Your Ultimate Guide to Sweater Care

Sweaters are a wardrobe staple in fall and winter—and you definitely want your investment (especially cashmere!) to last. But those plans can hit a snag if, well, your sweater gets a serious snag (or shrinks or gets misshapen).

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to take good care of your sweaters, so they look great season after season. Try these tips to find high-quality sweaters—and keep them looking their best.

Shop Wisely

That $250 cashmere sweater may seem steep, but often the more expensive sweaters feature a thicker, tighter weave that'll last longer than their cheaper counterparts. Before you buy, examine the weave of the sweater—tighter weave sweaters are more likely to last than ones that have a more open weave.

You might also consider a cashmere blend—you'll sacrifice a bit of softness, but make up for it with a sweater that might handle more wear and tear.

How to Wash a Cashmere or Wool Sweater

Unless your sweater's care instructions say to dry clean only, your wool or cashmere sweater can stand up to a (very gentle) tumble in the washing machine. Here's how to wash a wool sweater or cashmere sweater and still protect it from damage.

Prep for washing.

Turn your sweater inside out so wear and tear happens on the inside of the garment—not the part you see. Snap, button, or zip any fasteners to minimize the chances of snags.

Wash gently.

Hand washing is probably the safest bet—just fill a sink with lukewarm water and a mild detergent or baby shampoo, swish it through a few times, then let it soak for 10 minutes. Rinse gently but thoroughly.

If you want to use your machine, use the gentlest setting, skip the spin cycle, and use a dye-free detergent that rinses clean. Only wash like with like—don't run your sweater through with denim or other rough fabrics, unless you love pilling.

Be careful when drying.

Wringing out your cashmere or wool sweater can stretch and misshape the fibers. Instead, lay it flat on a clean, dry towel, and roll up the towel in a jelly roll-like spiral to squeeze out the excess water.

Then unroll it and lie your sweater flat on a fresh towel to dry.

How to Fix a Pilled Sweater

Whenever your sweater's rubbing against something else, like your bag at your hip or against itself under your arms, it can develop tiny pills. Fortunately, it's easy to remove the pills and get your sweater back into tip-top shape.

Don't pull sweater pills.

It can be really tempting to want to pull pills off, but you risk damaging the sweater.

Use the right sweater tools.

Clothing shavers are specially designed tools to remove pills. For larger pills that are far off the fabric, you can use a small pair of scissors to carefully trim off the pills.

How to Fix Shrinkage

It happens—somehow, someone sneaks your favorite wool sweater into the dryer. But that doesn't mean you need to give it away to a small child. Here's how to refashion your sweater after a run through the dryer.

Soak it again.

Put the sweater in a water-filled sink, along with a capful of conditioner. Let it sit for 10 minutes to help soften up the fibers.

Reshape the sweater and let it dry.

Gently reshape the sweater to the dimensions you need, then lay it out on a towel to dry.

How to Fix Snags

All it takes is a quick run-in with a nail or sharp edge to do some serious damage to your sweater. Fortunately, many sweater snags can be repaired to keep your sweater looking new. The secret? Use a needle or crochet hook to gently push or pull the snag back through to the inside of the sweater.

How to Store Sweaters

When it's time to put your sweaters away for the season, make sure they're clean—crumbs or stains might attract pests or become harder to remove after months in storage. Use lavender or cedar to naturally keep pests at bay, and store your items in an airtight bag or container in a dry, temperature-controlled area of your house (skip hot attics or humid basements).

Products to Add to Your Sweater Care Kit

Repair Kit

This clever kit enables you to care for snags or pilling on the go, with a sweater comb for taking care of napping or pilling, and a repair tool to help you pull snags through to the other side of the garment.

Fabric Shaver

To keep your sweaters in tip-top shape, use this battery-powered shaver to trim away fuzz and pilling.

Dry + Dry Bags

When you're storing your sweaters, moisture is the enemy. These dry bags help absorb any moisture to ensure your favorite sweaters come out of storage smelling fresh.

Crease Release Spray

Easily spray away crinkles and wrinkles with crease-release spray. (It also gives your sweaters a fresh-from-the-laundry smell with lily of the valley and sandalwood.)

Sweater Storage Bag

This canvas and plastic bag helps protect your out-of-season sweaters from dust and pests—and the clear plastic top makes it easy to see and find the sweater you're seeking.

Soak Wash

Don't like strong fragrances? Clean your sweaters with this eco-friendly cleanser, which is scentless and doesn't even need to be rinsed from your clothes.

Wool and Cashmere Shampoo

Give your sweaters a good handwash with this cedar-scented shampoo. (It's perfect for a pre-storage wash, to help keep moths at bay.)

Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifying Bags

These charcoal air purifying bags help keep moisture and odors at bay—just refresh them once a month by placing them in sunlight. When they're off sweater duty for the winter, you can use them to keep gym bags and other smelly areas fresher.