Caring for your ERIBÉ Knitwear
ERIBÉ create beautiful knitwear that is warm, soft and very special. The pieces we design are skillfully crafted from the finest quality woollen yarns that with care, will last for many years. Wool doesn't need as much washing as other materials as it's naturally stain and odour resistant - wool garments can often be refreshed simply by hanging outside on a breezy day.
When you do wash your woollen knitwear, please follow the simple guide below to help keep your ERIBÉ garments looking fantastic for many years to come...
Remove with care
When you are removing your woollen garments, it is best to be as gentle as possible. Take your arms out of the sleeves first and then gently pull the garment over your head. Pulling at the neck to take your pullover off will stress the collar and damage the seam between collar and the garment.
Handwash is Best
This is the gentlest way to wash your knitwear and the best way to avoid shrinkage and minimise pilling. Turn the garment inside out and wash by hand in tepid water. Any pilling caused by washing will be on the inside not the outside.
Use Liquid Soap
Add a small amount of liquid hand soap and soak the garment in lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Never use regular washing detergent as this can damage the fibres.
Squeeze, don't rub
To wash the garment you must gently squeeze the garment in the water without rubbing. Rinse in clean water with half a teaspoon of almond oil added to condition the wool. (Do not use fabric conditioner). Lay your damp garment on a large bath towel. Gently roll the towel and the garment together much like a Swiss roll to remove the excess water.
Air dry flat
Pull gently to size and allow to dry flat on a clean towel away from direct heat sources such as radiators. When dry, press to shape using a damp towel or lightly steam by holding a steam iron just above the surface of the garment.
Fold, don't hang
Woollen items are better folded and placed on a shelf, as using coat hangers to store them may result in stretching the seams. For storage over the summer months, place your clean knitwear in an airtight plastic container or vacuum-pack bag along with moth-repelling items like mothballs, cedarwood, or herbs. Store the container in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Avoid Perfume
It is important to avoid spraying perfume, cologne, deodorants and antiperspirants on your knitwear as long-term use will make the yarn brittle and it will break. Moths can also be attracted to perfume so this is another reason to avoid this.
Stop the Moths
If faced with a moth problem, characterised by small holes in woollen items and beige moths flying around (typically May to October), take these steps to protect your garments: Seal them in plastic bags and freeze them for two weeks, ensure thorough airing of your house, and consider purchasing moth traps until they are eradicated. Only return your woollens to your wardrobe once the moth issue is resolved. For additional information, visit
https://www.mothkiller.co.uk/ or
https://critterkill.co.uk/
Beat the bobbles
It is perfectly normal that when you first wear a pure wool garment, loose fibres near the surface rub together during movement and form little balls of wool known as pilling or bobbling. When the garment is completely dry, gently remove the small pills either by hand or with a hand-held sweater comb or razor - NEVER use scissors. By doing this after each of the first 3-4 washes, you will find that the pilling subsides and will eventually disappear.