Fall is undeniably here. As the cooler weather sets in and daylight escaping us sooner in the early evenings, it is time to put on a jacket, hoodie, or even favorite sweater. Many of us wear cozy sweaters to keep us warm as days get cooler. How do you maintain them so that they retain their color, yarn, and charm through fall and the coming winter months?
A favorite sweater can keep a person warm and comfortable. If maintained well, it can last for several seasons; and it’s fairly easy to care for a sweater--whether it be a fashionable natural wool sweater, or the infamous and often comedic ugly holiday sweater made from synthetic acrylic blends. We’ve got some tips to help you prolong the life and service of these treasured garments.
Wool Sweaters
Wash wool sweaters gently by hand in cold water with a gentle liquid detergent such as Woolite. Do not wash this material in warm or hot water as these natural fibers tend to shrink. Wring these gently by hand and lay flat to dry, ideally on a drying rack. Do not hang these sweaters to drip dry as the soaked wool’s weight will pull, stretch, and distort the sweater.
Cotton Sweaters
Cotton sweaters can be washed in the washing machine on gentle cycle using a premium laundry detergent such as liquid Tide, Gain, Dreft, or Woolite. You can use softeners with these, too. To dry these, they can go in the dryer on low. However, to minimize any shrinking, it is best to either hang-dry or lay flat to dry, depending on the weight of the item when still wet.
Synthetic Fiber Sweaters
Wash these in warm or cold water with premium detergents. Do not wash in hot water. These sweaters can be dried by hanging, laying flat, or even on tumble-dry low. Just consider the weight of the item when wet to determine how best to dry it. The takeaway here is to avoid hot water and hot drying temperatures. Because synthetic fiber yarn is derived from a petroleum byproduct, these materials tend to stretch when exposed to excessive heat.
With these tips in mind, your favorite cozy sweater can serve you, comfort you, and keep you warm year after year. If, however, you find that sweaters can be a hassle, consider using The Laundry Spot’s laundry pickup and delivery. We take care of regular laundry and dry cleaning, too! So those cozy cotton sweaters and dry-clean-only wools will be in good hands.
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