Now that we’re well into November, your favorite sweaters are sure to be in your weekly outfit rotation. After properly storing your knitwear through the summer, and unboxing it for the fall, it’s time to take sweater care to the next level. Sweater maintenance is just as important as prepping sweaters for and removing sweaters from storage, so we’ve created a comprehensive guide to consistently caring for your favorite knitwear.
Hand Wash Delicate Materials
To prevent frayed threads and to keep your sweaters in pristine condition, hand washing is the best way to go. Place your sweater in a bucket of cool water. Then, add laundry detergent and let the fabric soak for about 30 minutes. Once properly soaked, remove from the bucket and rinse under cold water.
Freeze Out Carpet Bugs
The best (and easiest) way to get rid of any obnoxious bugs is to stick your sweater in the freezer! The low temperature creates a hostile environment for any little creature, and will make it impossible for mites to continue chewing at your fabrics. Keep your sweater in the freezer for anywhere between a few hours to a full day. If you’re having a consistent bug issue, read more here for more tips and tricks.
Get to Know your De-Fuzzing Brush
Specially designed sweater brushes have proven to be much more efficient than lint rollers. While lint rollers seem to provide a quick solution, they endanger the safety of your delicate fabrics, and don’t get at the root of the problem. Invest instead in a brush like this, which will work wonders on all your natural fiber sweaters.
Safe Machine Washing
If you don’t have the time or luxury to wash each of your sweaters by hand, be sure to machine wash them properly. Turn your sweaters inside out to help prevent pilling, and run the wash on a shorter cycle. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully depending on the sweater material, and always run sweater cycles on cold. To avoid shrinkage and excess pills, allow your garment to air dry– do NOT use a drying machine.
Writing Specialist at Lilly Brush Co.