How to Keep Sweaters Soft When Washing

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Keep sweaters soft using the same product you use to keep your hair soft.

It's very disappointing to purchase a super-soft sweater only for it to become less and less soft every time you wash it. It's a dilemma because washing seems to be the reason it's so hard to keep sweaters soft, yet doing laundry is essential.

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To make a sweater stay soft, you need to consider the way in which you wash it, including the techniques, water temperature, detergent, softener, and drying method. Each one of these factors can be adjusted to keep sweaters as soft as possible, mainly by reducing the heat and agitation. It's difficult to make clothes soft again after they've lost it, but you can adjust your washing routine to keep new sweaters soft for a long time.

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Hand Wash to Keep Sweaters Soft

Hand-washing is the number one way to keep sweaters soft no matter the fiber from which they are made. It's always the best approach when washing wool and cashmere sweaters, which can be ruined by machine washing even on the gentlest setting. Hand-washing is the gentlest way to wash any garment because it keeps agitation – a major cause of pilling and loss of softness – to a minimum.

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Hand-washing is rarely convenient and not always a realistic choice, but if you really want to keep sweaters soft, it might be worth the effort. If you can't hand-wash every time your sweater needs to be washed, consider doing so every other time.

Opt for Cold Water

Whether you're machine-washing or hand-washing your sweaters and no matter their fiber type, always opt for cold water. This is an excellent way to make a sweater stay soft. Hot water can cause fibers to shrink, clump together and pill, which ruins the soft feel of a sweater.

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Use the Delicate Cycle

If you don't want to hand-wash sweaters, the next best choice is the delicate cycle on a washing machine. If your machine allows it, select the slowest possible spin and wash speed and a shorter-length cycle. Some machines allow you to select a range from light to heavy dirt – choose the lightest setting. This type of gentle cycle cuts agitation down to a minimum.

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Wash Clothes Inside Out

If you're machine-washing sweaters, turn them inside-out before washing. For cardigans and hoodies, do up the zipper or buttons before turning them inside out. This small, simple step means the inside of the sweater is subject to more agitation from washing, which can leave the outside softer. Another way to reduce friction in the washing machine and help a sweater stay soft is to avoid washing it with heavier items, such as jeans and towels.

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Use the Right Detergent and Less of It

For wool and wool-blend sweaters, choose a laundry detergent specifically for woolens. Otherwise, a good way to make clothes soft again is to put some thought into finding the best laundry detergent, whether by trial and error or reading customer reviews. It might be worth investing in a more expensive, higher-quality detergent. If you have a high-efficiency or front-loading washing machine, be sure to use HE detergents. Also use considerably less detergent than what is recommended on the packaging – as little as 1 tablespoon per load.

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Consider Fabric Softener and Use Mesh Laundry Bags

If you don't already use it in your laundry routine, consider adding fabric softener to the wash cycle for your sweaters. It's formulated to keep fabrics soft and prevent wrinkles by reducing friction between fibers. Choose a liquid fabric softener formulated without detergent.

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Note that fabric softer can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. You shouldn't use it with moisture-wicking athleisure garments, as it can clog the pores in the fabric. A good alternative is a cup of white vinegar added directly to the laundry load.

Putting your beloved soft sweater inside a mesh laundry bag before machine-washing is a handy way to keep it as soft as possible. Like the other methods for making sweaters soft, it cuts down on friction.

Always Air Dry

Instead of routinely machine-drying your sweaters, make a habit of air-drying them instead. This makes a major difference in maintaining the softness of sweaters. After washing, lay them out flat on a drying rack or a towel and leave the sweatshirts undisturbed until they're dry. You can use a fan to speed up the drying process if needed. If you really must use a dryer, use the gentlest air-dry setting.

Wash Less Often

Even the gentlest of washes will cause some deterioration to the softness of a sweater. Try to wash your favorite soft sweaters as little as possible, even if you're usually vigilant about laundry. Wear an undershirt or T-shirt underneath to keep your sweater fresher and treat small stains and marks by spot-cleaning instead of a full wash.

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