MADE IN THE USA USING BOTANICALS FROM ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE AND REGENERATIVE FARMING SOURCES, POETICA’S RANGE OF GARMENT WASHES AND SPRAYS IS NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL OF BY MALENE BIRGER’S RETAIL SPACES. CURIOUS ABOUT EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR PRECIOUS BY MALENE BIRGER KNITWEAR? CONSULT OUR FIVE-POINT KNIT CARE GUIDE, COMPILED BY TESS ALBRECHT-SCHMITZ, FOUNDER OF POETICA, AND WISE UP ON WASHING.

SET ASIDE A ‘HANDWASH HOUR’

WHILE IT TAKES A LITTLE LONGER, HANDWASHING IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE LONGEVITY OF KNITWEAR, HELPING KEEP KNITS SOFT AND SHAPELY. HANDWASHING REDUCES THE ‘FLUFFY’ LOOK THAT CAN RESULT FROM MACHINE WASHING, WHILE AVOIDING THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CONVENTIONAL DRY-CLEANING METHODS..

STAY COOL

IN GENERAL, NATURAL PROTEIN-BASED FIBRES LIKE WOOL AND CASHMERE ARE BEST PRESERVED WITH GENTLER INGREDIENTS AND COOLER WATER TEMPERATURES. POETICA’S DELICATE WASH IS COLD WATER-OPTIMISED AND PH-BALANCED, AND IS ALSO FREE FROM HARSH CHEMICALS AND ENZYMES THAT CAN DEGRADE WOOL FIBRES.

KEEP THINGS FLAT

AFTER WASHING, PLACE YOUR KNIT ON A TOWEL, ROLL IT UP, AND GENTLY SQUEEZE OUT ANY REMAINING WATER. WOOL CAN SHRINK IN HEAT, SO LAY FLAT IN THE SHADE TO DRY. ONCE THE MOISTURE HAS EVAPORATED, YOU CAN STEAM YOUR KNIT INSIDE-OUT ON A LOW-HEAT SETTING, BUT AVOID IRONING AS IT CAN DAMAGE THE FIBRES.

REFRESH YOUR MENTALITY

IN BETWEEN WASHES, REMOVE SURFACE DIRT USING A SOFT-BRISTLED GARMENT BRUSH APPLIED IN LIGHT, DOWNWARD MOTIONS; USE POETICA’S REFRESH MIST TO SPRITZ AND REVIVE YOUR KNITS; THEN AIR THEM BY LAYING THEM OUT ON A BED. GIVE WOOL BLANKETS A GOOD SHAKE OUTSIDE AND HANG WHERE THERE’S FREE AIR FLOW.

DRY-CLEAN SPARINGLY

DRY-CLEANING IS GENERALLY RECOMMENDED FOR STRUCTURED WOOLS THAT OFTEN COMPRISE BLAZERS, SUITS, COATS, AND LARGER ITEMS LIKE BLANKETS AND THROWS. TRY TO REFRESH YOUR WOOL ITEMS REGULARLY WITH POETICA’S REFRESH MIST, AND SEEK OUT AN ECO-FRIENDLY DRY CLEANER WHERE POSSIBLE.