Washing with Soak

If you’ve been in the shop these past several weeks, you may have noticed the pretty bottles of Soak next to the register. Soak is a no-rinse wash for everything from knits to lacy undies to favorite stuffed animals.

Soak is ideal for handknits because you don’t need to rinse it out of your knitted piece, reducing the amount of agitation to which the fibers are subjected. This makes garments last longer and keeps them looking newer. We have a range of fresh scents in large bottles and small sample sizes, too.

I have been doing a lot of sweater washing, as my little one outgrows her handknit sweaters on a daily basis. So, I thought I would share my preferred method. I like to wash sweaters by hand, but you can use Soak in a machine, too, if you have the appropriate delicate setting.

1. Fill a bin or sink with cool water and a teaspoon of Soak. Fasten any closures on the garments. Gently push your item down into the water so it is fully submerged and let it soak for 15 minutes or so.

2. Pull it out, supporting the piece and being careful not to let it stretch out under its own weight. You can give it a little squeeze, but don’t wring it out. (If your item is particularly soiled, you might want to repeat with fresh water and a little more Soak.). Plop it down on some dry towels on the floor, and roll it up in the towels. Step on it a few times to press the excess water out. This will remove most of the moisture and help reduce drying time.

3. Take it out of the wet towels and lay it flat on a dry towel someplace out of the way of foot traffic, kids and pets. If your only space to do this is on carpet or a bed, you might want to put a piece of plastic down first, since moisture will seep through the towel.

4. Shape the piece gently, but don’t pull or stretch it out too much. I like to use a measuring tape to make sure I have it laid out evenly. Keep in mind that it will dry however you leave it on the towel. Depending on how heavy the piece is, it could take several days to dry.

With summer on the way, it’s time to start putting those heavy wool sweaters into storage, so come down to Close Knit to pick your favorite Soak scent today.