We’ve been talking about storing winter clothes and swapping them out for summer things, but I wanted to do a quick post about winter sweaters. Especially those sweaters that have become itchy over the season. As we wear wool and acrylic sweaters, the fibers break (even if you can’t see them) and the raggedy edges cause itching. But since it’s no fun to take out sweaters in the Fall and remember that they were itchy (and maybe dirty), it’s best to deal with the itchy problem now. The steps below might seem strange, but the white vinegar and hair conditioner soften the fibers and freezing the sweater prevents the shorter fibers from poking out and scratching you. I promise you this works!
Even the itchiest sweater can be saved, and I’ve outlined the steps below.
Saving an Itchy Sweater
- First, make sure the sweater is clean and free from stains. If necessary, spot clean the stains and let dry.
- Turn the sweater inside out. Fill a clean sink or bucket with cold water and add a 1/4 cup of white vinegar. (don’t worry, the smell will evaporate)
- Submerge the sweater in the vinegar-water and soak for one hour.
- You’ll need four clean, dry towels. Lay one on a table or counter. Set the other three aside.
- Drain the sweater by rolling it as you lift it out of the water. Place the sweater on the towel on the counter or table. Beginning at the bottom, roll the sweater inside the towel, squeezing along the way. Do not wring the sweater or you will stretch it out. Roll the sweater a few times until most of the water is absorbed by the towel.
- Transfer the sweater to a dry towel and lay on the counter or table.
- Using a good hair conditioner (the cheap conditioner has extra fillers that you don’t want), squeeze a few blobs of conditioner onto the sweater and massage it into all the fibers, front and back. Make sure to get the sleeves and collars as well. You can’t use too much conditioner so don’t be shy about using it. Make sure you do this gently so you don’t break more fibers or stretch the sweater. So work slowly.
- Let the sweater sit for 30 minutes. Then place the sweater into another bucket or sink filled with clean, cold water. Gently squeeze the sweater to work out the conditioner. Be careful not to stretch the sweater. Rinse and squeeze for about ten minutes. Then roll the sweater as you lift it out of the water.
- Just like you did before, lay the sweater on a dry towel and roll it until most of the water is absorbed.
- Lay the sweater on the fourth dry towel and let dry completely, making sure to turn it over so both sides dry equally.
- Once the sweater is dry, fold it gently and place it in a large ziplock bag. Place this bag in the freezer (I am not kidding!) and let it sit for 24 hours.
- The next day, remove the sweater and lay it on a table or counter for another hour to make sure it’s completely dry.
- Once it’s dry, store it for the season.
