Winter is slowly creeping in and the need for heavier clothing is near! One of the worst parts of winter weather is the extra bulky laundry loads that come with it. Many pieces of our winter clothing are finicky and can’t be washed together. Sometimes, they must be washed individually.
That is the case with our winter sweaters. Because of the different fabric types and tendency to lose their shape during a round in the washing machine, our sweaters need extra care as they’re being cleaned.
Below, our experts at the coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC offer a few tips that will help you learn the different types of sweater fabrics and how they should be laundered in order to keep their shape and last for years!
Tips For Washing Winter Sweaters | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Cashmere: It’s very important to follow the care label instructions exactly for this type of fabric. Made of goat hair and wool or synthetic fibers, cashmere must be washed on the delicate cycle in cold water. To dry, roll it in a towel to remove excess water. Reshape the sweater and then lay flat to dry in a cool, dark place. Doing anything less can result in a misshaped, shrunken sweater!
Chenille: To keep chenille soft, it’s important that you don’t wash it in the machine, even if the label says it’s OK. The machine’s agitation can damage and break chenille’s delicate fibers. They’ll begin to snag, pill and feel rough after a few rounds in the machine. Wash the fabric inside out, by hand and lay flat to dry!
Cotton: Best washed in cold water, cotton sweaters also need a gentle cycle wash to make sure the fibers remain unbroken. To dry, lay flat.
Silk: Most silk can be washed on a delicate cycle in cold water. If it has hand-stitched or beaded detail, it might be best to hand wash in cold water. Both wash methods should follow by laying flat to dry. A light ironing might be needed, after drying.
Acrylic: These man-made fibers are easily stretched when in direct contact with heat. Because of this, it’s best to machine wash, following the care label. Most acrylics should be washed in warm water and can be dried laying flat or tumble dried in the dryer on a very low heat.
Angora: This fabric is known for shrinking, even when you think you’ve done everything correctly. The rabbit hair and synthetic fiber blend is usually best left to a laundry specialist. At the very least, hand washing and laying flat to dry is best.
Wool: As a tricky fabric to wash, some wool can’t be washed at all. It can’t take the hot, warm, or the cold water. Other wool can be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle. Be sure to follow the care label exactly in this instance and always lay flat to dry. Never twist or wring the material to remove excess water. Always wrap it in a towel to ensure it keeps its shape!
Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
If you’re running yourself ragged, trying to keep up with all the extra laundry, also be sure to check out our coin-op laundry services in Raleigh NC! We offer state of the art machines for washing and drying. We also offer other laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t fall behind on laundry when we are here to help! Visit us soon!
