Washing and Caring for Angora Knitwear

The number one rule is to not over-clean angora sweaters. Only clean them when they are really soiled. Many people have the misconception you have to clean knitwear before and after storage — this is necessary only if they are really dirty. Wash your angora knitwear by hand (do not dry clean) in cold or lukewarm water and a neutral Ph balanced or acidic shampoo or soap (angora and wool are protein fibers). Rinse in cool water to remove all soap or shampoo residue without rubbing. Lay flat to dry at room temperature. AVOID tumble-drying, sunlight and bleaching. Do not EVER place an angora garment in the dryer, or the washer bin; it will be ruined.

 Shampoo can be used with any "hair" fiber, such as angora yarn or wool. Hair conditioner in the rinse water will help soften and relax the "hair” fibers. We highly recommend "Eucalan" available from  Amazon.com.  We don't recommend Woolite.

Water temperature: cool to lukewarm. Cool doesn't mean, ice-cold.  Ice-cold water combined with soap will shock protein fibers and will cause wool to felt and sometimes cause the dye to run. Warm water causes fibers to relax which allows soil to be released. Warm water will also set dye and some stains, while cold water will release excess dye. Heat, soap, and agitation will cause wool to felt. 

I use a top-loading washing machine as a basin, without using the wash nor rinse cycles. Half-fill the basin, add the cleaner (mix the solution - I briefly use the agitator to do this) and let the garment soak for about 20 minutes, stirring it around only once in a while.  If using "Eucalan," do not rinse, as leaving it in the sweater acts as a moth repellant. It's available in different scents that remain on the sweater after cleaning; I prefer the eucalyptus version. 

One solution of Eucalan can wash several sweaters. Begin with the light-colored sweaters first. I mix a few light-colored sweaters in a single batch, then follow with batches of dark-colored sweaters. Making sure to skip the machine's wash and rinse cycles, I use the machine to empty out the basin and spin most of the water out of the sweaters. Don't leave the wet sweaters in the basin once the water has been spun-out, you don't want their briefly twisted shape to set-in.

Do not wring out the sweater - roll in a towel and gently push on the towel to remove excess water. Then lay it flat to dry over something with ventilation, like a clothes rack. Never hang a sweater, a scarf or any knitwear on a hanger or a doorknob – it will stretch the shape.

Ironing:  Do not iron angora sweaters.

Storage:  The best way to store a sweater is folded on a shelf where there is some ventilation. Cedar is best for protection from moths. I don't recommend mothballs, as the odor is very pungent and is very hard to get out of sweaters after storage.

Special Trick:  To liven-up angora fibers and restore their luster, place the garment in a paper bag and leave it in the freezer for a few hours. It will be revitalized.