Mohair is one of our favorite fibers for knitwear since it is a hair fiber with no scales, which gives it superior waterproof characteristics. The lack of scales also permits dye to take on a remarkably vibrant color and mohair is more wrinkle resistant than wool.
Mohair has strong insulating capabilities, so if you’re looking for a new winter woolly, consider mohair for your next knitwear buy. However, it also has moisture-wicking properties, which means it may keep you cool in warmer weather. Mohair is noted for its high shine and gloss, and it is unquestionably a luxury fabric, so make sure you handle it carefully.
Is mohair difficult to look after? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about cleaning and caring for mohair knitwear, as well as debunking popular misunderstandings! With appropriate care, mohair knitwear can be a durable and enduring addition to one’s wardrobe.
What exactly is mohair?
Mohair is a fabric or yarn created from the hair of the Angora goat, not the Angora rabbit, which produces Angora wool; we understand the confusion!
Why is mohair so popular?
- Visual and Tactile Appeal: Mohair is known for its shiny quality and ability to hold dyes exceptionally well, leading to garments in varied and often bold colors. Its fluffy, flyaway yarn made from Angora goat hair offers a unique texture that’s visually striking.
- Fashion Influence: Many influential figures have embraced mohair knitwear, contributing to its popularity. There’s a certain bookishness and mid-century American feel to mohair knitwear, which resonates with both streetwear enthusiasts and those who appreciate old English romanticism.
- Sustainability: As consumers become more ecologically conscious, the need for sustainable fashion increases. Mohair is valued for being a sustainable fiber with a cradle-to-cradle lifecycle, aligning with the increasing concerns around sustainability.
- Comfort and Versatility: Mohair provides warmth without being too heavy, making it suitable for various climates. It’s also seen as more elegant than other wools, which adds to its desirability.
- Cultural Shifts: The trend reflects a broader cultural shift towards garments that stimulate the senses and offer comfort, softness, and a conscious awareness of our environmental impact.
These factors combine to make mohair knitwear a sought-after trend in the fashion industry.
How long does mohair last?
If you do it right, it can last for decades.
Mohair knitwear is renowned for its durability and longevity. The fibers are composed of a protein called keratin, which is known for its strength and elasticity. This natural resilience makes mohair yarn resistant to wrinkles and stretching, ensuring that garments maintain their shape and appearance over time.
Additionally, mohair can be bent into any shape without damaging the fibers due to its robust structure, which is among the strongest of all animal fibers. While the exact lifespan of mohair knitwear can vary depending on usage and care, it is generally considered to be long-lasting.
Proper maintenance, such as gentle hand washing and drying flat, can help extend the life of mohair garments. However, it’s worth noting that silk mohair yarn, which is more delicate, may not be as durable against frequent abrasion or washing as other types.
How to wash mohair sweater?
All mohair garments should be hand washed and dried flat. Mohair should not be washed or dried in a washing machine or dryer since the fibers will be damaged. It takes a bit more effort, but it is well worth it to keep your mohair’s look and feel.
- Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water (around 30 degrees).
- Use a specialized knitwear detergent. The ideal mohair wash should have a pH neutral composition. Most detergents are alkaline because they help to remove grease and debris, but alkalinity can harm natural fibers like mohair, thus a lower pH level is preferred. A wool detergent with pH of 7-8 is ideal for gentle cleaning of natural fibers, including mohair.
- Submerge your mohair sweater in the water and gently stir to disperse the detergent. Massage with your hands for a few minutes.
- Refill the basin with new water and rinse out all of the product from the jumper, pressing gently against the sink sides to remove excess water. Do not ring the jumper too violently, as this may cause the strands to misshape.
- Most crucially, lay your mohair jumper flat to dry in its original shape. Hanging to dry will stretch the fabric, so place it flat on top of a clothes horse or rack. Mohair dries rapidly, so you’ll be able to wear your mohair jumper again soon!
Our top tip: Garments made from natural fibers, such as mohair, can look different after washing, therefore we recommend gently brushing down your mohair sweater with a firm bristle clothes brush to restore the jumper’s original shiny sheen. Brush downward to eliminate any knots or tangles that may have formed during washing.
How to dry a mohair sweater, cardigan or blanket?
After washing and cleaning your mohair clothing, the final and most critical step is to spread it out to air dry in its natural shape. It can also be applied to a drying rope or pipe. Even if the fabric was washed in a washing machine, it should not be dried in one. When mohair fabrics are machine dried, they shrink and the fibers are destroyed.
A wool spray can be used in between washes, although it is entirely optional. However, the antibacterial properties of wool spray help to remove odor from garments, whereas perfume keeps the mohair sweater feeling fresh. Although mohair is delicate, it does not always require dry cleaning. Cleaning safely at home can help you avoid the chemical soak and hassle.
How to make mohair fluffy again?
To restore the fluffiness of your mohair sweater, lightly shake it or run your fingers through it. It is best to avoid using scent on mohair or ironing it. Agitation and heat will flatten your mohair knitwear. If you really need to iron your sweater, use a steam iron from a safe distance and avoid touching it directly.
If you machine wash your mohair sweater or wear it frequently, the hair may become matted or have pilling difficulties. To fluff up your mohair knits, brush your knitwear using a mohair brush or a clean pet brush with widely spaced wire bristles. Good-quality mohair can take a lot of brushing. Always test your force and brush aggressiveness over a small area before using it on the entire sweater.
How to store mohair sweaters?
To take care of mohair knitwear, it is important to avoid hanging mohair sweaters as they may stretch out of shape. When storing mohair knitwear, it is best to fold them and store them in a breathable garment bag or a drawer to protect them from moths and dust. Additionally, it is recommended to store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain their quality and longevity.
How to fold or hang a mohair knitwear?
Knitted mohair clothing should not be hanging; instead, fold and store in a drawer. You can fluff up your clothing by lightly shaking or brushing it with your hands. Place them on a level surface and ensure there are no creases in the clothing. Before folding, make sure they aren’t intertwined in any way. Simply fold both sleeves of the mohair sweater into the back, then fold the sweater in half. Fold it again to make it more compact, then store it on a shelf or within a drawer.
Does mohair attract moths?
Moths enjoy cotton, linen, cashmere, alpaca, llama, yak, mohair, and silk, but prefer wool. Natural fibers, such as mohair, contain proteins, making them an appealing meal for moths. A hungry little clothes moth larva may feed on almost any natural fiber.
Wool detergent, discussed previously, will assist give natural moth defense; however, we also recommend storing your mohair jumpers in airtight bags, with one scent bag nearby for further moth protection. These lovely tiny bags can be filled with a unique blend of dried herbs and flowers known for their moth repelling properties, including lavender, sandalwood, patchouli, lemongrass, and more.
If you want a natural, non-toxic solution to keep moths away from your garments, cedar wood is a well-known, traditional option. They look great strung on hooks in your wardrobe or in your knitwear drawers.
How to stop mohair jumper shedding?
Mohair knitwear will constantly shed hair because they are made of natural hair. This is quite normal, and there is no cause to be concerned. Knitwear with various mohair composition, knit structure, and chunkiness sheds differently; here are some tips to help lessen it.
- Gentle handling: Avoid excessive rubbing or friction, which might result in shedding. Handle it gently, especially when washing or wearing.
- Hand wash mohair in cool water: Wash mohair goods in cool water with a moderate detergent or shampoo. To decrease shedding, avoid agitating the yarn excessively.
- Drying method: Lay the mohair item flat to dry rather than hanging it, as hanging will stretch the fibers and cause shedding.
- Freezing: Some people advocate putting the mohair item in a plastic bag and freezing it for a few hours before wearing it. This may help establish the fibers and prevent shedding.
How to repair mohair knitwear?
Hand sewing is usually always the fastest, easiest, and neatest technique to mend holes in mohair sweaters or cardigans. The yarn doesn’t have to be mohair; regular cotton or blend yarns work just fine. To make it safer, we recommend a double or triple knot.
Can you machine wash mohair sweater, cardigan or blanket?
The answer is simple: it is preferable to hand wash your mohair sweater. The fabric is extremely delicate, and the washing machine can damage it. Remember to use warm water (no higher than 90°F!) and a light laundry detergent. If you must do it, then machine wash according to care instructions, using a “wool cycle” or “delicate mode” with reduced spinning (max 600 rpm).
How to remove stain from mohair knitwear?
For easy stains, wait for the stain to dry before scrubbing with a gentle brush. If the simple stain does not come out, soak the sweater in water with a moderate detergent for 20-30 minutes. Separate stain bars can be used to treat tough stains in mohair fabric. If using a separate stain bar, just place it over the stain and leave it for a few minutes before rubbing the area with a moist cleaning cloth to remove both the soap and the stain; however, make sure to remove all of the soap.
Stains can also be pre-treated using a stain solution or a stain bar before to washing. Pay close attention to susceptible areas such as underarms, necklines, and cuffs. Stain Solution is ideal for removing tough, set-in stains such as wine, coffee, ink, grass, pee, and blood.
How to debobble your mohair sweater, cardigan or blanket?
The idea is to brush the bobble away rather than pulling or shaving it off. Bobbles in a mohair jumper are created by the fluffy halo of fibers matting together somewhat. If your own hair became matted, you would not cut it off; instead, you would brush it out. The same concept applies to the mohair halo.
Is mohair heat resistant?
Mohair is sensitive to water temperature and motion, and if not properly treated, it may shrink. Mohair fabrics should be washed in cool or lukewarm water. Although mohair is a sturdy fabric, washing it in hot water may cause the cloth to shrink and appear frail and old very quickly. If you take a few easy precautions, your mohair garments will endure a long time and appear new and shiny even after years of use.
What do you wash mohair with?
Laundry detergent enzymes can degrade fibers in delicate textiles such as wool and silk over time. As a result, it is critical to use the appropriate detergent for your pricey clothes. However, any mild detergent can be used to clean mohair fabric. There are also various washing soaps or liquids that are specifically designed for mild hand washing garments.
However, if you wash the sweater frequently, you can simply wash it in lukewarm water without using any detergents provided it is not particularly dirty. Make sure the water is not too hot; else, it will damage the mohair fabric. Even if you’re using detergent, you might use less than usual. This would accomplish the job while also keeping the fabric looking fresh and new without causing any damage.
Conclusion
If your friend or family hesitate buying a mohair sweater because they believe it requires a lot of maintenance, you know what to tell them. Mohair may be a luxury fabric, which is one of the reasons buyers believe it is difficult to handle and maintain. However, it always creates a rich appearance and may be worn at a party on top of a dress or informally over denim.
