We are officially entering the Sweater weather season! 

Who doesn’t love wearing a good, cozy sweater on a chilly fall day? While it may sound cheesy, it is one of life’s simple pleasures. 

However, have you ever had a moment when one of your favorite Sweaters snagged, ripped, or was damaged and wondered what you could’ve done to prevent it?

If you want to start taking better care of your favorite fall and winter sweaters so you can wear them even longer, here are some tips for how to do it!

Track when you wash them.

Unlike some of our more casual tops and tee-shirts, sweaters should not be washed that often. While it may sound a little odd or nasty, unless you spill something on them, your sweaters should be worn several times before getting washed. This will keep them from getting worn out too fast.

Cotton and cashmere sweaters can be washed after two to three wears, while polyester or wool sweaters can usually withstand around five wears before getting cleaned. To be extra cautious with your sweaters, hand wash them using gentle laundry detergent and let them soak in a bucket or sink full of cool water before rinsing them and allowing them to dry on a towel. 

If you need to use your washing machine, always be sure to read your sweater’s label and follow the instructions!

Wear something underneath them.

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If you can bear an extra layer, consider wearing a tee shirt or camisole underneath your sweaters when you wear them.

This will provide an extra layer of protection from sweat, odors, deodorants, and perfumes, helping your sweater last longer without getting washed.

Be diligent when it comes to pills.

No, I’m not talking about the pills you take. I’m talking about pills that appear on your sweater. After a few wears, your favorite sweaters made from wool, cotton, cashmere, or even polyester will start pilling due to fibers in the material breaking down.

When you notice your sweater starts to form pills, carefully remove them right away. You can remove the pills by carefully holding your sweater flat and swiping them off with a razor or a pill remover. Be very cautious when doing this, and avoid pulling the pills off with your fingers, as that can cause them to get worse.

Fix snags from the inside out.

Snagging a beloved sweater is terrible, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. A popular hack to fix snags on a sweater is to turn the sweater inside out and gently pull the snag through its stitch using a safety pin or crochet hook. This will turn the snag inside out and prevent it from showing or getting caught on something else!

Routinely remove lint and pet hair.

Lint and pet hair lingering on a sweater is irritating and dangerous to your sweater’s quality! This is because lint and pet hair, which often contain dead skin cells and dust, can pile up and, over time, ruin your sweater. 

To get a more accurate shot at removing hair and lint, quickly and gently swipe a soft-bristled toothbrush across your sweater to brush it off.

Don’t brush too harshly, as that can loosen the fabric. Doing this routinely or before every wear will help keep your sweater nice and spotless.

Safely pack away your sweaters during the warmer months.

Leaving your sweaters lying around your home year-round puts them at risk of collecting dust, lint, and pet hair. 

Store them properly in storage bags (not vacuum-sealed ones) or boxes during the spring and summer to prevent them from getting damaged.

There you have it! Now you have some easy tips for keeping your favorite fall sweaters cozy and lovely year-round. Enjoy your sweater season!

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