How to Hang Sweaters to Dry (5 Steps against Stretching and Shrinking)
From summer to spring—warmth to chill—your sweater collection is not at the top of your list for ease of management like your casual wear. However, in the winter months, people like you endure the need seemingly to dry clean and press your sweaters. Perhaps when you try this alone, you find that your garments do not rise to the occasion. Lumps, bumps, and pilly sticking lint seem to cling to your clothes without another remedy,
Without professional help, this may seem like a problem that cannot be changed, but there are a few low-effort ways to achieve a dust-free and smooth sweater when you learn how to hang sweaters to dry. You do not need to consult a professional cleaner for the tips contained in this article. In this post, we consider the essential five steps for handling your sweaters to dry to achieve a smooth and soft finish to a gentle wash every time.
Sweater Drying Issues Explored
A definitely irritating and sweater-ruining problem that many people face is that there seems to be no winning with sweaters: A) If you pop them in the dryer for the usual cycle, they will shrink to an almost unwearable degree; and, B) If you choose to hand dry the sweater over the course of a day, they will stretch to the point of being a sweater dress—not always the look you are going for.
As sweaters are made of fine and gentle materials like lamb’s wool and cashmere, their fibers are delicate to heat as well as stretching. The use of heat means more shrinking. A shrunken sweater means the need to replace the garment altogether; whereas the use of a hang drying system means more stretching, and a stretched sweater also can mean the need to replace the article overall.
Shrinking and stretching can build up and accumulate over time which ruins your sweater despite your best efforts. You may have tried many methods and techniques to rid yourself of moisture in your sweater without sacrificing its form or lovely attributes—leaving you damp with frustration. In the next section, we consider some effective techniques that can help you to hang dry sweaters properly.
Supplies for Hang Drying
You probably already have what you need for hang drying your sweaters. Here are some suggestions and products that will make things easier and more satisfying when you finish off with silky, soft, supple sweaters.
- Modern, Efficient Detergent: Whether you are washing cotton, wool, or cashmere sweater by hand or in a gentle washing machine, you will find that sweaters react differently to different detergents and are also highly absorbent. You will want to consider using a detergent which is not only sweater-friendly and ecologically sound but which also promises not to leave a residue on your garment as this will not come off during the gentlest hang dry.
- Sweater-safe Softener: Sweater fabrics have different properties and many of them react to water and detergent by flattening their fibers and becoming coarse to the touch which is why the use of a softener is essential. Most softeners will not promise not to leave a residue on your articles, but you will want to search for one that also reduces static.
- Mesh Drying Rack: Like a hanger or a shower curtain rod that many people use to hang dry their sweaters, a drying rack provides a safe and stable structure to the process of drying. In order to keep your sweater from stretching or developing bumps from the corners of a hanger (unsightly!), a mesh drying rack can add finesse to your experience of hanging your sweaters to dry expertly.
- Clean Towel: Washing machines, even on a gentle cycle, do their best to reduce the amount of drying required of your clothes, but, without stretching your sweater through a massive spin cycle, sweaters are naturally more absorbent and will require a unique drying method that includes a clean towel. Consider using a microfiber towel that is both highly absorbent as well as lint free.
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Hang Drying a Sweater Correctly
Now that we have covered some of the common issues encountered when drying sweaters as well as go over a few items that you will need for a fresh sweater at the end of the drying process, you can consider the instructions below knowing that this is an expert way to dry a sweater. Follow these steps in order for the best results.
1. Roll out a clean towel on a flat surface.
As mentioned in the materials you need for expertly hang drying a sweater, you will need a clean towel, preferably microfiber, laid out on a flat surface such as a table or a countertop. The towel will allow you to absorb any excess moisture not lost during the washing of the sweater and will, therefore, speed up the drying process greatly.
2. Place your wet sweater on the towel.
You will want to gently place your sweater on the clean towel in such a way that excess water from the whole garment is being absorbed by the towel on contact. You do not want to neglect the arms or neck of the sweater, allowing it to be completely contained within the frame of the towel for the best result.
3. Roll your sweater and towel up, pressing out excess water.
Taking the towel and the sweater together, you will want to gently but closely roll up your sweater completely in the towel prior to hanging it to dry. The reason for this is that it will speed up the drying process without having too much water to evaporate, but also that water carries weight, and weight will risk stretching your sweater during drying.
4. Carefully drape your sweater on your mesh drying rack.
After you have carefully squeezed excess moisture out from your sweater into the towel, it is time to finally hang your lightly damp sweater to completely dry. You can use a drying rack, if you have one, that is breathable and mesh to avoid any smells or bacteria growing in the damp fibers.
5. Wait for your sweater to dry completely.
The amount of time you will need to wait for your sweater to dry will depend on how much moisture was removed during the towel-pressing step and also upon the kind of fabric blend that your sweater is made of, as different materials handle water differently. Be patient with your sweater and know that due to the removal of excess water and water weight, your sweater will dry as quickly and smoothly as possible without the risk of stretching or shrinking.
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Concluding Remarks on Drying Sweaters
If you have one or maybe a few favorite sweaters, you do not have to live in fear that your sweaters will be ruined by washing and drying them because you are unsure of the best way to hang a sweater to dry. The complexity and time of drying a sweater are greatly reduced by pressing out the water from the sweater gently into a towel, removing the issue of stretching and shrinking by avoiding heat and heaviness. All you need are a few simple tools like a towel and a flat surface in order to perfect this technique.
