The word “wool” on a jumper tells you what it is made of, not which machine programme to choose. Looking after a knitted garment involves two complementary checks: its composition and its washing and drying instructions. Confusing the two can lead to applying the right rule to the wrong item.
The percentage doesn’t tell you how to wash it
The DGCCRF’s guidance on labelling explains that composition indicates which fibres are present and in what proportions. It can also distinguish between different parts of a garment. In France, this information must be legible and written in French; care advice is a separate indication, which the administration recommends reading before treating the garment.
A fibre blend and a garment made entirely of wool do not necessarily carry the same instructions. Conversely, two garments with the same composition may require different care. The list of materials is no substitute for checking the instructions for the specific product you have bought.
Nor is a commercial name or how soft a garment feels any substitute for checking. Before the first wash, the right reference is the jumper’s label, not that of another similar-looking knit.
Prepare the knitwear, then plan how to dry it
The care symbols still need to be checked; our guide to care symbols explains how to read them. For wool, the next step is to prepare the garment in line with the options given on its label.
Woolmark, a wool certification and promotion body, also begins its washing guide with this condition: check that the garment is machine washable. For jumpers that can be machine washed, it recommends, among other things, turning them inside out or putting them in a laundry bag, and using a detergent suitable for wool. This advice does not mean that all knitwear can be machine washed.
Drying is part of garment care
After washing, the weight of the water can distort knitwear if it is hung up. In its guide to drying jumpers, Woolmark recommends laying them flat, away from direct sunlight, on a light-coloured, lint-free towel. It advises against using a hanger or direct heat from a radiator.
The tumble dryer requires a separate check: its use must be permitted by the garment’s instructions. Permission to machine wash does not mean permission to tumble dry.
These distinctions are useful from the moment you buy. If the care required does not suit the equipment or time available, it is better to know before wearing the jumper. The composition describes what you are buying; the instructions explain how to keep it in good condition during use.
Sources
- DGCCRF: clothing labelling.
- GINETEX: care symbols.
- Woolmark: washing a wool jumper.
- Woolmark: drying a wool jumper.
Sources consulted on 21 October 2026.
