Category Archives: soap

NEW SoakWash Pineapple Grove

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SoakWash Pineapple Grove

Soak has come out with a fresh new scent, Pineapple Grove!  Soak is a super easy, eco-friendly, no-rinse wash for hand or machine washing delicates, from lingerie to cashmere. Soak products are manufactured in Toronto Canada and are available in an assortment of fresh fragrances plus Scentless (for your sensitive side).

How it works:  Just Soak and squeeze. No need to rinse. Lay knits flat to dry. Wash sets (like lingerie) together. Test fabric for colour-fastness.

    • made with plant derived and renewable ingredients
    • biodegradable, phosphate-free, dye-free, sulphate-free
    • safe for hand or machine washing (including HE)

To learn more about Soak drop in for a tutorial at Soak School, they’ll teach you how to clean everything from makeup brushes, lingerie, quilts, workout wear, menswear, and of course knits.

 

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Tips & Tricks: How to Wash & Store Knits

Spring seems to be starting to sprout and that means it’s time to WASH AND STORE YOUR SWEATERS! Well, at least start. You probably won’t need to put them all away until the end of April, but you can definitely start with the heavy ones now.
 
The cruel little buggies who leave those wicked holes in your lambswool and cashmere are most often feasting on bits or food, skin, and other human detritus on your sweater. Washing is essential to it depriving the little buggies of their buffet, and proper storage keeps them from getting to the restaurant. 
 
 
Wash
Hand wash in special delicate wash Soak or Eucalan. Both brands are no-rinse (an essential feature), made in Canada, and work pretty much work equally well. 
 
Personally, I prefer Eucalan for anything made with animal fibres (wool, alpaca, mohair, etc), it is formulated with more lanolin which is a natural conditioner. I like Soak for garments made with plant fibres or synthetics (you can find it in quilting and lingerie stores as well as knitting stores). 
Detailed instructions are on the bottles and product websites, but this is how it’s basically done:
  • soak garment in cool water for 10 minutes
  • add a little bit of delicate wash and squish it through garment
  • soak for another 10 minutes
  • drain water and gently squeeze out water (do not wring)
  • wrap in a towel and press out excess water
  • lay flat to dry
 
Washing Tips
  • Avoid the big corporate store brands like Woolite, they’re still ‘detergents’ and the results will end up making you cry.  
  • If the dye is saturated and you think it might bleed, add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the water before adding your garment. The vinegar will act as a mordent and stabilize the colour. 
  • If you don’t have a laundry room or suitable sink (I don’t) you can pick up a plastic wash basin at the dollar store (which are also wonderful for a nice foot soak). If you want a higher-end, very high-quality basin that will last forever try a 26 Litre Tubtrug – I have one at home for laundry and we’ve been using the same bins all over the store for over 5 years (the best price is from Amazon.ca and you can get free shipping). 
  • Instructions usually suggest drying garments flat on a towel, but I’ve found that if you have already pressed out the excess water with a towel Blocking Mats are a much faster method. 
  • If garments MUST go in the machine (socks), use Soak or Eucalan in cold water on the delicate cycle and put them in a Honey-Can-Do Sweater Wash Bag. 
  • All fibres are susceptible to moth damage, even plant fibres like cotton and synthetics, wools just happen to be their favourite meal . Wash and store all the sweaters you wore over the winter.
 
 
Store
Now that your knits are clean it’s time to put them away. Thankfully extra-large (33cm x 38cm) zipper freezer bags are ubiquitous and can be found at grocery stores like Loblaws. Presently, my favourites are from Dollarama (they’re tough, the seal is easy and stays put, and they are cheap). One sweater per bag seals the bugs out, plus it ensures that if one of your knits is infested it won’t spread to the others. If you want to seal in a nice, subtle, clean smell you can add a dried bay leaf to the bag – it smells like smiles.  If you’re feeling a little anxious or just enjoy zipper bags, you can hermetically seal all your pre-packaged sweater cutlets in a second, super-sized meta 4XL Zilpoc Bag  
 
Storage Tips
  • All of the bags mentioned are tough, do not tear easily, and can be used over and over (we use them for storage in the store). 
  • I don’t suggest you rely on big tote storage bins to keep your sweaters safe. They don’t fully seal and my past experience has been disappointing. 
  • If you’re feeling extra organizey you can label your sweaters. A roll of masking tape and a sharpie pen go a long way, and when the cold hits next fall you’ll know which black sweater is which, without opening all the packaging (I learned this the hard way).
  • Non-sweater knits need to be put away too! Wool socks, mitts, hats, scarves, cowls, legwarmers and blankets also need love. Even if you don’t get around to washing them you should definitely seal them up for the summer (those super-duper big Ziploc bags are especially great for blankets). 
  • Felted projects are wool too: felted bags, baskets, bangles, trivets, etc, are a favourite feast for tiny beasts. Bag ’em up!
  • Don’t forget to bag up your stash! While your skeins may not have been exposed to any human detritus, they’re still vulnerable. Ever worked with a skein of yarn that constantly breaks (not counting tight knitters working with delicate yarns)? Yup, buggy. I’ve known people who had to pitch their entire stashes because of infestation. 
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Soaked for the Holidays!

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We’ve got a full collections of Soak Wash in stock for the holidays, including mini and full sized bottles of all five regular scents, as well as the special Unleashed scent, and both of their the shallow and deep basins.  

Now, I know it seems like a strange gift to give, but I swear that any person who receives this will fall deeply in love with the stuff. Once you go Soak, you don’t go back. The mini bottles make a great stocking stuffer, and a large bottle coupled with a basin makes a great gift that you know they’ll actually use!  

Just one caveat – if you are newly married, or want to be, I don’t suggest you gift Soak unless it’s been requested (you’re good if it’s on the list). In order to fan the fires of romance, I suggest a knitting needle set (a set of Addi Turbos will put you in good stead for years!), a wool winder and/or a swift (an equally sexy choice), a needle case, or a gift certificate. Of course, we have all of the above and will help you choose.


Soak Wash – Special Fibre Care
120ml/$10.50 or 425ml/$16.50
Soak is a special fibre wash which is perfect for both hand knits as well as lingere, unmentionables, and clothes you love. It is easy to use, and doesn’t require rinsing out, and is made in Canada. It is available in 5 fresh fragrances, as well as scentless:
  • Citrus has the delicious smell of “fresh-squeezed clean”.
  • Aquae is a “purely elemental” scent that’s like a breath of fresh sea air.
  • Celebration smells intoxicating though it’s really just ‘good clean fun’.
  • Flora is a lovely spring fragrance that will make you “stop and smell the fibers”  
  • Scentless keeps your hand-washables (and sensitive skin) completely fragrance-free. Just a fresh and ultra-clear way to take care of the fine fibers you care about most.
  • Celebration is an original limited edition fragrance that has transcended traditional fiber care to become a timeless classic.




Soak Wash Unleash 
250ml/$13.50
Unleash is a special collection from Soak, inspired by everything Ravelry. Unleash your creative juices with this sweet and spicy scent you’d follow anywhere. Unleash is the core of this new collaboration between Soak and Ravelry.




Carrie and Phil Basins from Soak
Phil (shallow)/$30.50 or Carrie (deep)/$34.50

Carrie and Phil are wash an storage basins, perfect for Soaking your hand wash.  They are sturdy, high quality vessels which are also great for storage, stash containment, and home pedicures. They are available in a range of bright colours.

  • Non-toxic
  • Beveled edges for easy pouring.
  • Tall/short wash basin
  • Frost and UV resistant
  • Flexible
  • Made in Spain
Gift a Carrie and/or Phil with a bottle of Soak, a few skeins of yarn and some needles, or a pedicure set.  You won’t regret purchasing a Carrie or Phil, they are the best little buckets you never thought you’d fall in love with.  Once it’s in your home, you’ll laugh at yourself for ever thinking that something cheap & made in China is equivalent – take it from me, a skeptic, there’s just no comparison. 


Eucalan Delicate Wash
100ml/$4.50 or 500ml/$11.50
If you aren’t into fragrances and want something a little more on the natural side, Eucalan will be right up your alley. Like Soak, Eucalan is a no rinse delicate wash, it is also made in Canada, and it works exactly as well for all the same purposes. But Eucalan comes in a series of natural scents, derived from essential oils. It does not contain pthalates, which are normally associated with fragrance.  Eucalan comes in unscented, lavender, grapefruit, and eucalyptus, and the small 100ml bottles make great stocking stuffers! Eucalyptus also has antibacterial properties, which makes it great for washing hand knitted socks (some people gift a bottle when they give socks). Eucalan is also especially helpful for scratchy sweaters, as the lanolin in it will soften the up a bit. 



As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com