Your favorite sweater looked fabulous when you bought it, but frequent wear can make it looked a little rough and stretched-out.
Save yourself the stress of having to find a new favorite sweater and follow some basic fabric care principles to keep your sweaters in tip-top shape.
* Don't wash after every wear. Cotton and cashmere sweaters should be washed after every second wear, while wool or polyester can withstand four or five. Wear t-shirts or tank tops underneath to keep them fresh and reduce friction that can wear down fabric.
* Hand-wash your sweaters, if you can. Use a sink or bucket full of cool water with a tablespoon or two of gentle detergent. Swish the sweater in the water and let soak for 20 to 30 minutes. If hand-washing isn't in your schedule, use your washing machine's delicate cycle.
* Always dry your sweaters flat. Lay them out a drying rack or clean towel to maintain their shape.
* Remove the pills right away to keep them from building up. Don't pull them off — use a gentle fabric shaver or carefully slice the pills off with a razor.
* Merino wool and cashmere pill less than other fabrics, but they are more expensive. A Merino wool blend can be budget-friendly and still have few pills.
* Store them folded or rolled to prevent stretching. If you have to hang them, use a padded hanger.
* Clean your sweaters thoroughly before putting them away for the summer. Store the clean sweaters in a box or chest — avoid vacuum-sealed bags or plastic bins that can trap moisture and yellow the fabric.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
