To make knitwear last, wash it cool or by hand, dry it flat, and fold it instead of hanging it. Those three habits do most of the work.
Check the label first
The care label always comes first. If it says hand wash, hand wash. If it says dry clean only, take it seriously. What follows is general advice for most knitwear.
How do you wash it?
Use cool water and a mild detergent. Turn the jumper inside out and press it gently in the water. Do not wring or twist. If you use a machine, choose a delicate cycle if the label allows it, and a mesh bag helps.
How should you dry it?
Press the water out in a towel, then lay the knit flat, away from direct heat. Hanging a wet knit stretches the shoulders and makes it grow longer. Never put a knit near a radiator.
Where should you store it?
Fold it and keep it in a drawer or on a shelf. Hanging a knit stretches it over time. Give it some air between wears, and it will not need washing as often.
What about bobbles?
Small balls of fibre are normal, especially where there is rubbing. Remove them early with a fabric shaver or comb. We cover it in how to stop knitwear bobbling.
Quick do and don't list
- Do wash less often
- Do dry flat
- Do fold
- Don't wring
- Don't hang wet
- Don't wear it with a rough bag strap rubbing the same spot
Is it the same as washing a hoodie?
Not quite. Our guide to washing a knitted hoodie is a good place to start, and how to wash a hoodie without shrinking it covers cotton. A final tip: rotate your knits. Wearing the same jumper two days running gives the fibres no time to recover, so swap between a couple of pieces through the week. Hang a worn knit over a chair to air out before folding it away. Small habits like these add years to a jumper, and they cost you nothing but a few seconds a day. Treat these as habits, not chores. Most of the care is simply doing less: less washing, less heat, less rubbing. If you buy a good knit and look after it well, it can stay in your wardrobe for many winters. That is better for your wallet and better for the planet, and it means you get to keep wearing the pieces you love instead of replacing them. Keep a small fabric comb near your wardrobe and a flat drying rack somewhere handy, and the routine takes almost no effort at all.
Looking after your clothes is the best value move there is. See what a hoodie is really worth.
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