Sweaters are criticized for being difficult to care for. Sure, they can be a little capricious, but the rules of sweater care are actually pretty simple – once you know them. The most important thing to know is how to wash sweaters. There are also some special products that make a big difference in extending the life of sweaters and ensuring they look their best.
First, some basics: According to Jacqueline Sava, founder of Soak wash, “The biggest mistake people make is not washing their sweaters. Like ever.” Washing sweaters preserves and renews the fibers by removing what Sava calls “invisible dirt”—things like body oils, dead skin, dirt.
You should wash your sweater after a few wears; It’s important to wash sweaters before storing them in mid- or long-term storage, to deter moths and other pests. Storing dirty sweaters can also cause stains and odors to stick to the fibers. When it comes to storing sweaters, it’s best to fold them up – hanging a sweater while it’s wet causes it to stretch and tear easily, and hanging a sweater dry can cause hanger marks (also known as hangers). is “point”).
Before the sticky lint roller is a tool for removing hair, lint and other debris that is combed out of clothes with a practical brush! Clothes brushes are still around and they’re great to know about; Not only do they work great, but they also don’t create waste or cost like sticky rollers do.
Adhesive rollers are absolutely vital when it comes to fabric care – they can be great to tuck into a pocket or desk drawer to quickly clean faded or pet-stained sweaters. But rollers are sticky, well, sticky and can get messy when not in use. Flint’s retractable lint roller solves that problem.
One problem that lint brushes and sticky rollers don’t solve is clumping. Sweater shedding occurs when friction causes the fibers of the fabric to fray or break and become tangled, causing the garment to become wrinkled. The Gleener shaver and lint brush is the best tool for removing medication from any sweater, from the thickest sweaters to the finest, most delicate cashmere wool.
A battery-operated fabric scraper is another great option for sweater descaling. To use, let the razor gently glide over the surface of the sweater and remove the medication. The shaver has a collection compartment that can be discarded after use.
It’s not necessary to use a special detergent for sweaters – a small amount of regular laundry detergent can be used in both machine washing or sleeve washing – but you can use a small amount of regular detergent! This is especially true if you frequently hand wash sweaters and other items. The no-rinse soak formula is our top choice when it comes to hand sanitizer because of its ease of use.
Eucalan Delicate Wash is another great cleanser. It does, however, contain lanolin, making it a great detergent for washing woolen clothes (lanolin occurs naturally in wool), but it’s not ideal for washing other fabrics as it can attract dust. dirty.
Specialty cleaners make a great gift, as they are items we don’t normally use on ourselves. If you’re looking for a great value laundry detergent to gift to a knitter or a fashionista, Le Blanc’s silk and lingerie laundry detergent is a great laundry detergent with a luxurious scent. .
Woolite is an old standard, and for good reason: It’s a very good cleaner and, unlike other cleaners for sweaters, it has the benefit of being widely available and reasonably priced. reasonable.
Hand washing is the gold standard of sweater care, but many sweaters can be washed right in the washing machine, saving you time and effort. But extra measures should be taken, such as using a mesh laundry bag, to make sure the clothes don’t get damaged. The bag will reduce the amount of friction the sweater comes in contact with, preventing the fibers from fraying or tearing during washing.
Buying a set of mesh laundry bags in a variety of sizes will be the right choice for most people, as they are useful when washing items that are more than just sweaters. But if sweaters are the only thing you use a laundry bag for, or if you regularly machine wash more than one sweater, get this oversized set of two bags.
After washing, it can be helpful to roll the sweater in a towel to push the water out without wringing or twisting the garment, which can cause the fibers to stretch or break. Using a super quick-drying towel for work is ideal – they’re also a smart choice to use when washing hands while traveling.
Regardless of whether you are washing by machine or by hand, sweaters should always dry flat; Hanging a wet sweater will cause it to stretch and swell. A flat mesh drying rack is ideal for sweaters because it allows air to circulate evenly even when the sweater is flat.
Washing multiple sweaters at once is a good time management strategy, but drying multiple sweaters at once can leave you with wet clothes all over the place. Stackable sweater drying racks solve that problem and will be the right choice for those who often wash many sweaters at once.
A drying rack designed specifically for sweaters is a good choice for some, but a multi-purpose drying rack will be the right choice for most. Look for models that have plenty of room to dry flat, such as the Honey-Can-Do gull rack.
Sweaters shouldn’t be hung, but stacks of folded sweaters have a way of falling off on their own and forming a pile. Shelves help solve that problem by creating holes that help keep the stack of folded sweaters in place.
When choosing a storage bag for a sweater, consider the storage environment and look for styles that protect against dust, insects, water, light, etc., depending on how the space is stored. This set of foldable storage bags collapses when not in use, and because they’re fabric, they’re more breathable than plastic bins.
Sweater storage options come in all shapes and sizes, and the trick to finding the right one for you is to measure the storage space you have before purchasing any. Wide, flat tote bags are a popular choice, and this style features pre-sewn loops so cedar panels can be inserted.
Plastic is less breathable than fabric which is a drawback when it comes to sweaters. However, if your storage space is prone to moisture or worse – flood! – Watertight bins would be a smart storage choice to protect against possible water damage.
When storing very delicate or precious sweaters, it’s important to take steps to protect them from light, dust, moisture, etc. Wrapping clothes in acid-free paper towels will help keep them safe. yellowed when stored away.
