Handwashing with a small amount of gentle handwashing liquid in cool to cold water is recommended to keep your items looking their best:
- Add the handwashing liquid to cool water and gently mix
- Add your item, gently swish it in the wash
- Allow to sit for 15 minutes
- Drain wash, and rinse in cold water if desired (some handwashing liquid, such as Soak, doses not need to be rinsed
- Do not wring excess water out, instead, gently squeeze to get most of the water out and then roll in a towel to remove more
- Block your item if desired.
Superwash can go in the laundry machines, but will hold up better with hand washing.
We do our best to remove any excess dyes, however, our washing conditions and yours may differ. If you are worried about colour bleeding, here's what you need to know:
- Animal fibres, nylon, and silk is dyed using hot water and an acid .
- Dyes have varying levels of colorfastness. Some colours such as turquoise, reds, and hot pinks/purples are known to be troublesome.
- The heat helps to move the dye, the acid helps to lock the dye in place.
- if your wash is too warm and/or too alkaline, some dye may break it's bond with the fibre and release into the water.
- Cool to cold water helps prevent this, but adding an acid (we recommend a generous pouring of vinegar, about 1/4 cup for a bathroom sink sized wash) will really help to keep it in place.
- If you are concerned about how colour work will be affected, you can wash the skein with your usual method before using it to be sure. Untwist the skein, tie a contrasting string around the loop to hold it (or use a zip tie or shower curtain ring), and wash, holding the loop to keep the yarn controlled. If you notice no bleeding, you are good to go. If you notice some, repeat the wash with vinegar added to the wash and rinse to see what happens.
Store your yarn in a place where animals and bugs cannot get to it, and away from sunlight, which over time may fade some colours.
