The Best Ways To Care For Your Sweaters

How do you keep your favourite sweaters looking cosy and fabulous year after year? Caring for your sweaters is essential to ensure they stay soft, stylish, and free from unsightly fuzz or pilling. In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to pamper your knitwear, offering simple tips that anyone can follow. With a little TLC, your sweaters will remain your go-to companions for chilly days, maintaining their warmth and charm for seasons to come. Let’s dive into sweater care!

Remove Pills the Right Way

Is there anything as annoying as pilling on a favourite sweater? A perfectly pretty wool cardigan can start to look like an ungroomed dog after a while if you’re not careful. Unfortunately, all sweaters pill — it’s caused by rubbing during wear and is more apparent around the elbows, under the armpits, and on the sleeves, but it can occur anywhere on the sweater.

To remove pills easily, hold the sweater flat with one hand and slice the pills off (one at a time) with a razor. You can also buy a pill remover. Don’t pull on them — it will only cause the pills to get worse.

Turn Noticeable Snags Inside Out

Snags (AKA when the stitch comes out of the sweater) are the worst because they seem unfixable, and you risk the sweater unravelling if the snag gets caught on something. Snags are not completely fixable, but luckily, they can be placed on the inside so that they’re no longer an issue on the outside.

Simply turn the sweater inside out, insert a crochet hook into the same stitch as the snag, and carefully pull the snag through (a safety pin will also work in a pinch). You’ll no longer be able to see the snag, and you won’t run the risk of the snag getting caught on something.

Regularly Remove Hair and Lint

Thanks to the soft wool, knit, or cashmere that we all know and love, the fabric of sweaters can sometimes act as a magnet, attracting and sticking to dust, lint, dandruff, or strands of hair. A child’s soft hairbrush or a soft toothbrush will help you quickly brush off anything on the sweater for an easy fix, but make sure not to brush too harshly on the sweater, or it will loosen the fabric and create pills.

You can brush through after every wear, but a quick TLC for all your sweaters once a month is sufficient to prevent lint, dandruff, dust, or hair pile-up.

Follow the Garment’s Care Labels

Most cotton and cotton blends can be machine washed, while cashmere should always be hand washed or dry cleaned. If you choose to hand wash, use a mild detergent or soap like Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castille soap. Always dry clean wool or wool blends.

Know How to Wash

Washing your sweaters doesn’t have to be a pain. Most sweaters should be hand-washed so they last longer, and the fabric stays intact. To hand wash, fill a bucket or sink with cool water, add a few squirts of gentle laundry detergent, submerge the sweater, and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Then, rinse it under cool water. To dry, gently squeeze water out of the sweater (never wring it out), and roll it up in a towel (like a sleeping bag or sushi roll) to suck up all the excess water.

Finally, lay it flat on a drying rack or clean towel to dry. Cotton and cashmere typically need to be washed after 2–3 wears, while wool or polyester can withstand about five wears.

Let Your Sweaters Air Dry

The trick to drying your sweaters quickly without throwing them in the dryer? Roll your sweater up in a towel like a sushi roll to ring out the water (never squeeze), and then lay it flat.

Wet cashmere can take a couple of days to dry, so make sure you leave enough time before you want to wear it again. Another fun trick is to put your sweater in a salad spinner to spin off excess water. Then, lay flat to dry.

Fold Your Sweaters to Store Them

Ideally, you should always fold your sweaters and not hang them. Hanging them stretches out the shoulders and creates weird shapes. To save space when folding chunky knits, we recommend using the KonMari method

Advantages of Professional Dry Cleaners for Sweater Care

Taking your sweaters to professional dry cleaners in Earls Court offers several distinct advantages over home washing and maintenance. These specialists are well-equipped and experienced in handling delicate fabrics like wool, cashmere, and knit blends. Here are the key benefits:

Expertise in Fabric Care

Professional dry cleaners have a deep understanding of different sweater fabrics, including their unique needs and vulnerabilities. They can identify the right cleaning method and solutions for each type of sweater, ensuring that delicate fibres and intricate weaves are handled with care.

Prevention of Shrinkage and Distortion

One of the primary concerns when washing sweaters at home is the risk of shrinkage and distortion. Professional dry cleaners have the knowledge and equipment to maintain the original shape and size of your sweaters. They use specialised techniques and equipment to prevent stretching, misshaping, or pilling.

Stain Removal Mastery

Stubborn stains like grease, ink, or wine can be challenging to remove without damaging the fabric. Dry cleaners are skilled in stain identification and removal, using specialised solvents and methods to effectively eliminate stains without leaving behind unsightly marks or discolouration.

Preservation of Colour and Texture

Over time, frequent washing at home can cause sweaters to fade and lose their vibrancy. Professional dry cleaners take precautions to preserve the colour and texture of your sweaters. Their expertise ensures that your garments maintain their original beauty, even after multiple cleanings.

Prolonged Lifespan

By entrusting your sweaters to professional dry cleaners, you can significantly extend their lifespan. The gentle handling, appropriate cleaning agents, and expert care provided by dry cleaners help reduce wear and tear, ensuring that your sweaters remain in pristine condition for years.

Convenience and Time Savings

Dry cleaning in Earls Court is a convenient option for busy individuals. Rather than dedicating time to hand washing, drying, and ironing sweaters, you can drop them off at a dry cleaner and pick them up, ready to wear. This time-saving aspect is especially valuable during sweater season when you have multiple garments to care for.

Eco-Friendly Practices

Many professional dry cleaners have adopted environmentally friendly practices. They use green cleaning solutions and modern equipment that minimises the use of harmful chemicals and reduces water waste, making dry cleaning a more sustainable choice compared to home washing.

Wrap up!

In the world of sweater care, professional dry cleaning shines as the golden standard. Gold Dry Cleaners offers top-tier cleaning services in Earls Court. We’ve shared the many advantages of entrusting your cherished sweaters to experts. Our team’s deep knowledge of fabrics, stain removal mastery, and commitment to preserving your garments ensure that your sweaters remain cosy, colourful, and in perfect shape for years to come.

We offer you the gift of convenience, time savings, and eco-friendly practices, all wrapped up in a friendly, reliable service. So, when it’s sweater season, remember that Gold Dry Cleaners is your trusted partner in sweater care, ensuring your knits continue to sparkle like gold.