour loss or damage. Lay the item flat and carefully shape it by hand. Before ironing, spray the item with a small amount of water or use the steam function of the iron while ironing. After ironing let the item lie on a smooth hard surface for 5 minutes before folding or hanging it. This will help prevent further creasing.
Don'ts when ironing wool
- Do not press too hard as this might make the sweater shiny.
- Do not iron or touch the cuffs of the sweater or the elastic at the bottom with the iron as this may cause their elasticity loss.
- Never leave the iron on the clothes.
- Do not use a starch spray.
- Using sprayable softeners or conditioners is not recommended.
- Do not iron the item if the label says "Do not iron".