How to Wash a Crocheted or Knitted Beanie and Keep it Looking New

Crocheted and knitted beanies can be a fun and colorful fall accessory for teen and tween girls. Keeping those crocheted beanies looking like new however means careful laundering. Unlike the rest of your clothes, fashion beanies can't be tossed in the washing machine and tumbled dry. Instead they must be washed by hand in cold water, blotted damp, and allowed to dry flat.

The process is simple, but definitely worth it. Here's how it's done.

1. Check washing instructions first.

Most beanies can be hand washed, though a few require dry cleaning or other special instructions. Before washing, check the washing instructions on the label inside your crocheted or knitted beanie. If it says "dry clean only" it must be sent out to be cleaned. If not, then you are good to wash it yourself.

2. Set the colors first.

Yarn dyes tend to fade or run (called bleeding) during laundering. To minimize color bleeding, the color in your crocheted beanie should be "set" first. To set the colors, you'll need a plastic bucket, table salt and white vinegar.

* Fill the bucket halfway with cold water.
* Stir in 1/4 cup salt and 1/2 cup white vinegar. Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve.
* Place the beanie in the water, swish around a couple of minutes. Drain off the water.

3. Hand washing.

Fill the bucket once again with a gallon of cold water. Add a tablespoon of laundry soap to the water; swish the beanie around in the bucket by hand. For stains set in the yarn, use your fingers to lightly scrub the stain out of the material. Don't scrub too hard or you will stretch the yarn.

Drain off the soap water, rinse the beanie with clean water until no more traces of soap remain.

4. Blot and dry.

Once the crocheted beanie has been rinsed, blot out the excess water instead of wringing it. Wringing can damage the yarn fibers and ruin the nice shape of a beanie. To blot, roll up the beanie in a towel and gently squeeze. Unroll the towel, remove the beanie and let it dry by draping it over the edge of the sink or bathtub. By morning, your crocheted beanie should be completely dry and ready to wear again.