One of my favorite things about fall and winter is that it’s finally sweater weather! As a longtime knitter, I love to try out my new handmade clothing and break out some of my favorite commercially produced sweaters. With both handmade and purchased sweaters, it’s important to take care of your garments throughout the season to ensure they are ready to wear for years.
If your winter wear has been stored for the summer, you may want to take some time to freshen your clothing up before wearing it. If your clothes have a musty smell, try giving them a quick wash or take dry clean-only items to the dry cleaners. If there’s still a smell, you may want to add some white vinegar, borax, or baking soda to your wash. For clothes that come out of storage with a few wrinkles, iron or steam your garment, or you can just bring them into the bathroom when you take a hot shower and use that steam to release the wrinkles.
Once you have your cold-weather clothing out of storage, take care of them throughout the season! Closely read the care instruction label for your winter clothes to see how they should be laundered. Some sweaters, usually those made with synthetic fibers, can be machine-washed on cold and tumble-dried on low and still keep their shape. If you have a sweater made with natural fibers, such as certain types of wool, it may be recommended to handwash your garment or use the hand wash cycle on your washing machine. Wool sweaters should NEVER be put in the dryer – this can cause them to “feel” and shrink dramatically. If you are unsure what to do with your favorite sweater, check out the University of Georgia’s “Understand Your Fibers” factsheet.
When your sweaters are clean, they should be folded and put in a drawer or shelf, rather than hung in the closet. Hanging a sweater can cause it to stretch or create bumps in the shoulder area. When wearing your sweaters, choose jewelry and accessories carefully – some jewelry can easily snag your knitwear. Be sure to treat stains soon, particularly before they go into storage again as stains that age can darken over time.
When winter is over and it’s time to put away your sweaters until next fall, make sure that your clothes have all been cleaned and completely dried – soiled sweaters in storage could potentially attract cloth-damaging insects. Finally, be sure to store your sweaters and winter wear in a cool, dark, and dry area of your home. Happy sweater season!
Written By: Jessica Lowe, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, lowe.495@osu.edu
Reviewed By: Alisha Barton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County, barton.345@osu.edu
Resources:
Clean up your winter wardrobe. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI). (n.d.-a). https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/cleaning-schedule/clean-your-winter-wardrobe
Lowe, J. (2023, June 15). Knit your way to better health. Live Healthy Live Well. https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/06/15/knit-your-way-to-better-health/
Sweater care. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI). (n.d.-b). https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/fabric-care/sweater-care
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. (n.d.). Understand your fibers. Textiles. https://site.extension.uga.edu/textiles/textile-basics/understand-your-fibers/