Wool Jumper Care Guide

Wool jumpers offer cosiness and comfort that never go out of style. A good quality woolly jumper is an investment, too – look after it, and it’ll serve you for years after cheaper jumpers would be stuffing teddy bears.

However, maintaining the lush fabric does need a little knowledge and care to keep your jumper looking pristine, winter after winter. Whether you’re dealing with daily upkeep, storage or a spillage, this article will give you all the information you need to get the most out of your jumpers.

Washing: hand or machine?

When it comes to washing your wool jumper, being gentle is the main takeaway. If you’ve got the time and space, hand washing is the preferred way. Begin by filling a basin with lukewarm water – certainly nothing over 40 °C, but preferably 30 °C. If you don’t have a thermometer, aim for about 4 jugs of cold tap water for every 1 jug of boiling water.

Add a wool-friendly detergent in moderation, swishing it through the water gently. Some people swear by baby shampoo for this, as it’s a gentle detergent that won’t damage your wool. Submerge the jumper, then softly massage the fabric to work the suds through the fibres. Don’t rub vigorously – let the soap do its work. Rinse thoroughly with clean, lukewarm water until the soap is completely removed.

If you do opt for the convenience of machine washing, make sure your machine has a specialist wool or gentle cycle – that will be designed to minimise movement and keep temperatures low. Ideally, you should place your jumper inside a mesh laundry bag to protect it from tangling or snagging. Again, make sure you use a wool-specific detergent. Do not opt for a drying cycle, because the next step is … 

Drying delicately

Proper drying will avoid misshaping your wool jumper. After washing, it’s tempting to wring out the water as you would a towel, or hang it over a drying rack like a cotton T-shirt. Resist these urges! Instead, press the jumper gently between two towels to absorb moisture. Lay it flat on a separate dry towel in its natural shape, allowing it to air dry naturally. Keep it away from direct sunlight or heat sources, as these can cause shrinkage or fading. 

A really good thing to have is a drying mesh. It’s essentially a large, taut net in a frame, which you place over your bath or sink, or between two chairs outdoors, with the jumper resting on top of it. It allows the jumper to drip dry without stretching, and also lets air flow from underneath to help the process.

Emergency cleaning for spills

Accidents are inevitable, and a sudden coffee, sauce or wine spill need not spell disaster for your jumper. However, swift action is key. Dab the spillage with a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much excess liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the fibres.

Mix a little wool-safe detergent with lukewarm water, and using a cloth, gently blot the stained area until it begins to lift. Rinse carefully and lay the jumper flat to dry, as described above. Once the emergency is over, it’s probably worth giving the whole jumper a wash too.

Everyday maintenance

To maintain your jumper’s appearance, you have to be aware that a wool jumper isn’t as forgiving as jersey cotton or man-made fabrics. Avoid excessive friction, such as constant rubbing against bags, walls or other abrasive surfaces, which can lead to pilling or bobbling.

If bobbles appear, remove them delicately with a fabric shaver or a knitwear comb designed for this purpose. Regularly brushing your jumper with a soft garment brush can also prevent fibre accumulation, keeping it looking fresh.

Shrinkage and stretching

Excessive heat will almost inevitably shrink your jumper, so always use cool water washing and avoid tumble drying. Stretching is usually caused by overstressing the knit while you’re dressing or undressing. Just like a spring, it has its elastic limit, and won’t return to its original shape if you over-pull it. Hanging the jumper out to dry will also probably cause stretching, so always dry it flat.

If disaster strikes despite your best efforts, gently wet the jumper with lukewarm water and coax it back to its original dimensions by laying it flat and reshaping it as it dries. For severely shrunken wool, try soaking the garment in a gentle solution of conditioner and water to relax the fibres before reshaping it. There are no guarantees here, but you might at least improve the situation.

Storing your wool jumper

Proper storage is essential to keep your wool jumper looking like new. If you’re putting it away for the summer, ensure it is clean and fully dried before folding it carefully. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Moths find wool irresistible, so consider using cedar balls or moth sachets within your storage area as a natural deterrent. Keeping it in an airtight bag will help maintain the delicate moisture balance, as well as keeping pests away.

Store your jumper flat if possible, but if you’re hanging it, fold it around the hanger rather than over it like a coat. There’s no shortage of YouTube videos on how to do this, so it’s probably best to fire one up rather than trying to read where to fold.

With all this in mind, you should be able to keep a collection of jumpers that look like new for years, whatever life throws at them. Wool might take a little more care than some of the other fabrics you’re used to, but when you pull last year’s sweater on as autumn starts to bite, you’ll know it was worth it.