How to Wash a Wool Sweater
Rajiv Surendra proves that not only is it possible to wash your wool sweater at home without shrinking or damaging it, but it's also remarkably easy.
![Rajiv Surendra Shows How to Wash a Wool Sweater Rajiv Surendra Smiling In a White Wool Sweater](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_1043.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413566175.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
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Do you really have to dry-clean a wool sweater? No! Skip the trip to the dry cleaners and wash your wool at home. Sure, there’s an art to washing wool without shrinking it, but it’s not as tricky as you might think. By hand-washing your wool sweater in your sink, you can maintain its size and ensure it stays as soft as the first time you wore it. And since there's no need to wash wool sweaters regularly, we recommend waiting until your sweater is ready for a good cleaning.
How to Wash a Wool Sweater
![A Wool Sweater Drying After a Hand Washing A White Wool Sweater Hanging on a Wooden Hanger](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_1091.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413567843.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
As sweater season comes to a close, your favorite wool pieces probably aren't looking or feeling their best. Follow these steps to safely clean and remove stains from wool sweaters.
Materials Needed
- sink
- bucket or similar vessel
- wool detergent
- rubber gloves
- (2) towels
- measuring tape
- notepad and pen
This hypoallergenic formula is gentle on skin, hands and clothes, and minimizes fading, shrinking and stretching on fabrics like wool, silk, cashmere, cotton, satin and polyester.
1. Lay the sweater flat and take some measurements. Measure from the top of the shoulder seam to the bottom hem and note the measurement (Images 1 & 2). Next, measure from the hem of the sleeve to the seam (Image 3).
![The first step in washing a wool sweater at home is to measure the length and note the measurements.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0665.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413540722.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
![The next step in washing a wool sweater at home is to note its measurements in a notebook.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0693.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413542413.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
![The next step in washing a wool sweater at home is to measure the length from the shoulder to the hem.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0675.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413541469.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
2. Fill a sink with warm water. The water should be warm to the touch but not hot.
3. Mix in wool laundry detergent. While the sink fills, mix in a laundry detergent suitable for wool, following the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper ratio.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Fill the Sink With Wool Detergent Man Pouring Detergent Into a Sink](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0654.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413540487.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
4. Fill a bucket with the same temperature water. Leave the water on and fill a bucket or other vessel with the same temperature water for rinsing. If you have a two-compartment sink, simply fill both sides.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Fill a Bucket With Rinse Water A Man Filling a Bucket With Water](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0641.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413540166.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
Pro Tip: It's imperative that your wash and rinse water are the same temperature. While many people think it's hot water that shrinks the wool, it's actually the change in temperature that shocks the wool, resulting in shrinking.
5. Put the sweater in the water. Fully submerse the sweater in the soapy water.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Wash the Sweater by Hand A Man Washing a Sweater With Blue Gloves](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0819.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413552169.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
6. Gently wash the sweater with your hands. Donning a pair of rubber gloves, use your hands to gently work the sweater in the water, refraining from rubbing the material on itself, as this can turn the wool to felt.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Wash the Sweater Gently A Man Hand Washing a Sweater in a Sink](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0752.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413546195.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
7. Gently rub highly soiled spots. For spots that are highly soiled, such as the cuffs and collar, gently rub the material with your fingers.
8. Let the sweater soak. Let the sweater soak for a while until the water has cooled to room temperature. This will remove even more dirt.
The Secret to Un-Shrinking a Wool Sweater
Rescuing your favorite winter garment couldn't be easier.
9. Adjust the temperature of the bucket water if necessary. Check the rinse water. If the water in the sink has cooled significantly, add some cold water until the temperatures match.
10. Gently remove the sweater and squeeze the water out. Lift the sweater out of the water and gently compress it to squeeze the water out. Do not wring the wool sweater — while this will remove more water, it will also severely damage the material.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Squeeze the Water Out A Man Squeezing Water Out of a Sweater](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0785.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413548930.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
11. Drain and clean the sink. Drain all the dirty water from the sink and rinse away any leftover dirt.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Wash the Dirt Down the Sink A Man Rinsing Out a Sink](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0793.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413549799.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
12. Pour the bucket of water into the sink. Stop the sink once more and pour the rinse water into it.
13. Rinse the sweater and squeeze it once more. Lower the sweater into the rinse water and gently work it to rinse all the soapy water.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Rinse the Sweater A Wool Sweater in a Filled SInk](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0799.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413550842.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
14. Lay a towel out flat. Lay a towel flat out on the counter.
15. Place the sweater flat on the towel. Compress the sweater once more to remove most of the water, then lay it flat on the towel. Straighten the sweater and the sleeves.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Place the Sweater on a Towel A Wool Sweater Laying on a Towel](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0888.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1681413557954.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
16. Fold the towel over the sweater and roll it up. Fold the bottom and top of the towel over the sweater, then roll it up.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Roll the Towel Up A Man Rolling Up a White Towel](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0892.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413558906.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
17. Squeeze the towel. Gently squeeze the rolled towel, allowing the towel to draw the moisture out of the sweater.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Squeeze the Towel A Man Squeezing a Rolled Towel](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0901.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413560134.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
18. Remove the sweater and place it on a clean towel. Unroll the towel, remove the sweater, then place it flat on a second dry towel.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Lay the Sweater Flat to Dry A Man Laying a Wool Sweater on a Towel](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0933.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413562537.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
19. Check the measurements and shape the sweater to match the original measurements. Compare the sweater’s current measurements with those from before the wash. Gently pull the sweater to stretch it if the measurements are now shorter. If the sweater is longer, pull the sides outward. Allow the sweater to air-dry on the towel.
![Hand Washing a Wool Sweater: Adjust the Measurements A Man Pulling the Sleeves of a Sweater](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_0865.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413556915.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
20. Try the wool sweater on. Once it has totally air-dried, try the wool sweater on to ensure it still fits.
![Rajiv Surendra Tries On a Wool Sweater After Washing It Rajiv Surendra Trying On a Wool Sweater](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2023/4/13/2/Original_Phillip-Reed_Rajiv-Surendra_1035.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1681413564624.jpeg)
Phillip Reed
5 Tips That Will Save Your Favorite Sweaters
Keep your cozy sweaters looking fresh for years to come with these tricks to un-shrink, de-fuzz and more.