It’s Sweater Weather – that wonderful time of the year when you can snuggle up in your favorite chunky sweater and hang out with family around the campfire for Thanksgiving or throw on your favorite cardigan to go shopping for holiday presents with friends. Whatever your favorite sweater weather activity, we have some helpful tips to ensure your sweaters are always in pristine condition for this cozy time of year!
Read The Care Label On Your Garment
Because sweaters are each made from different materials, reading the label is of utmost importance. For instance, sweaters made from cashmere should never be machine washed and should only ever be hand-washed. Wool and wool blends require dry cleaning only. Cotton and cotton blend sweaters may be machine washed using Clean People Laundry Detergent Sheets in a cold water or delicate cycle.
Only Wash On Every 3-5 Wears
You can freely enjoy your holiday activities no matter how strenuous knowing it is not necessary to wash your sweaters and cardigans after each wear unless they have been soiled. Typically sweaters need to be washed every 3-5 wears depending on the material of the sweater. Wool can stand up to five wears, and cotton and cashmere should ideally be 3-4 wears. If your sweater does get soiled from hot cocoa, sweet cranberry sauce, or other unfortunate stains, don’t forget to pre-treat the stains using your Clean People Oxygen Brightener or Clean People Stain Spray.
Only Wash With Other Delicate Garments
Sweaters are made from more delicate materials causing them to be more susceptible to pilling. While it is not difficult to remove pilling if it occurs, washing your sweaters with other similar garments is the most effective way to prevent pilling. Be sure to not wash them with items that contain zippers, velcro, or other harsh materials like jeans or winter jackets.
Never Dry Sweaters In The Dryer
All sweaters should be laid out to dry rather than tossed in the dryer. Common sweater materials will shrink when machine dried from a wet state. Cashmere can take a few days to air dry, and other materials can air dry fairly quickly. If you have a sweater with a lot of static cling, toss into the dryer after it is completely air-dried and use your Clean People Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets or Clean People Wool Dryer Balls to help remove that excess static!
Always Fold Sweaters To Store Them
It is a common practice to hang sweaters in the closet on hangers; however, doing so can result in unnecessary stretching and allows odd shapes to take hold in the shoulder area. Loosely fold your sweaters and stack them in a drawer or on a shelf to help them maintain their shape and elasticity.
We hope you enjoy this cozy sweater weather season with family and friends, and that these tips will give you the confidence you need to know you’re taking care of your delicate sweaters the right way! Cozy up by the fire, drink that hot cocoa, and have a happy sweater weather season!
