How to Wash a Jumper Without Shrinking It

A jumper is easy to ruin and easy to look after if you know the rules. The two enemies are heat and agitation.

Check the fibre first

Wool, cotton, cashmere and acrylic all behave differently. The care label is your starting point. See what knitwear is made of.

Hand wash or wool cycle

Hand washing in a basin of lukewarm water with a little mild detergent is the gentlest option. A wool or delicate cycle on the machine at 30 degrees, in a mesh bag, is the next best.

Do not wring or twist

Press the water out. Twisting stretches and distorts the knit.

Why wool shrinks

Heat combined with movement makes wool fibres lock together, which is called felting. That is why a hot wash can shrink a wool jumper by a size or more.

Dry flat

Roll it in a clean towel to take the water out, then lay it flat and reshape it. Hanging a wet jumper pulls it out of shape. Keep it out of direct heat.

Wash less

Air a jumper between wears. Many only need washing a few times a season. See how to store knitwear.

Quick answers

Can I machine wash a jumper?

Many can, on a cool wool cycle in a mesh bag.

How do I stop pilling?

See how to stop knitwear bobbling.

Can I tumble dry a jumper?

Not usually. Dry flat.

Shop knitwear. 🖤