It's mid winter here in Australia, and I'm sure by now everyone's knitwear has been getting a lot of use.  As we know, hand washing your knitted garments and shawls can be a bit of a performance, particularly if you live in colder climates where things take forever to dry.  The good news is, with proper maintenance, you really only need to wash knitted garments and shawls at the end of the season prior to packing them away for summer.  Here's a few simple things you can do during winter to keep your winter woollies fresh and clean until spring.

This is the simplest method to keep your hand knits fresh.  Find a shady spot outside, give your knitwear a good shake and drape it over a chair or clothes rack, and let it air out for an hour or so.  This will help to deodorise your garments and remove any dirt or dust that has accumulated. 

Steaming is another great way to freshen up your knitwear and it's super easy to do.  Before you take a shower, grab a hanger and hang your knitwear item up in the bathroom.  The steam from the shower will be absorbed into the fabric, which will settle any creases, plump up the fibres, and freshen up your hand knits.  Obviously, it's a good idea to take your knitwear straight off the hanger and lay it flat on your bed. You can also block it back into shape if need be.