‘Tis the season for sweaters! This is my favorite time of year, because I get to break out all of my favorite sweaters. Granted, I do wear cardigans year-round due to working in a cold office. But, some of my favorite pullovers only get to be worn a few months out of the year. I have sweaters in all types of materials, but wool is by far my favorite. It does take a little extra care, so today I want to share how I’ve been caring for wool sweaters.
FOLD THEM, DON’T HANG THEM
Always, always fold your sweaters! Regardless of wool or not, sweaters will lose their shape if they’re hung on a coat hanger. Find a spot in your closet where you can fold and stack them. This will prolong their life. When I switch out my summer/fall clothes, these two shelves look very different. My summer sandals go on these shelves in the spring/summer, and this is where my sweaters live in fall/winter. I even fold up my cardigans (on the bottom shelf of the picture).
USE WOOL WASH AND COOL WATER
….or, at the very least, a gentle detergent. There are many wool washes on the market, and the most popular one is probably Woolite. I’ve linked a few of my favorites below. In a pinch, I have used our gentle detergent on my wool sweaters. You should always wash wool on cool water, because warm or hot water will cause it to felt. When wool felts, it shrinks. Basically, the wool fibers lock together like velcro and your sweater will shrink. Hand washing is best, but if you have a very gentle cycle on your washing machine that can work as well.
All that being said, wool does not have to be washed every time to wear it! Wool is naturally anti-bacterial. Most of my wool sweaters are washed once or twice during the winter.
DE-PILL AS NEEDED
Wool that is very soft, such as cashmere, will have the tendency to pill. This is normal; it’s simply because the fibers are soft and rub together. I’ve linked my favorite fabric shaver below. It’s great, because it doesn’t require any batteries and it comes with multiple attachments that you switch out depending on the fabric. The opposite end is a lint roller that doesn’t require any sticky sheets. It’s the best thing I’ve bought for my wardrobe in a long time.
Thanks for checking out how I’ve been caring for wool sweaters! As an avid knitter, caring for wool is second nature to me. I’m happy to pass on the little tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years.
Rebecca has been writing about style, beauty, and lifestyle topics since 2011. Thank you so much for reading this post! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. I love hearing from you!
