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Instructions for care
So that your pleasure in your hand-knitted pullovers isn't too short-lived it's absolutely necessary to follow the instructions for care on the banderole of the yarn. Here you'll find important tips for the type of washing, temperature etc.

Storage
Knitted garments (also bought ones) should be stored lain and flat. On a clothes hanger they would lose their shape from the pull of their own weight.
They should also be kept protected from sunlight, otherwise the colours will fade. As yet there is no way of dying wool so it's lightfast.

Washing
You should be very careful with washing. Always make sure you wash the knitted garment inside out, so that the right side is not so stressed. Always use a liquid washing agent - a mild or special wool detergent. Then there's no danger of soap residues remaining in the garment.
Don't treat woollen garments with softener because the wool would soon its elasticity. Yarns with "superwash" cannot handle softener at all.
The symbol "Easy-care" in knitting yarns does not necessarily mean that these can be machine-washed, just that the garments made from such yarn can be easily washed and dry quickly.

If you're unsure or the banderole explicitly recommends it, wash by hand. Here be sure to follow the following tips. Knitted garments should never be soaked. This makes the yarn tangled and felted. When hand-washing don't rub or press the garment too much. Don't ever brush it or wring it out. Use cold or slightly temperate water and rinse the garment several times with clear water.

If the yarn is machine-washable select a programme with for delicates and a low revolution rate for the spinner. Only fill the machine to two thirds of its capacity.
It's even better to select the wool programme, which most washing machines have these days. In this case there are no complete revolutions, the garments are just swayed back and for. Here only fill the machine to a third of its capacity.

	Normal wash
	Delicate wash, reduce the charge by a third
	Special wool programme, reduce charge by two thirds
	Hand wash
The numbers in the wash-tub are the maximum washing temperatures which should not be exceeded. The line above the wash-tub means a milder program.

Drying
Knitted garments should not be wrung out. The excess water should just be lightly pressed out. Then lay the garment between two terry towels, roll them together and lightly press. Lay your garment then on a dry towel pull into shape and let it dry flat. Avoid direct sunlight, otherwise the colours will fade.
Most yarns cannot cope with a tumble dryer. If a dryer is explicitly allowed, then select the lowest temperature and programme.

	Dry flat
	Dry with reduced temperature (max. 60° C)
	Dry normal
	Do not tumble dry
The dots stand for the heat for the dryer

Chlorination
Chlorination is not so common in Germany as in other countries, but sometimes we also use detergents with bleaching agents to remove stains from clothes. However, be careful such agents should only be used if the triangle isn't crossed out.

	Chlorination possible.
	No chlorination, do not use detergents with bleaching agents.

Dry-Cleaning
Some yarns cannot be washed at all. These have to be dry-cleaned.

	Standard cleaning
	Special cleaning for delicate textiles
	No dry-cleaning.
The letters in the circle indicate the solvents that can be used; the line under the circle means that the mechanical stress, humidity and temperature should be limited.

Ironing
With its high elasticity, wool as a natural fibre, can cope with creases and crumpling very well. Simply hang the knitted garment overnight outside or in the bathroom while you take a shower. The humidity ensures that the creases just disappear.
If you feel you must iron your knitted garment then use the lowest temperature - and only if it is explicitly allowed!
It's better just to steam your garment - don't touch it with the iron itself!

	Approx. 110° C
	Approx. 150° C
	Approx. 220° C
	Do not iron.

A Last Tip
If you're unsure how to treat a special stain (e.g. fat, ink, blood), ask in a good dry-cleaner's before you do anything.
Always keep an original banderole for each garment and write on it which garment is made from it. This way you can always check how to care for your favourite pullover.