How to care for your pullover and cardigan sweaters

Have you already stocked up on warm clothes for fall and winter? If so, make sure you know how to take care of them, so you can enjoy them for years to come. Whether they're made of wool or cotton, your sweaters and cardigans require special care to prevent them from fading or becoming misshapen. The team at Ernest has put together a handful of tips and tricks for cleaning, rinsing, drying and storing your sweaters and cardigans.

Read the label

If you wash and dry all your clothes together on the same setting, you’re doing it wrong. Depending on the material of your sweaters and cardigans, you need to follow certain rules to prevent them from fading, shrinking and stretching.

If you want to get years of wear out of your favourite sweater or cardigan, it’s important to follow the instructions on the garment’s care label. The care label tells you exactly how to wash and dry the garment and provides information about bleaching and ironing. It tells you what the manufacturer recommends for keeping the garment looking its best.

However, it can be hard to decode the symbols and pictograms on care labels. These small icons aren’t something everyone knows off the top of their heads. Fortunately, thanks to the magic of the internet, you can now become an expert in deciphering your clothing’s care labels. Check out this article from Tide entitled How to Read Laundry Symbols. It offers a wealth of information.

Source: https://www.lcommelin.com/module/csblog/post/18-1-le-lin-tout-un-symbole.html

Cleaning and storage tips for wool sweaters and cardigans

Do you own a wool sweater or cardigan? If so, did you know that these knits require special care to keep looking their best? Wool tends to shrink in the dryer and should never be exposed to high heat. In fact, most wool clothing should be dry-cleaned. However, some pieces can be washed in the comfort of your own home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Wash your wool sweaters in a laundry bag
• Use a mild detergent that’s suitable for delicate fabrics
• Lay the sweater on a towel and roll it up to remove any excess moisture
• Once the sweater is almost dry, lay it flat on a towel to prevent it from becoming misshapen

Don’t hang sweaters made of delicate fabric like wool. This can cause them to stretch and become misshapen. After washing your wool sweaters, it’s best to fold them and store them in a drawer.

You should also wash your wool sweaters and cardigans sparingly. You don’t need to wash them after every wear. You can simply freshen them up using a steamer or by hanging them in the bathroom while you shower.

Furthermore, knitwear is prone to pilling. Therefore, despite your best efforts, you may notice small fuzzy balls all over your favourite sweater or cardigan. Fortunately, you can get rid of these unsightly bobbles by using a razor or fabric trimmer. Be gentle to avoid damaging your garment. If done properly, your sweater will look new.

Cleaning and storage tips for cotton sweaters

• Promptly remove any stains with a high-quality stain remover.
• If you’re hand washing your garment: turn it inside out, soak it in warm water for 20 minutes, wash it, rinse it and towel dry it.
• If you’re machine washing your garment: turn it inside out, place it in a mesh laundry bag and wash it on the gentle cycle. Allow it to dry flat on a rack or in the dryer on low.
• Steam iron it if necessary.

Avoid washing light and dark sweaters together as the colours may bleed into each other.

When your cotton sweaters are clean and dry, you can hang them in your closet or fold them and store them in a drawer. If you want to stash them away for several months, place them in a non-airtight container with an anti-fungal product and a few mothballs.

That's it! Now you know the secret to washing, cleaning, rinsing, drying, ironing and storing your wool and cotton sweaters and cardigans like a pro.

Shop men’s sweaters, cardigans and more at Ernest

Do you want to breathe new life into your wardrobe or put together a trendy outfit? If so, browse Ernest’s online selection or drop by a store near you to find everything from suits,dress shirts, activewear, loungewear, T-shirts and polos, jeans and chinos, shoes, fashion accessories and more.