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Mr.Frame · 28-10-2019, 20:52

Not sure if I am posting this in the correct forum. Mods if not perhaps you could move it to the correct one.

Im looking for some help/advice.

I just washed some wool jumpers in the washing machine in the "wool wash", however, they came out shrunken.

Can anyone help me/give advice as to how if at all I can "unshrink" them and get them back to the way they are suppose to be?

thanks in advance

greasepalm · 28-10-2019, 21:02

Not sure if its possible as i had the same issue,using hot wash and wrong detergent as one is suppose to use cool wash and wool detergent.Not 100% sure on spin drying on fast mode but clothes have tags for guidance for what to use.

Mr.Frame · 28-10-2019, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasepalm

Not sure if its possible as i had the same issue,using hot wash and wrong detergent as one is suppose to use cool wash and wool detergent.Not 100% sure on spin drying on fast mode but clothes have tags for guidance for what to use.

Thats the thing I followed the guidance tags!

El Tarangu · 28-10-2019, 21:30

Apparently, you can unshrink clothes by soaking them in fabric softener and warm water for a few hours, and then gently stretching them out, you can find articles online about it.

Disclaimer: I've never actually tried this myself, YMMV

Addle · 28-10-2019, 21:30

Would you try returning them to where they were bought?

Nothing you can do personally to restore them.

dobman88 · 28-10-2019, 21:33

They're ruined unfortunately. Even trying to stretch them out or whatever you will never get them back to their original shape and they will look terrible. I worked in a dry cleaners for 3 years and we had this problem with people washing wool at home regularly.

Not much use now but in future, take any wool products or anything you're unsure of to a dry cleaners, it's worth paying the extra for the peace of mind that if something goes wrong, they will replace the item for you as my boss had to do a few.times.

fritzelly · 28-10-2019, 21:37

Does Mrs Frame know yet?

Kevin Irving · 28-10-2019, 21:38

I ruined a wool jumper recently, completely my own fault. It got mixed in with a load of mountain biking gear that I washed twice in a row.

Advice was to put a load of fabric conditioner in the sink, lukewarm water, mix it all up. Then fold the jumper so it will fit in without being squashed. Leave for a few hours.

Take out and pull it straight as best you can, then let it dry flat on a table

It certainly helped a lot, but not enough to save the jumper.

meeeeh · 29-10-2019, 13:15

I shrunk plenty of things. Especially annoying when you wash a cashmere jumper by mistake. My washing machine automatically sets wool wash at 40 degrees and I think it's hot. And use detergent for wool and delicates. I always wash wool at lowest temperature (Uniqlo jumpers which are cheap and can be machine washed.) I also washed wool trousers that were dry clean only on a cold wool cycle. More expensive stuff is hand washed or sent to be dry cleaned. There is no point in risking it.

I never managed to stretch anything enough to save it.

Mr.Frame · 29-10-2019, 19:06

Thanks all for the replies.

I will try the fabric conditioner and see how it goes. I was though talking with a friend this evening and she suggested hair conditioner.!!??!

Day Lewin · 31-10-2019, 18:41

The wool will never be the same again.

You can use the felted fabric as a cat blanket or make pot-holders out of it.

Wool needs a short wash in very cool water, a short slow spin.

Or better, handwash with Woolite or a liquid detergent (rinses out better)

Speedsie · 03-11-2019, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day Lewin

Or better, handwash with Woolite or a liquid detergent (rinses out better)

Or use a product like 'soak', pricy, but worth it for delicates like Cashmere. A bottle lasts for ages.

https://soakwash.com/

https://springwools.com/soak-wash-375ml.html

Mr.Frame · 04-11-2019, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedsie

Or use a product like 'soak', pricy, but worth it for delicates like Cashmere. A bottle lasts for ages.

https://soakwash.com/

https://springwools.com/soak-wash-375ml.html

thank you

dee_mc · 04-11-2019, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedsie

Or use a product like 'soak', pricy, but worth it for delicates like Cashmere. A bottle lasts for ages.

https://soakwash.com/

https://springwools.com/soak-wash-375ml.html

I bought a sachet of this stuff a while back, planning to use it on my wool and cashmere blends etc. My one worry is, will it neutralise slight sweat odour? It kind of sounds too good to be true and this seems like the most likely issue!

Speedsie · 18-11-2019, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by dee_mc

I bought a sachet of this stuff a while back, planning to use it on my wool and cashmere blends etc. My one worry is, will it neutralise slight sweat odour? It kind of sounds too good to be true and this seems like the most likely issue!

Hi Dee MC, just seeing your question now!

I can't say that I've noticed any sweat odour in jumpers after using soak. As you already have a sachet, perhaps it's worth giving it a whirl?

28-10-2019, 20:52	#1
Mr.Frame Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 707 Adverts \| Friends	Wool jumpers shrunk - Help sought Not sure if I am posting this in the correct forum. Mods if not perhaps you could move it to the correct one. Im looking for some help/advice. I just washed some wool jumpers in the washing machine in the "wool wash", however, they came out shrunken. Can anyone help me/give advice as to how if at all I can "unshrink" them and get them back to the way they are suppose to be? thanks in advance

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28-10-2019, 21:02	#2
greasepalm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,112 Adverts \| Friends	Not sure if its possible as i had the same issue,using hot wash and wrong detergent as one is suppose to use cool wash and wool detergent.Not 100% sure on spin drying on fast mode but clothes have tags for guidance for what to use.

28-10-2019, 21:30	#4
El Tarangu Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 776 Adverts \| Friends	Apparently, you can unshrink clothes by soaking them in fabric softener and warm water for a few hours, and then gently stretching them out, you can find articles online about it. Disclaimer: I've never actually tried this myself, YMMV

28-10-2019, 21:30	#5
Addle Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 3,953 Adverts \| Friends	Would you try returning them to where they were bought? Nothing you can do personally to restore them.

28-10-2019, 21:33	#6
dobman88 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 3,115 Adverts \| Friends	They're ruined unfortunately. Even trying to stretch them out or whatever you will never get them back to their original shape and they will look terrible. I worked in a dry cleaners for 3 years and we had this problem with people washing wool at home regularly. Not much use now but in future, take any wool products or anything you're unsure of to a dry cleaners, it's worth paying the extra for the peace of mind that if something goes wrong, they will replace the item for you as my boss had to do a few.times.

28-10-2019, 21:37	#7
fritzelly Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5,857 Adverts \| Friends	Does Mrs Frame know yet?

28-10-2019, 21:38	#8
Kevin Irving Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3,964 Adverts \| Friends	I ruined a wool jumper recently, completely my own fault. It got mixed in with a load of mountain biking gear that I washed twice in a row. Advice was to put a load of fabric conditioner in the sink, lukewarm water, mix it all up. Then fold the jumper so it will fit in without being squashed. Leave for a few hours. Take out and pull it straight as best you can, then let it dry flat on a table It certainly helped a lot, but not enough to save the jumper.

29-10-2019, 13:15	#9
meeeeh Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 8,951 Adverts \| Friends	I shrunk plenty of things. Especially annoying when you wash a cashmere jumper by mistake. My washing machine automatically sets wool wash at 40 degrees and I think it's hot. And use detergent for wool and delicates. I always wash wool at lowest temperature (Uniqlo jumpers which are cheap and can be machine washed.) I also washed wool trousers that were dry clean only on a cold wool cycle. More expensive stuff is hand washed or sent to be dry cleaned. There is no point in risking it. I never managed to stretch anything enough to save it.

29-10-2019, 19:06	#10
Mr.Frame Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 707 Adverts \| Friends	Thanks all for the replies. I will try the fabric conditioner and see how it goes. I was though talking with a friend this evening and she suggested hair conditioner.!!??!

31-10-2019, 18:41	#11
Day Lewin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,202 Adverts \| Friends	The wool will never be the same again. You can use the felted fabric as a cat blanket or make pot-holders out of it. Wool needs a short wash in very cool water, a short slow spin. Or better, handwash with Woolite or a liquid detergent (rinses out better)