With Autumn in full swing, it's time to retire your sundresses until next year and give your sweaters their big debut. Whether it's an old favourite or a new addition, keep your sweaters in top shape this season with these tips and tricks!
Fleece:
Aritzia Cozy Fleece Mega ¼ Zip Sweatshirt: $80
How to care for your fleece:
There is nothing better than a nice fresh fleece sweater to warm you up on the chilly days! The best part of fleece? It’s totally machine washable! If you want to keep your fleece soft for longer while avoiding pilling, you can take these steps to ensure your new sweater will see a long life!
1. Turn your fleece inside out before washing
Turning your fleece inside out will ensure that the outside of your sweater will not catch any lint that could be passed over by the rest of the laundry load, as well as protect the outside of your sweater.
2. Do not put your fleece in with anything that produces lint (towels, blankets, fuzzy socks…)
Fleece has a sneaky way of attracting lint and hair to its fabric, and it becomes extremely hard to remove once it sticks. To minimize this, we recommend washing this fabric with similar materials to ensure it stays looking brand new for as long as possible.
3. Wash your fleece in cold water
Fleece is very sensitive to heat, so to ensure that your fleece will not prematurely pill, shrink or even melt, make sure you wash in warm or cold water. Air drying is also recommended if possible.
4. Use a powdered detergent rather than a liquid detergent
Did you know that fleece is water resistant? Liquid laundry detergent has certain chemicals added that will strip away the water-resistant component of fleece. Using a mild powdered detergent will keep your fleece soft and will not strip the fabric.
Nylon
Simons Cheerful Fuzzy Knit Sweater- $59
How to Care for your Nylon:
Everyone needs a cozy sweater in their closet! This fuzzy loose knit sweater is made from 100% nylon and is sure to keep you free and comfortable on any occasion! Because this fabric is prone to shrinkage and stretching, it is important to take the proper steps to care for this fabric in order to give it the longest life possible!
1. Hand wash only!
This fabric is easy to manipulate, so a tumble through the washing machine can warp, stretch or shrink your sweater with just one wash!
2. Lay flat to dry
As previously stated, this material does not do well with heat or spinning from machines, so if you can, lay it on a flat surface to air dry. This will ensure that the material will not shed, warp or shrink prematurely.
3. Keep off the hanger
Due to the flexibility and give of this material, it is best kept folded in a drawer rather than hung up in a closet. Hanging this material will stretch the shoulders over time from having to support rest of the sweater.
Cotton
Holt Renfrew Lightweight Cotton Crewneck- $125
How to Care for your Cotton:
Cotton is one of the warmest and most comfortable materials out there! It is also relatively low maintenance, which is always a bonus! Although sturdy, it is prone to shrinkage and creasing, so make sure you do everything to avoid this from happening.
1. Wash in cold water only
Although cotton can be washed in the washing machine, it is important to wash in cold water to avoid shrinkage. You may use a dryer to dry, as long as it is on the lowest heat setting. You also may want to take the cotton our of the dryer before it is fully dry, and air dry from damp.
2. Do not iron dry
This might be surprising, but when cotton wrinkles or creases, it is best to either steam the article or to iron while still damp. Doing this while the fabric is wet will add a barrier that will lower the risk of shrinkage.
3. If you do notice shrinkage, give it a stretch
Sometimes you can do everything right, and your sweater might still feel a little tighter after a wash. If you notice this happening, give it a cold-water wash. Once you take the sweater out of the washing machine, you can gently pull on any areas that have shrunk and it should stretch back to its original size.
Polyester Blends
H&M Loose Knit Cardigan- $14.99
How to Care for your Polyester
Polyester fabrics are strong, resilient, wrinkle resistant. They are also nonabsorbent, attract and hold stains, and may pill when rubbed. Luckily, they are quite easy to take care of!
1. Machine wash is fine
This material is durable and fine to be thrown in the washer and dryer! A regular wash in warm water and a tumble dry will not cause wrinkles or unrepairable shrinkage. Gradual shrinkage from machine drying is normal, so hang to dry if desired.
2. Turn inside out to wash
Although the material is resilient- it is important to turn the clothing inside out while watching. Polyester blends are typically thin, which runs the risk of snagging during washing.
3. If you notice a stain
As this fabric tends to stain quickly, if you spill on your sweater, dab with mild soap and water as soon as possible. When you get home, soak the garment in warm water with detergent for at least an hour before washing.
Some general house keeping tips:
Pill Removing: Make sure you are lint brushing your clothing frequently so that there is no buildup of hair or dust. If you notice your sweater starts to pill, you can purchase a “fabric shaver” and lightly remove all pills straight from your living room!
Itchy Sweaters: If your sweater is scratchy, let it soak in water with some fabric softener for about 30 minutes before you wash it. No more itching here!
Hanging: Generally, sweaters should be folded. There are, however, many reasons one might choose to hang their sweaters instead. If you hang any sweaters, hang them so they are draped over the bottom of the hanger. This will keep from stretching the shoulders.
Storage: If you put your sweaters in storage through the warm months, make sure that you seal them in an airtight container in a cool dry area. This will ensure that they will not be exposed to any dust, moisture or dirt while they wait for their time to shine.
