Knitwear: a staple to any cold weather wardrobe yet easily worn down with wear. Knitwear is one the hardest things for me to say no to so to avoid constantly saying yes to new knit pieces, I’ve learned how to take care of the ones I already have, and – spoiler – the way you should wash your knitwear isn’t difficult!
First, Why should you take care of your clothes properly?
Taking care of your clothes extends their life which is a great way to cut down the resource burden of fashion. Although not everyone can afford slow fashion, everyone can still combat overconsumption by getting the most out of what we already own. Repairing, reshaping, and most importantly properly caring for the clothes we have are important ways to reduce our need to buy new pieces and lower our contributions to the fashion industry’s environmental footprint.
Due to their delicate nature, the idea of properly caring for knitwear might seem daunting. Knits particularly are one of those items that seem demanding and hard to take care of, but in actuality, you can set yourself up for success easily. In fact, extending your knitwear’s life can be super simple! So before the cold season truly sets in, let me explain how to actually wash your knitwear so you get the most out of your pieces.
General disclaimer:
As with anything, use your best judgment. These are general recommendations that work for me and, in turn, may be helpful for others! Although these tips are gentle and should work for most things, if you’re unsure about something, check the care label of your garments before proceeding.
Gently spot treat.
Pulling, tugging, and scrubbing knits can really damage them so be gentle when spot treating! Instead, I suggest you spray your spot treatment or gently dab some detergent on any spots if needed. Once you’ve applied your spot treatment or detergent, just let it sit for a handful of minutes before washing instead of scrubbing it into the fibers of the knitwear.
Turn knits inside out before washing.
Because things will rub against each other and potentially snag on your knitwear in the wash, washing them inside out ensures any damage won’t be done to the forward-facing part of the garment. So, turning your knitwear inside out before washing will reduce things like pilling and keep them looking new for longer. Washing your knits in a mesh bag is also helpful for delicate pieces or when doing a general load of laundry.
Choose a low-temperature heat setting.
Heat is typically bad for any garment, but knitwear is especially vulnerable to shrinkage or color fading. Because of this definitely only wash your knitwear using cold water. Use a low-temperature heat setting on your washing machine or stay below lukewarm if handwashing.
Only use delicate cycles when using a washer.
Hand washing is typically recommended for most knitwear and while that’s a good gentle way to clean your knitwear, I don’t have the patience or time for that. Instead, I prefer to choose a delicate cycle on my washer and use minimal spin. It hasn’t done my knits wrong so far and have had pieces that look brand new for over ten years! Go for gentle cycles that soak instead of agitate for a low-fuss clean.
Hang drying is a must.
This is honestly the key to knitwear longevity because dryers can royally mess up knits! Drape your freshly washed knits over a drying rack, using more rungs as needed for thicker pieces. Avoid clothespins and hangers as these can stretch and warp the shape of knits, especially heavier pieces. Don’t have a drying rack? Lay your knits on the back or seat of a chair after gently reshaping then allow to dry.
Flip your knits while drying.
It can take a long time for knits to fully dry thanks to the thick fibers and dense material. To help keep airflow and allow your knits to fully dry, make sure to flip them as they’re hanging to dry. I like to flip mine once generally, but for thicker knits at least twice. This not only speeds up the drying process but it ensures no moisture gets trapped without compromising the integrity of the pieces by putting them in the dryer.
Store carefully.
Steer clear of hanging your knitwear because this can stretch your pieces and lead to them losing shape. It’s preferable to fold them flatly and either stack your pieces on top of each other like at a department store or standing up if your drawer is deep enough. Folded correctly and sitting flat against each other is the best way to prevent them from getting misshapen or wrinkled. For smaller spaces, you can gently roll your knits and store them standing up in bins or a drawer.
Don’t wash your knits often.
Shoot for less washes to reduce the chance of wear and tear and is the best way to maintain the longevity of knitwear. However, the material will also change how frequently you’ll need to wash them too. For example, wool can go 5 or more wears while cotton needs to be washed after about 3. Every 3-5 wears is typically the range I go for, always trying to extend the amount of wears between washes regardless of what the material is.
Still concerned about washing your knits less? Then make sure to wear undershirts or base layers under your knits so those are getting dirty instead of the knit itself.
Knowing how to properly wash your knitwear will extend the life of Your pieces and help reduce waste.
Good knits are hard to come by these days and I personally cannot bear to part with any of the pieces I have. Learning how to extend the longevity of the things you own lessens the resource burden we put on our planet. That makes taking care of your knits all the more important! Use these tips to treat your knits with care and extend the life of your pieces.