How to Care for Knitwear
Knits
often need hand-washing to keep their shape and color. To minimize creasing
and static electricity, add a fabric softener to the final rinse. Interlock
knits (T-shirt fabric) hold up better if you dry them flat instead of hanging
them.
Cashmere can be either drycleaned or gently washed, but should never, ever, ever go in the dryer. Unless you want cashmere for your Barbie doll. Washing cashmere continues to soften it, so eventually you have the luxurious soft feel. I've gotten the best results washing in cold water on the hand washing cycle with a very gentle detergent and then laying the item flat to dry.
Wash or dryclean sweaters before putting them away for the season--specks of food or dirt are what attract moths and how we end up with holes in our beloved clothing items.
Most knits are better off being folded than hung, as their own weight can pull them out of shape. If you must hang them, make sure they're folded over the hanger rather than hanging from it in the traditional manner.
Keep a clothes brush and a sweater defuzzer handy and use them often--little pills on your sweaters and other knits aren't attractive.
After wearing a knitwear item that you're not going to wash before wearing again, make sure you hang it outside your closet for 12-24 hours so it can breathe a bit.
