Whether this years ugly Christmas sweater contest winner; or your favorite snowflake sprinkled cashmere sweater let’s layout the best possible tips for caring for your holiday sweaters.
Holiday sweaters may be worn a few times before they are washed. A general rule of thumb is 1-2 wears without and undershirt and 5-6 with an undershirt. Machine wash, hand wash and dry clean are three options for cleaning your holiday sweaters. For additional recommendations and tips, see below to help ensure holiday sweaters are cared for properly this holiday season.
- Follow manufacturers care guidelines. Christmas sweaters with Christmas lights, jingle bells, and some of the most elaborate embellishments are not meant to placed in the washing machine. These can often be hand washed or dry cleaned. The manufacturers care guidelines provide guidance for water temperature, dryer temperatures and if machine washing is an option.
- Regardless of washing method, we recommend you pretreat any spots or stains as they occur and remove any pilling prior to washing.
- When machine washing or handwashing your holiday sweaters, separate by color and fabric type and turn inside out to help prevent potential damage to the fabric or embellishments. This will also reduce pilling.
- A mesh laundry bag works well for machine washing to prevent damage to your holiday sweater during the wash cycle. Sweaters can often get tangled in the washing machine, which can stretch delicate fabrics or damage embellishments.
- Weather machine washing or handwashing, use cool temperature and a mild detergent and ensure a gentle wash cycle; or, manipulate gently if washing by hand.
- Rinsing thoroughly and a gentle spin cycle for machine wash items. Squeezing as much water out as possible for hand wash options without wringing. We recommend laying your sweater out on a clean towel and rolling the towel and sweater together to extract excess water.
- Placing your sweaters in the dryer is never a good idea. Reshape your sweaters and lay flat to dry or use a drying rack. A drying rack is recommended to help ensure your holiday sweaters dry more quickly and maintain their best possible shape.
If your care label calls for dry cleaning, take your holiday sweater to a professional dry cleaner. Professional dry cleaners like Collegiate Cleaners, have all the equipment and skill necessary to care for your holiday sweaters.
It is best to ensure holiday sweaters are properly cleaned and stored at the end of each holiday season. This helps ensure stains and odors do not become to hard to remove. Fold your clean and dry holiday sweaters and place in a plastic tub. Moths have the ability to eat through fabric storage bags; so, consider plastic as an alternative.
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