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Bettesworth Construction
hand washing

How to Hand-Wash a Sweater Without Losing Its Shape

Check the care label, gently wash and rinse the sweater, press water out with a towel, and dry it flat. Wool needs mild detergent and wool-specific handling.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read
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Check the care label first: it determines whether a sweater can be hand-washed and whether wool-specific steps apply. For a hand-wash-only sweater, gently move it through water, rinse thoroughly, press out water in a towel, and dry it flat. Never rub or wring it.

Check the label before washing

Follow the sweater’s care label and any manufacturer instructions. A label that says “dry clean only” is not permission to hand-wash. Trims such as suede, leather, or beads can also be damaged by water or need special care. The American Cleaning Institute’s sweater-care guidance recommends professional cleaning for dry-clean-only sweaters with stains or heavy soil.

How to hand-wash a sweater

For a wool sweater

  1. Fill a basin with clean lukewarm water and add a neutral, mild detergent intended for wool, following the product directions. Woolmark explains what kind of detergent to use for wool.
  2. Turn the sweater inside out if helpful. Wash it individually or with like colors; Woolmark advises washing sweaters individually or with like colors together.
  3. Submerge the sweater and let it soak for about 10 minutes, as Woolmark recommends for wool sweaters.
  4. Move it gently through the water to clean it. Do not rub, agitate vigorously, squeeze hard, or wring it. See Woolmark’s Merino sweater laundering guide and wool sweater washing instructions.
  5. Rinse thoroughly, first in lukewarm water and then in cold water.

For other fibers

Do not assume wool’s 10-minute soak or rinse temperatures apply to every sweater. Use the garment’s label as your guide. The American Cleaning Institute’s general method is to gently swish the sweater in water, avoid rubbing and wringing, and rinse thoroughly.

Remove water without stretching the sweater

Support the wet garment, lay it on a clean towel, and roll the towel and sweater together. Press gently to absorb excess water; do not twist or wring the sweater. The American Cleaning Institute and Woolmark describe towel pressing as part of sweater care.

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Dry it flat and restore its shape

Lay the sweater flat on a dry surface and gently coax it back toward its original shape while it is damp. Woolmark recommends flat drying unless the garment’s care claim explicitly permits tumble drying. Avoid direct heat and sunlight when drying wool, in line with the American Wool Council’s wool-care guidance.

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