Can washable wool be directly put into the industrial washing machines and be washed in the regular mode? No. Washable wool also has special washing requirements. This article will give you a detailed introduction.
A woollen sweater has been the classic item among all daily outfits, but the washing issue with it is really troublesome. Currently, on the market, the launch of a washable woollen sweater has perfectly solved this problem. Its characteristic that it can be washed by machines makes the efficiency of the laundry plants higher. Behind this careful design, there is precise control and modification of the wool fibers’ characteristics. The washable wool cannot be directly put into the washers without hesitation. People still need to carefully control the water temperature, mechanical forces, and chemicals. Otherwise, there is still a risk of damage from washing.
Different Washable Woolen Sweaters
- Materials
The first one is using the blended fibers to optimize performance. These kinds of woollen sweaters are not pure wool. They have synthetic fibers as well. (acrylic or polyester). The physical characteristics of the chemical fibers can reduce the shrinkage of the wool and greatly increase the durability of the clothes. Wool felting is the main reason it shrinks when washing in water. Adding synthetics keeps the fabric stable. It is still soft like wool, but it has a better shape, so it is suitable for machine washing.
- Post-wash finishing process
The second one is achieving anti-shrinkage by the post-wash finishing process. These kinds of washable woolen sweaters are made from pure wool. After being made into clothes, they go through an anti-? shrink process. The core is to use polymer resin to treat the clothes. It can form a protective layer on the surface to protect the structures of the fibers. They can effectively reduce the bad influence of water flow impact and friction during the washing process. As a result, even pure wool can be washed in the washing machines. This solves the shrinkage issue and still keeps the natural softness and comfort of real wool.
- Fibers
The third one is the pre-treatment for woolen fibers. This process can be directly used on the woolen fiber itself. By professionally modifying the wool fibers before they’re even woven into fabric, some of the tiny scales on the wool surface are removed, and then the clothes are made into what’s called stretched wool or mercerized wool. These scales are what make wool shrink and felt in the wash, so reducing them makes the fiber much more stable. It also makes the wool stronger and less likely to pill or lose shape. After this treatment, the wool itself becomes shrink-resistant and more durable. Sweaters made from it can handle machine washing easily, and they have a smoother hand feel, warmth of wool, and a softer, silkier feel.
Summary and Tips
The three above processes are from different dimensions: materials, clothes, and fibers. They all help make the washable ability of woollen sweaters come true and help laundry shops get rid of the restriction of manual washing. However, it should be noticed that all washable woollen sweaters are less strong than normal clothes made of cotton or chemical fibers. The essence of the fabric is still wool. The structure of the fibers is more delicate compared to the normal clothes, and they should not be washed in washing machines at will. If the washing and care method is wrong, it may still cause irreversible damage to the clothes.
Washing
When cleaning the washable woollen sweaters, people should still carefully read the fabric labels and washing labels and follow their special washing and care instructions. To extend the service life of the clothes and maintain their shape, people should use specialized wool washing programs. Kingstar wet cleaning machine SHS-2025P has corresponding wool washing programs. The water flow of this program is more gentle, and the spinning speed of the clothes is slower (it can be set as 15 to 20 rpm). This can effectively reduce the impact and friction caused by water flow and the inner drum so as to avoid unnecessary damage and deformation.
Specific Settings as Follows
| Step | Rotation Speed | Temperature | Run/Stop Ratio | Time |
| Pre-wash | 15 rpm | Normal temp | 3s/27s | 3 min |
| Drain | / | / | / | / |
| Main wash | 15 rpm | 30°C | 3s/27s | 12 min |
| Drain | / | / | / | / |
| Rinse | 15 rpm | Normal temp | 3s/27s | 3 min |
| Drain | / | / | / | / |
| Rinse | 15 rpm | Normal temp | 3s/27s | 3 min |
| Spin-dry | 600 rpm | / | / | 3 min |
In addition, professional wool cleaning agents help the action of the anti-shrinkage process. As a result, the cleanliness of clothes and the shape and texture of the clothes can be ensured. The washed woollen clothes should be laid flat and air-dried in a well-ventilated place because this avoids the deformation of wool. Hanging and direct sunlight should be avoided.
Conclusion
The occurrence of the washable woollen sweaters is the convenience brought by the advanced textile technology, so that the beauty of woollen sweaters won’t be covered by the complex washing processes. The laundry shops should follow the trend of the market and continuously learn the process and characteristics of new fabrics. Following the scientific washing and care methods helps effectively improve the overall working efficiency of the laundry shops, reduces the rate of manual washing, and offers great protection for the clothes. As a result, the washed clothes can always be new. With the upgrade and innovation of the fabrics, laundry shops should also keep learning and continuously upgrade the washing process. They should also keep up with new technology about chemicals and laundry equipment. This can keep improving the reputation of the laundry shops.
Q&A
Q: Can the Kingstar wet-cleaning machine wash silk besides wool?
A: Yes, it can. You can select the silk program.
Q: Can all kinds of clothes be washed in a wet-cleaning machine?
A: The Kingstar wet-cleaning machine can handle over 90% of clothes with automatic washing. However, some items still need dry cleaning or hand washing.
Q: Is dry cleaning or wet cleaning better for wool?
A: In the long run, as long as the wet-cleaning process parameters are set correctly, wet cleaning does a better job of keeping wool soft, maintaining its bright colors, and preventing it from becoming dull or stiff.
