How To Wash An Angora Sweater

There is simply no season like winter – it makes even the most hardened lazy men and women get out and keep doing something, just to keep themselves warm. It brings with it bonfires, endless cups of coffee or tea and beautiful sweaters. Sweaters are not just a way to beat winter; they are a symbol of love, especially for those in India, when we think of how our mothers knitted sweaters for us when we were young. Those sweaters were often passed on lovingly, as no one had the heart to give them away or destroy them. Some sweaters, however, need much more loving care than the normal care that we do for our woolen clothes or knitwear. One such variety is the Angora sweater, made from wool derived from the Angora rabbit. It is fluffy, soft and demands maintainance. Here’s how to wash an Angora sweater.

 

 

Never over clean an Angora sweater because this may cause your sweater to lose strands or shed. Many people have the misconception that Angora sweaters need to be washed before and after storage; one needs to wash them only when they are dirty.

 

The best way to wash an Angora sweater is by hand, not in the machine. One should always soak it in cool or lukewarm water. Since Angora wool is a protein fibre, the soap or shampoo used to clean it should be of a neutral Ph or mildly acidic in nature.

 

Make sure you do not use strong soaps with bleach as one of its ingredients – it could damage the fibre. Since angora fibre is hair (of the Angora rabbit) you could use a mild shampoo and conditioner while cleaning it. The conditioner’s presence in the rinsing water will help to soften and relax the hairs.

 

When we say ‘cold’, you must not take it to be ice cold. Ice-cold water will cause the dyes and colours of the wool to run and, when combined with soap, will harm the protein fibers of the wool and cause it to loosen. Lukewarm water, on the other hand, softens the fibres, which helps in removing dirt more easily and also sets color.

 

How To Wash It