A Trick to Making Old Sweaters Soft Again

It is a wonderful feeling to be wrapped up in a warm, soft sweater on a cold winter day. Unfortunately, the wool fabric that provides this comfortable sensation doesn’t last forever. Over time, the sweater’s fibers eventually wear out over time, and after a while, the garment just doesn’t seem the same anymore. In addition, many of us wash our sweaters incorrectly from time to time, and this will only speed up the sweater’s aging process. Fortunately, we have a few tips on how to get your old sweaters feeling soft again and help them regain their elasticity. Even if your favorite sweater has shrunk in size, there is a way to get back to its original dimension.

Using Baking Soda to Soften Wool Fabrics

The first product we recommend using to get your sweaters soft again shouldn’t be too hard to find, and that product is baking soda. For this method, just add 5 tablespoons of baking soda to a large bowl of cold water. Next, immerse your sweater in the solution and begin agitating the material so it gets a thorough clean. Let the sweater sit in the liquid overnight, and the next day it will be ready to be washed by hand, preferably with Marseille soap.

Hair Conditioner

It may come as a surprise, but hair conditioner is a great product for revitalizing a sweater’s fibers and returning softness. Just fill a large bowl with either cold or warm water, whichever you prefer. Then, add the same amount of hair conditioner that you would normally use for your hair. Remember, this means you don’t need to use too much. Let the sweater sit in the bowl for about half an hour, and then rinse. That’s all it takes.

Vinegar

Vinegar has dozens, maybe thousands, of different uses around the home, and sweater repair is no exception. Mix one liter of cold water with 3 cups of white wine vinegar. Let your sweater soak in the liquid for about 20 minutes, and then wring it out.

When it comes to drying after all three of these techniques, air drying is ideal. After you have applied either one of these methods to your sweaters, it is best to lay each sweater out flat to hang dry. Make sure that they are also left in a place that is free of humidity and can get plenty of air circulation. This will help avoid causing any other damage.