The Best Way To Wash Crocheted Pieces So They Last For Years To Come

Whether you love to purchase them online or you prefer to make them on your own, crocheted items add a lovely touch of whimsy to your home, closet, or accessory collections. You may own crocheted blankets, pot holders, washcloths, coasters, or even pillowcases, and these items require a delicate washing process to ensure you don't ruin the material. Many crocheted items are typically made with wool, cotton, or acrylic yarn. Each material requires a slightly different washing process, so it's important to understand which type of yarn you are working with before you toss these items in the laundry bin. 

Treating your delicately crocheted items as typical laundry will not only risk damaging the yarn's fibers, but it could also make entire pieces deteriorate faster. When washed roughly in hot water, materials like wool and cotton can shrink or felt, which is when fabric irreversibly shrinks and loses stitch definition. You should also opt to air dry these pieces and avoid putting them in your dryer. As long as you care for your crocheted pieces according to their specific material instructions, these items should last you for years to come. 

Overall, the best and most recommended way to wash your crocheted items is either by hand or in a gentle, lukewarm or cold cycle. Some yarn types will display on their packaging whether or not they can be machine washed, as well as how to properly care for the fabric. Other materials are way too delicate and should only be washed by hand. This means soaking the crocheted pieces for around 10 minutes in lukewarm water with a few drops of soap, then rinsing them with clean water before gently squeezing them to remove any excess water. 

Wool tends to be on the delicate side and should ideally be hand-washed using lukewarm water as well as a wool-specific detergent. You can machine wash cotton pieces as long as you set them in a gentle and cold cycle. Cotton tends to be less elastic than other types of materials, so you should be cautious to avoid ruining its shape. Similar to cotton, acrylic yarn can be laundered in the washing machine on a gentle cycle using either warm or cold water. Unlike wool and cotton, acrylic crocheted pieces can be placed in the dryer on a low tumble setting. Acrylic can also be washed with fabric softener as it can help reduce the rough texture. 

When caring for and washing your crocheted items, there are a few things you want to avoid to ensure you don't damage or ruin your pieces. First, avoid washing them too frequently. Materials like wool and cotton are more delicate than acrylic, and too many washing cycles can damage them. Don't wring them out, especially if they are made of natural fibers; squeeze the excess water out gently instead.

When washing wool or cotton items, do not use fabric softeners as these products can cause the materials to pill. You also want to refrain from using harsh chemicals and soaps on these fabrics for similar reasons. Another laundry tip to extend the life of your wool and cotton items is to never use any bleach products as they can damage the fibers, cause them to lose color, or, in the case of wool, dissolve the yarn completely.

Hot water can cause your crocheted items to felt or shrink. If that happens, you can try submerging them in lukewarm water along with a few drops of hair conditioner, eventually attempting to stretch it back out to try and regain its original size and shape. You can also save your shrunken wool items with a handy kitchen staple: vinegar.