Winter laundry has its own distinct character and needs. Things get cold and wet, dirty, and crusty. We wear heavier weights of clothes of course, and our washers get a real workout. It seems like mine is going constantly. To make your winter clothing last longer, feel great, and smell fresh, follow these simple rules for laundering cold weather clothing.
Wool. Wool can be wonderful but lots of people avoid it because they mistakenly think it cannot be machine washed. For the most part, this is not the case, but check the label first. If it says that you can machine wash it, for best results and to keep it from becoming scratchy, use a perfume and dye-free detergent. Add a towel or two as well, which will help absorb the great amount of moisture wool can hold. Always wash wool on the gentle cycle. Lay woolen items flat to dry.
Knitted Items: Hats, Scarves, and Mittens. Many of us own knitted items that can get dirty in wet weather. While you can’t typically throw knitted items in the washing machine, they are not difficult to hand wash. Fill a sink with cold water and add Woolite or another gentle hand washing cleanser. Work the detergent through with your hands for a few minutes. Drain the sink and rinse in cold water. Wrap the items gently in a towel to remove excess water, then lay flat to dry.
Coats. If your outerwear is made from wool, take a fabric brush to it and stroke it for several minutes, wherever the wool looks dull, worn, or dirty. This is often a good way to perk it up between trips to the cleaners. If it is made of another material, try spot cleaning (in an inconspicuous place first). The most likely areas to become dirty are the collars, cuffs, and around the button holes. A good scrubbing of these areas is likely to make it look much better. Just be sure you have another jacket ready to wear before this type of cleaning, as it may take a couple of days for it to dry off. Wet cuffs and collars are not pleasant!
If your jacket or coat is machine-washable, turn it inside out to protect the exterior as much as possible from the harshness inflicted upon it by the machine. However, you should still allow it to air dry as the heat from the drier can destroy the lining.
Prevent Fading by washing like colors together. Even dark clothes that have been worn a number of times can transfer colors to lighter colors, and you can easily end up with gray socks that were once white. You can also use a number of products that are on the market now such as Cheer with Color Guard.
Tights are a fabulous and fashionable winter accessory. Keep them fresh, colorful, and long-lasting by hand-washing and drip drying, even if the label says they can be machine washed.
Fleece is a popular winter choice but it can be more difficult to keep clean than other materials. For best results, turn it inside out and put it through a rinse cycle twice to make sure all the detergent is washed out.
Down Jackets and other down-filled items can actually be machine washed. Twice a season, wash in cold water but don’t use detergent, which can flatten the feathers and make them not look puffy any longer. Put the drier on low and tumble. A tennis ball in the drier also helps the down redistribute evenly.
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