Find ways to care for your sweaters during the winter season

A sweater will last for as long as you take good care of it. Even after you send it often to a professional for cleaning, your sweaters see a little wear and tear.

Find ways to care for your sweaters during the winter season. Don’t let your sweaters lose their shape and charm during the cold months.

Well, here are few frequently asked questions about a sweater's caretaking. The answer could help you out while you're washing a sweater for winter.

How Often Should You Wash Your Sweaters?

The general approach to washing sweaters is approximately after 3-5 years unless your pullover is dirty. You can wash certain fabrics less often due to the durability factor. Woollen sweaters would be a good example.

Why is the Care Label Important?

Before you wash your sweaters, there’s something vital that you need to do. Even if you’re washing a regular sweater, you must read the care label. Otherwise, you’ll miss a few important details. It will end up ruining your sweater for winter.

If your sweater’s label says “Dry Clean Only”, you should take it to a professional. If the label mentions that drying cleaning is recommended, hand-washing or machine-washing is fine.

Similarly, if it states “Hand Wash Only”, don’t dump your pullover into the washing machine.

If you ignore the care instructions, get ready to see your sweater fall apart.

Should You Wash Sweaters Inside Out?

Here’s another important question that needs an answer. You can wash the areas that aren’t usually washed if you do it inside-out. An example would be the armpit areas on your body.

The detergent and water will deal with stains that a spot treatment can’t reach completely. Also, any graphic designs or embellishments on the sweater stay intact. All you need is to turn the sweater inside out.

How to Treat Stains on Sweaters

If you’ve spotted a stain on your sweater for winter, don’t worry! Your sweater won’t get ruined. All you need to do is, treat the stain.

Try to flush out the stain with some water. But if it’s more stubborn, you’ll have to blot the patch with some white vinegar. Then, let the vinegar seep in for a few minutes. Then you can wash the stain away with clean water.

If the stain is lifted, grab 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit on the stain for a few minutes. Then wash the area with some water. Later, use whichever washing method you prefer. The stain should go away or shouldn’t be as noticeable as before.

Can You Put Your Sweater in the Dryer?

Putting a sweater in a dryer is usually not recommended. The dryer’s heat can damage the material or cause shrinking, pilling, or wear and tear. Hence, please resort to air-drying instead. It’s the best way to dry a sweater for winter.

Once you have finished hand-washing or machine-washing, as mentioned, please don’t wring it out. The fibres could be stretched and get damaged that way.

The safer option is to lay it flat on an absorbent towel. You can roll the sweater with the towel and gently squeeze out the water. The excess water will go away.

Finally, please don’t hang your sweaters to dry them. Hanging a wet sweater can stretch out the material, which isn’t ideal.