Machine washing sweaters

[captainmo]

I have a couple of sweaters that are handwash only. One is blue merino wool, the other is white 100% cotton. The washer at my school is front loading, and has a setting for handwash. I'm assuming it's safe (would they put it on if it were going to destroy my clothes?), but I'm hesitant to try it. Does anybody have experience with front loading machines and their hand wash settings? What kind of detergent should I use? Should I use the same detergent if I just hand wash in a sink?

edit - I also have a wool one that's tagged dry clean only. Would that even be safe to handwash in a sink?

 

[speedster.8]

Originally Posted by captainmo

I have a couple of sweaters that are handwash only. One is blue merino wool, the other is white 100% cotton. The washer at my school is front loading, and has a setting for handwash. I'm assuming it's safe (would they put it on if it were going to destroy my clothes?), but I'm hesitant to try it. Does anybody have experience with front loading machines and their hand wash settings? What kind of detergent should I use? Should I use the same detergent if I just hand wash in a sink?
The cotton id risk, the merino probably not. The key to safe machine washing is low RPM, no heat & no tumble or dry. take out wet, lay flat on vented towel iow so air passes through. If you are unsure of the state of the machine you can protect the garment by using a mesh bag, like used for ladies underwear. my2c

 

[kdaust]

Of course you can. Cotton no probs, and merino wool is pretty tough in any case.

Chuck it on the handwash setting, put in a little 'woolwash' or some other mild detergent, and dry flat on a towel as suggested by speedster.8

 

[Milhouse]

I agree with the others. I wash my cotton sweaters in washers on the gentle or handwash setting. No problems. Merino can be pretty tough.

If you have a lot of sweaters, rather than using towels, I would recommend buying a small sweater drying rack. These work very well.

 

[maphia]

I wish I would have seen this before last week! I ruined a cotton sweater.....of course, I wasn't paying attention enough and threw it in with everything else.

 

[NaTionS]

I wash my cotton sweaters in a mesh bag, top loading machine on the hand washable setting. Haven't ruined any yet.

 

[yachtie]

I've never had a problem washing merino in a machine on delicate. The only failure I had was on a recently purchased cashmere/silk sweater (very weak yarns). Fortunately, I found I'm pretty good with a crochet hook (necessity is the mother of invention).