Let's talk now about how to hand wash a hand knitted garment.
First you need to understand that lukewarm or cool water is your best temperature.
Body temperature water, used for both washing and rinsing is definitely best for woolen
garments. You must also avoid changes in temperature between the wash water and
the rinse water, because that will lead to felting (significant shrinking and blending of
stitches). Remember, there is no way to un-felt wool. This technique is good for other
fibers, too.
Therefore, prepare a sink full of lukewarm water. Swish some mild soap through the
water making a little foam. Dishwashing soap, Ivory Flakes, or gentle face soap are all OK.
There is a product called Orvus that is great for wool and really fluffs it up. I would stay
away from Woolite because it is actually rather harsh. Another good product is Eucalan,
which is a rinse free soap that contains eucalyptus and lavender. It leaves the garment
smelling good and avoids rinsing. I also sometimes use a mild shampoo to wash sweaters.
After all, if it's good for your hair, it's good for wool which is like hair in composition. It
works well for cottons also.
Place your garment in the sink full of soapy water. Gently squeeze the liquid through
the garment. Do not agitate, wring, scrub, or twist. Again, all of these actions may lead to felting
your garment, which will irrevocably shrink it. Let the knitting sit in the water for several
minutes. Gently squeeze the liquid through the garment again. Let the water drain from
the sink. Gently squeeze out excess water from the garment without lifting it up. Just
squeeze it against the sink. If you are using Eucalan, you're finished now. With other
cleaning products, please look at the next step -- Rinsing.