Laundry tips: Laundry expert’s simple hack helps stop knitwear stretching in the washing machine

While knitwear and woolen clothes are best hand washed, our busy lives mean there are often times when we need to toss those items in the washing machine.

Now, you could take your chances with that and use a delicate cycle, but you run the risk of the clothing stretching and warping out of shape.

To prevent that, cleaning expert Laura Mountford, who is known on social media as Laura Cleanaholic, suggests doing one thing before putting knitwear in the wash.

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And that’s putting these items in mesh bags, which are also known as washing bags, lingerie wash bags and delicate bags.

“This will help to protect the fibres and prevent stretching and bobbling of the fabric,” she told the Daily Express.

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Washing bags can be purchased from many stores, including supermarkets and discount department stores like Kmart, where a set of three in different sizes is just $4.

These bags are great for anything that suggests a gentle cycle on the tag or has parts on them that might snag or get tangled.

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This tip will be useful for Aussies who are thinking about pulling out their winter clothes now it’s autumn and cooler weather has properly kicked in.

Giving these pieces a wash to freshen them up after sitting in a cupboard is a good idea and using washing bags means you can run some of them in a delicate or woolen cycle instead of painstakingly washing each by hand.

Another important step to ensure your knitwear stays in shape is to dry them flat – a clothes airer is good for this.

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To remove excess water without running them through long spin cycles – which can damage these items – pop them flat on a towel and then roll the towel up like a burrito. Next gently press down on the towel with your knees to squeeze out the water into the towel.

It’s also a qood idea to use laundry detergent designed for wool clothes and not use too much of it when you do.

A cold water wash is recommended as hot water can cause woolen clothes to shrink.

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However, handmade knitwear, cashmere and wool items should be hand washed to ensure they don’t get damaged.

To make this easier, and to keep all knitwear in good condition, consider washing less often and airing out in between wears.

For stains on knitwear you can spot treat them rather than washing the whole garment, while bad smells can be combatted with a spritz of vodka, which is known for neutralising odours.

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