A snow-white Orenburg down scarf gives the image incredible femininity and attractive touchingness. But over time, its whiteness fades, and the owner of the scarf sadly thinks about replacing it. Do not hurry! It’s better to learn how to bleach a down scarf, especially since it’s not difficult to do. A little patience, a little knowledge and some special tools - those are all the ingredients.
Will washing help?
One of our articles describes how to wash a down scarf. If the item is a little faded, perhaps a light wash can bring it back to its original whiteness. In any case, the washing rules also apply to bleaching:
- Before immersing in water, it is advisable to carefully comb the product and then collect it on a nylon thread or fishing line. The length of the thread is equal to the perimeter of the scarf.
- The water temperature should not exceed 50, maximum 55 degrees (ideally 40-45).
- Woolen items should not be twisted. To wring out a delicate Orenburg down scarf, you can pass it between your fingers.
- For drying, it is better to use a special frame on which the product is stretched. You can buy it or make it from wooden planks and pushpins. Remember that the size of the frame must match the size of the item.
- If you do not have a special frame, dry the product on the table, spreading it out on a clean sheet or tablecloth. Shake and straighten it periodically.
If washing does not help, use one of the special products. Fortunately, there are many products in household chemical stores that will help whiten a down scarf. Read the instructions carefully and do not exceed the recommended dose. And if such a remedy seems too expensive to you, use one of the traditional methods.
Can I use bleach?
At home, use special products that do not contain chlorine. The best option is a product for bleaching down and down products based on hydrogen peroxide, like “Chistin Omega”. Add two bottles of bleach to a ten-liter container of water. You must follow the instructions on the bottle label. Usually a down scarf is soaked in the evening so that in the morning you can rinse off any yellowish stains, dust and dirt. The easiest way to rinse is in the bathroom, protecting the drain with a mesh.
Important! It is not recommended to frequently use bleaches and household chemicals. The fluff becomes dull, loses strength and easily unravels from the threads.
It’s very easy to return a “second youth” to a down scarf; all you need to know is how to bleach cobwebs at home. It is necessary to choose the appropriate method and follow the instructions exactly, dry the product correctly, then the cape will be pleasing to the eye and will remain white and elegant for a long time.
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Method two. Hydroperite and ammonia
To whiten a 100-gram down scarf, you need to dissolve 5 hydroperite tablets in warm water, and then add ammonia to the solution at the rate of a teaspoon per 1 liter of water. Do not take a bowl that is too large, as the down product may stretch during the bleaching process.
Now place the product in water for 10-11 hours. The water should be warm, so from time to time you will have to place the basin on the stove to heat the solution. Make sure it doesn't overheat! 60 degrees will ruin your favorite accessory. Rinse the item thoroughly by adding vinegar to the water.
Important points when whitening
During the bleaching process, it is necessary to strictly follow the technology and sequence of actions. Do not overexpose the product in the solution or add a lot of product to enhance the effect. The ideal option for how to bleach cobwebs without risks is to test the bleach on a small fragment (a flap intended for experimental washing is applied to some products). If the down scarf has been inherited, it may have originally been cream in color. In this case, it makes no sense to carry out 2-3 bleaching sessions in a row to achieve a snow-white shade. Too strong products can destroy the structure of the fluff and the cobwebs will spread.
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Important! It is not recommended to use washing powders for bleaching. If pellet fragments get into the goat down, the residue will be very difficult to rinse out. Laundry soap causes the scarf to change color, so you can achieve the opposite result. Whiteness, alkalis and ordinary stain removers destroy thin threads.
During bleaching, you should not pull the product by the teeth, lift one of the edges above the water, wrinkle it, rub it vigorously or twist it. It is not recommended to place the item under running water with strong pressure while rinsing. Additional Information. Products should not be dry cleaned. Such procedures negatively affect the service life and quality of down.
Safety regulations
Remember that goat fluff by its nature simply cannot be snow-white. It is usually slightly milky with a slight yellow tint. Some fashionistas wear natural colors, others prefer to bleach the item. However, any product can damage the quality of the down. Therefore, before using a method unfamiliar to you, it is better to test its effect on a small piece of fluff. It is ideal if you have some thread left after knitting the product.
Proceed carefully, follow all the rules for washing and drying a down scarf, and then it will keep you warm for a long time, emphasizing your beauty.
What to remember
- Wash in warm water with shampoo. In warm water, the wool does not shrink, and the shampoo removes dirt well and fluffs the shawl.
- Comb the fluff before washing. To ensure that the scarf remains fluffy after washing, the fluff should be combed before being immersed in water.
- Hoop dry. The web should be dried on a hoop in a ventilated place.
- Hydroperite, hydrosulfate, and ammonia work well to bleach yellowness. Using hydroperite, hydrosulfate and ammonia to bleach woolen items allows you to carefully deal with the problem.
- Hydrogen peroxide helps stretch shrunken woolen items. Hydrogen peroxide not only effectively whitens, but also makes the thread elastic.
- Aspirin treats yellow spots . To remove yellow spots from fluff, simply treat them with a solution of water and aspirin.
- It cleans dirt from fluff and snow well. Snow baths are beneficial for products made from natural wool and down. They clean well and preserve the structure of the thread.
Features of washing white shawls
Over time, the white fluff may turn yellow. This product looks unpresentable. To solve the problem of how to bleach a downy white scarf, use the recommendations of experienced housewives. Using their secrets during washing will return the shawl to its former beauty.
Neither chlorine, nor powder, nor gel bleach is suitable for down products. It is necessary to restore the original whiteness using hydroperite or hydrogen peroxide:
- They start by weighing the scarf.
- Peroxides take twenty milliliters for every hundred grams of the item. For dosage accuracy, it is advisable to use a kitchen scale. If hydroperite is chosen, five tablets are needed for every hundred grams. The product is diluted in water, one tablespoon of ammonia is added per liter of liquid.
You can use hydrosulfite. A couple of tablespoons of the substance are taken per ten liters of heated liquid and left to dissolve. Place a scarf in the container for half an hour, turning the shawl from time to time to ensure uniform exposure to the solution. Washing rules:
After the mixture is completely dissolved, a handkerchief is placed in it and left for six hours. It is very important to maintain the water temperature. To solve this problem, the container can be placed on a heating pad or wrapped in a blanket. After six hours, the item is taken out and rinsed in six heated waters.
When choosing any option, it is important to rinse the scarf with acidified cool water at the end of washing. The item is thrown onto the net. After the water has drained, the shawl is placed in the freezer in a bag and left for another six hours.
Having taken out the scarf, shake it and lay it out to dry in a warm place.
Is it possible to wash a shawl in a washing machine?
We hasten to warn you that washing down products in a machine has an extremely negative effect on the quality of the material. But if such a situation does occur, and you simply need to use automation, then be extremely careful. Carefully study how to wash a shawl using this method. And also strictly follow all the rules and scrupulously study the composition of the drugs used.
Suitable detergents
The ideal products for use in the machine are liquid industrial concentrates for washing wool. They foam moderately and are gentle on the material, removing dirt from it. Such solutions are developed taking into account the “capriciousness” of wool and do not reduce its quality if you strictly follow the instructions.
Washing mode
The only acceptable mode is “delicate”, with the mandatory disabling of the spin and drying functions and minimal heating of the water. It is with this method that the scarf hardly dangles in the drum (which often leads to further deformation), and the process approaches manual, careful washing.
None of the “wool” and “hand wash” functions are categorically suitable. Their negative impact on the canvas is noted.
They don’t just put a handkerchief in a drum. To do this, you need to use a washing bag or cover that fastens tightly and protects the item from mechanical impact.
Water temperature
The ideal temperature for washing down products does not exceed 35 degrees. Otherwise, uneven shrinkage occurs and loss of the original appearance and quality. Professionals recommend observing the temperature regime of the wash itself and subsequent rinses. In this case, your shawl will not stretch, will not wrinkle, and will retain its original fluffiness and airiness for many years.
How to fluff after drying?
To restore the pomp and volume of a woolen scarf, it needs to be fluffed. This is done after rinsing and lightly spinning.
After freezing, the scarf is allowed to completely thaw and then dried using a frame. Next, the fluff is carefully lifted with a comb or a massage comb with blunt teeth. This is done only after the fabric has completely dried; a wet shawl cannot be combed.
Another way to fluff is to hang a dry shawl in the wind. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that when worn, the scarf will naturally become fuller. This is why knitters recommend wearing a knitted puffball as often as possible.
Lover of sour things
Wool is a true lover of sour things. The fabric is of animal origin, i.e. it contains proteins that deteriorate from contact with alkalis and easily tolerate the effects of acids. (For your information, soda is not an alkali, but an acidic salt.)
Therefore, feel free to use boric and citric acid as assistants to add freshness to faded or yellowed wool.
Proceed in the same way as in the soda method - soak the item, remembering to stir periodically. The correct calculation of boric or dry citric acid is 2 tbsp. spoons per 2 liters of water. Exposure – 3-4 hours.
Simple, fast, convenient
Need to bleach a pure white wool hat or sweater? Use the well-known "Whiteness". Just without fanaticism. Prepare a weak bleach solution at the rate of 50 ml of liquid per 7 - 10 liters of water, immerse the item in it and wait half an hour - an hour. Do not forget to turn the item in the solution so that the process proceeds evenly.
Important! When bleaching wool, do not use hot water! Maximum temperature – 30 – 40 degrees.
The method is good, but it cannot be used often - chlorine is still too aggressive a component, any fabrics deteriorate under its influence. Take note of the method as an emergency when other methods “didn’t work.”
How to properly wash a down scarf or scarf at home by hand?
The down scarf is delicate, beautiful, airy. Made by the hands of a craftswoman, it freely stretches through a wedding ring, and the entire triangular web scarf can fit into a goose egg!
It is not surprising that many people do not dare to wash their down scarf themselves and take it to the dry cleaner. But if you want to comprehend this science yourself, five basic rules for washing down products will help you.
A down scarf is as delicate and fragile as its owner
The first and most important rule is that washing a down scarf should be done as rarely as possible. This does not mean at all that you need to wear a headscarf until the last minute, when you no longer want to look at it. But you should take care of it, try not to get it dirty, and also avoid being in smoking areas, as the scarf quickly absorbs odors. When you remove it, store it in an organizer or fabric bag to protect it from accidental contact with dirt and snags.
The second rule for washing down products is preparation directly for the washing procedure. Be sure to comb the scarf carefully so that the fluff does not fall off during washing. To do this, you will need wooden combs: a brush and a comb with rounded tips. First you need to comb it carefully with a brush - then with a comb, so as not to touch the loops.
The third rule for washing down products is hand washing, and only hand washing. No matter what kind of machine you have, a real down scarf will not survive this drill. When washing the scarf, do not rub, twist, or stretch. To wash, use colored laundry gel, dissolve it in warm water and carefully place the scarf in it. Let it sit and, as if making a snowball, wash it with gentle movements. Rinse in 4-5 waters with the same movements.
The down scarf can only be washed by hand
The fourth rule for washing a down scarf is that the washing water is neither cold nor hot. Optimal - 35-37 °C. At this temperature, the scarf will “open up”, wash well, and will not bunch up
Also note that for soaking, washing and rinsing it is advisable to prepare water at the same temperature. You can add vinegar or lemon juice (without seeds or pulp) to the last rinse to soften the fluff after drying.
A special rinse aid for down products is also used.
The fifth and final rule is spinning and drying the product. You should wring it out in the same way as washing it - form a “snowball” with light movements. But it’s best to put the scarf in a net after the last rinse and hang it so that the water runs out. After this, spread out a terry towel and lay a scarf on top of it. After an hour, change to a dry towel and so on until completely dry. Be sure to completely straighten the product, but do not stretch it when drying. Shake the scarf every time you change it to help fluff up the fluff.
Drying a down scarf on a frame
If you are drying a scarf in the summer, there is a great way to fluff the product. To do this, after all the water in the net has drained from the scarf, put it in a bag and put it in the freezer for 6 hours. Then take it out and lay it out in the sun. Water expands at sub-zero temperatures and melts quickly when exposed to sudden heat, thereby achieving fluffy yarn without unnecessary movements.
Now, knowing these five rules, you can easily wash and restore your favorite accessory for the cold season.
Effective methods of whitening
To bleach a down scarf, use special chemicals or use folk recipes. Natural goat down has a milky color with a slight yellowish content. Before using any recipe, it is recommended to test it on the threads that remain after knitting the product.
Hydrogen peroxide
A high-quality bleach is hydrogen peroxide, which is often used in folk recipes. Take 20 g of peroxide for every 100 g of down shawl. Pour 5 liters of warm water into a basin, adding bleach to it. The shawl is soaked in the solution for at least 6 hours.
It should be warm all this time, so the basin is periodically heated over low heat. But the temperature of the mixture should not be allowed to exceed 50°C. After bleaching, the scarf should be rinsed several times.
On a hot sunny day, you can bleach your shawl in another way. 20 g of peroxide and 5 crushed hydroperite tablets are dissolved in 5 liters of warm water. The down scarf is immersed in a bleach solution and the basin is placed in the bright sun. After 30 minutes, the shawl should be rinsed up to 3 times and dried flat on a hard surface.
Hydrosulfite
You can bleach a shawl using hydrosulfite, for this 2 tbsp. l. the product is poured into 10 liters of warm water. The shawl is placed in the bleach solution for half an hour, carefully turning it over occasionally. After the bleaching procedure, the scarf should be rinsed in warm water up to 3 times. For the final rinse, use cold water with the addition of table vinegar. For 10 liters 2 tbsp is enough. l. substances.
Hydroperite and ammonia
Hydroperite will help whiten a white down scarf. It is enough to dissolve 6 tablets in 7 liters of non-hot water, carefully pour 6 tsp into the same container. ammonia. Place the shawl in the mixture, which should completely cover it.
The bleaching process in this way lasts 10 hours, during which time the bowl with the solution is periodically heated over low heat to 50˚C as necessary. Then the scarf must be rinsed thoroughly, acidifying the water with table vinegar.
Aspirin
You can get rid of dirty stains and whiten a down scarf at home using aspirin. 2 tablets of powdered acetylsalicylic acid are dissolved in a small amount of warm water. The resulting mixture is applied to the contaminated surface for 10-15 minutes. After drying, if the stain has not disappeared, repeat the procedure again until complete bleaching.
When do you need dry cleaning and when do you need a full wash?
With frequent wear, the down covering and the wool thread itself can become covered with dust and dirt. The shawl actively absorbs all kinds of odors, so it is recommended to protect it from cigarette smoke and strong perfume.
Clean the scarf from light dirt with a soft sponge. It is gently passed along the canvas, without strong pressure.
Suitable for deeper dry cleaning:
- bran (rye, wheat);
- cereals;
- potato flour;
- talc.
The natural product powder is heated in a water bath until hot. Then the bran or powder is carefully rubbed onto the scarf.
The remaining cleaning agent is shaken out or removed using a vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to repeat cleaning the most contaminated areas twice.
If the “cobweb” is very dirty and the fluff is matted, then dry cleaning may not cope with the task. A soap solution will help solve the problem. Washing is also used if local contamination appears on the item.
It is recommended to wash a shawl only when absolutely necessary, as too frequent washing deteriorates its quality.
Is it possible?
The less often down scarves are washed, the longer they last. Therefore, you need to use them carefully.
After putting it on, hide it in a closet to avoid dust, do not wear it in rainy weather. When wearing it, you should try not to get it dirty, then you will need to wash it less often.
You should not immediately wash the item if a small stain appears. From frequent washing it will lose its appearance and become deformed.
Therefore, it is better to carefully wash the stain with baby soap or a folk remedy suitable for such materials. For example, an aspirin tablet dissolved in water helps with blood stains.
It is not recommended to immediately wash such a product if it has been splashed on the street by a car. It is better to wait until the dirt dries, then carefully remove it with a soft sponge.
Washing is definitely required if the scarf gives off an unpleasant odor, or if it is very dirty and matted.
Nowadays, rarely do people wash by hand, as it is considered more convenient to use a machine. But for a down scarf it is better to deviate from this rule.
Even with the delicate mode, it will roll over the drum of the machine and be exposed to water for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended to use this method as a last resort and only for dense items.
How to wash goat down without it matting?
Beginning knitters are faced with the question of how to wash the raw material itself before spinning, because goat fluff is usually clogged with blades of grass, dry leaves, dust, and sand. You need to follow simple instructions:
- Dilute shampoo for dry hair in warm water. Place the raw materials in a gauze bag in a basin with the solution.
- Slowly rinse the raw material by squeezing and releasing the bag. Drain dirty water.
- Place the bag in clean warm water. Rinse, changing the water until it comes out clean.
- Add hair conditioner to the last (clean) water. Remove the fluff and place it on a wire rack to drain and dry.
Is it possible?
The less often down scarves are washed, the longer they last. Therefore, you need to use them carefully.
After putting it on, hide it in a closet to avoid dust, do not wear it in rainy weather. When wearing it, you should try not to get it dirty, then you will need to wash it less often.
You should not immediately wash the item if a small stain appears. From frequent washing it will lose its appearance and become deformed.Therefore, it is better to carefully wash the stain with baby soap or a folk remedy suitable for such materials. For example, an aspirin tablet dissolved in water helps with blood stains.
It is not recommended to immediately wash such a product if it has been splashed on the street by a car. It is better to wait until the dirt dries, then carefully remove it with a soft sponge.
Washing is definitely required if the scarf gives off an unpleasant odor, or if it is very dirty and matted.
Nowadays, rarely do people wash by hand, as it is considered more convenient to use a machine. But for a down scarf it is better to deviate from this rule.
Even with the delicate mode, it will roll over the drum of the machine and be exposed to water for a long time. Therefore, it is recommended to use this method as a last resort and only for dense items.
How not to spoil something
You can bleach and refresh a downy, yellowed scarf at home without bad consequences if you strictly follow the tips that have proven their effectiveness more than once. Experiments with whiteness, stain removers, and alkali will lead to the destruction of thin threads and deformation of the product.
It promotes the formation of pellets; the once soft and fluffy scarf will become a hard rag. You will have to get rid of such a thing. You cannot use laundry soap, even if you grate it: it will cause a color change.
Proper drying will help you bleach cobwebs safely at home without causing damage. No sun or heating devices. Their action causes the color to fade and yellowness to appear. Hanging it by the corners or drying it on a line is also not an option - the scarf will stretch out and become asymmetrical.
Strict adherence to the recipe, the correct sequence of actions, preparation of the product and choice of the right product will not spoil the web. It will be possible to bleach your home without damaging the appearance of the downy white cobwebs, which, if handled with care, will serve as decoration for many more years.
Source of the article: https://uborkapro.info/stirka-i-himchistka/ruchnaya-stirka/otbelit-puhovyj-platok-doma.html
How to wash a goat down shawl at home: how to properly bleach the white one, how to dry it after washing, how to fluff the product, how to wash a downy shawl from yellowness.
Storing a down scarf
Now let's dwell on the issue of storing down products. This is best done by rolling a scarf or other product into a loose roll and placing it in a natural woven bag. It should be kept in a well-ventilated place in the absence of foreign odors. Do not crumple the down product or press it down on top with other things. In summer, in sunny weather, it is recommended to take the scarf outside and shake it slightly - this will refresh and ventilate it.
It is also necessary to protect down products from moths - store-bought products or natural herbs that repel pests will help you with this: mint, wormwood, wild rosemary, lavender and citrus peels (they should be stored in open bags that need to be shaken from time to time).
Preparation for the process
Before you begin wet cleaning, the product must be prepared. First, the scarf is shaken to remove all the particles that have not yet become embedded in the down layer.
Then the item is combed with a wooden comb with sparse blunt teeth. This procedure allows you to preserve the fluffy cover of the shawl. Next, using a dry sponge, remove dust and fine dry dirt from the canvas.
If there are stains on the web, they are bleached before general washing. The method of removal depends on the type of pollutant.
To remove colored marks, use an aqueous solution of high concentration aspirin. Of the ready-made chemical preparations, oxygen stain remover intended for children's things is suitable.
Useful tips
To keep wool fiber products in excellent condition, follow these tips:
- If wool clothing has turned yellow over time, boil it with soap. You will need to pour shavings from laundry soap into the water. After boiling, be sure to rinse, do this several times, gradually lowering the temperature. During the final rinse, add vinegar to the water;
- ammonia, which is sold in pharmacies, contains ammonia in its composition. And it can bleach wool very well;
- Knitted clothes are washed only with special detergents.
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How to dry?
The drying stage is no less important than the washing itself. This penultimate stage of work should take place in a room without foreign odors. The drying down scarf should not be exposed to direct sunlight or heat from radiators.
Since the shawl cannot be twisted either by hand or in a centrifuge , more gentle methods have to be used. They allow you to maintain the volume, shape, and knitting of the scarf.
Naturally
After manual or automated washing, the stole is placed in a mesh or gauze container and hung over the bathtub.
After the excess water has drained, the openwork item is laid out on a fabric that absorbs moisture well . This can be a terry towel or a cotton sheet folded in several layers.
In this state, the shawl dries naturally. Shake it periodically, and replace the cotton base with a dry one. You cannot hang a knitted scarf on a rope, as this will cause it to lose its shape.
On a towel
A wet down scarf is spread on a terry towel of a suitable size. Then both products are rolled together.
After the bundle gets wet, the damp terry base is replaced with a new one . This procedure is done two to three times.
After this, the shawl is spread on any dry fabric and left to dry. To prevent the shape of the scarf from being deformed, it is pressed down without tension with a heavy object.
On a frame or hoop
Stores sell a special frame (or hoop) for drying down scarves. To use it, a nylon fishing line or thick thread is threaded along the edge of the shawl.
Then, using pushpins or small nails, the product is fixed to the frame. After one or two hours, the buttons and fishing line are removed, and the shawl is left to dry naturally.
The frame is easy to make with your own hands . To do this, a shape is made from wooden slats that follows the perimeter of a square scarf, triangular scarf or rectangular stole. The sides of the frame should be slightly larger than the length and width of the shawl.
How to choose the right detergent?
Not all products containing a soap component are suitable for washing a down scarf. Regular washing powder is not used in this case, as it negatively affects the quality of the fluff. This is especially true for a shawl made of white thread.
Knitted fabric may lose volume or turn yellow when exposed to microbeads of powder. Aggressive stain removers and bleaches used for everyday clothes are also taboo.
The most suitable detergents are:
- shampoo for hair (preferably for dry hair);
- liquid soap without dyes and fragrances;
- soap solution made from hypoallergenic baby soap;
- liquid detergent for delicate laundry;
- gel for washing woolen or down items.
When choosing a foaming liquid, you should consider the washing method.
If you plan to wash the shawl in an automatic machine, then the product must be suitable for this application. Hand washing allows you to use any of the possible options.
Review of store products
Industrial chemicals specially designed for this purpose will help you bleach white cobwebs at home. Chemicals in liquid form are easily dissolved in water and contain special softening substances that make the fluff light. In addition to softening, they will rid the scarf of dust, dirt, and stubborn stains.
Use grated and dissolved baby soap. The following products have proven themselves to be the best:
- Laska is a domestically produced washing gel for delicate fabrics. The composition of the product can bleach and clean the fibers of a yellowed down scarf if the instructions are followed. The formula is gentle on silk, angora and wool. The White Shine line will help restore color.
- Eared nannies - conditioner for children's clothing will whiten and clean openwork cobwebs without aggressively affecting the down fibers. It will add softness and a delicate aroma to the product. Eared nannies have an antistatic effect.
- Vernel - conditioner for delicate fabrics will easily whiten and clean downy cobwebs. The composition does not contain dyes, which reduces the risk of an allergic reaction. Following the instructions and following the recommendations will ensure that the scarf achieves the desired whiteness, and as a bonus, a pleasant, delicate aroma.
- Lenor - fabric softener helps to restore your home to its former cleanliness and whiten downy cobwebs. Thanks to the unique formula, the threads receive additional protection from dirt, preventing premature wear of the scarf. The product has an antistatic effect and a delicate odor.
Stain removers for delicate fabrics will help restore color and purity. But you should always pay attention to the label, study and follow the recommendations for use.
