Make sure your knitwear stands the test of time by keeping in mind these three basic yet important care tips.

1. Hand Wash

Wool is a fabric that has natural dirt-repelling and self-cleaning properties which makes it much easier to take care of than one would think. In comparison to clothes made of cotton or synthetic fibres, woollen garments don’t need to be washed after every wear. However, wool still needs to be cleaned from time to time and in order to make sure that your apparel lasts for years, you need to learn how to do that correctly. Many modern knitwear companies create wool clothing that can be washed on the gentle cycle in the washing machine, but hand washing remains the best method of dealing with dirt and smells. Put your sweater in lukewarm water with a special mild detergent and let it soak for a few minutes before starting to gently rub the garment. This way you’ll make sure that your jumper is thoroughly cleaned and won’t shrink or lose its original form.

2. Dry and Store Properly

Depending on the company that makes them, certain woollen clothes can be dried in the tumble dryer, but it is now worth it to destroy your favourite knit cardigan in order to find out if it’s one of them. Air drying is the best and safest way to dry wool: simply lay your garment on a flat surface and leave it for a couple days to let the sun do its magic. You can speed the process by laying your sweater on a towel and gently rolling it so that it will absorb as much moisture as possible and dry faster. Apart from washing and drying properly, learning how to store your clothes is also important for extending their lifespan and avoiding moth infestations. Put your knitwear in individual zip lock bags: this will protect them from dust, moisture, and any unwanted bugs. If you want to make the process of taking care of a garment easier, make sure to read the labels and look for information on the sites where you get your knitwear from. Tara Irish Clothing, for example, not only sells beautiful and high-quality woollen garments, but also offers instructions on how to take care of the knitwear. 

3. Purchase a Fabric Shaver

Although wool is one of the best fabrics one can incorporate into their wardrobe, one of its disadvantages is that it tends to pill way more than other fabrics. Contrary to the popular opinion, it has nothing to do with the quality of the wool and is rather specific to this natural fabric that you have to learn to deal with if you want your knitwear to look just like new. Thankfully, the solution is an inexpensive and effective one: simply get a fabric shaver that would help you remove any lint and defuzz your jumpers, cardigans, or any other woollen garment. It is also really simple to use: after inserting the batteries into your new tool, turn it on and gently circle the garment; don’t add too much pressure, as the fabric shaver can damage the wool. You can find a wide range of these devices on Amazon and with just a few dollars you can ensure that your clothes will look brand new regardless of how much you wear them.