As the temperatures are rising, it is time to spring-clean our closets. Since our knitwear has completed its purpose the past winter season, and was probably well-loved, we listed the best ways to make your sweaters and cardigans look like they are new again. Once we have invested in beautiful materials and we want to get most out of it, it is important to store our favourite knitwear properly. This way you can enjoy your most cozy items for years.

Remove the pills

Pilling is a natural process that occurs on even the most high-quality knitwear. As it is a consequence of wear, the best way to make your sweaters look like new again is by removing the pills. This can be easily done with a defuzzing comb or take them off by hand with a heavier knit. These tools shave off the pills while keeping the rest of the fabric intact. Use quick, small, downward strokes to remove the pills. As it might a time-consuming task, one could do this comfortably while watching a movie. Please skip this step on stretch mohair as it damages the fiber.

Clean your knitwear

In order to make sure your knitwear is fresh and ready for the next season, a trip to the dry cleaners might be a good idea. Making sure that your knitwear does not contain any food particles is also a way to avoid moths. The cleaner the clothes are, the less likely it will attract moths and other bugs. However, as the dry-cleaner can easily add-up and become an expensive trip, there are some ways to clean your knitwear from the comfort of your own home.

Steaming

The easiest way would be to steam your knitwear. The heat of the steamer does not only remove wrinkles from your favourite knitwear, but also kills bacteria. You can easily use your home steam iron, but never put the iron directly on knitted garments.

Hand-wash

If you have noticeable stains on your knitwear you can do a quick hand-wash. Make sure you are using a clean sink, fill it up with 30º warm water and add a mild detergent preferably one for delicates/wool/lingerie. Once you soaked your knitwear in the water mixture, gently rub the stains with your fingers. Let the knits soak for a couple more minutes, but never more than 10 minutes, before rinsing the detergent out. Before drying roll up your knitwear in a towel to get the extra moisture out, but never rub. Once you got most of the water out, lay the knit on a towel, re-shape it if necessary and let it dry.

Machine-wash

Some knits can be washed on a delicate programme in a modern washing machine. Please check the labels before you machine-wash your knitwear. If it explicitly mentions to not use a washing machine do not risk it. Otherwise, put your knitwear in a lingerie bag or pillowcase and let it run on a delicate programme. Make sure to set your washing machine on a low spin cycle. After the washing cycle towel dry your knitwear, and reshape if needed.

Once your knitwear is dry, you can steam it once more to fluff the fibers and remove the wrinkles caused by washing.

Store it properly

Make sure to never hang, but always fold your knitwear so it will retain its shape. If you opt to store your knitwear in bags, make sure the knitwear is not packed too tightly. Avoid plastic and store your sweaters in cotton bags so it can ventilate. Make sure to air-out the space where the knitwear is stored from time to time, for a little airflow. Do not forget to add a couple lavender sachets or other moth-repelling products to keep your knitwear smelling fresh and moth-free.