How to De-Wrinkle a Wool Sweater

The wool from a sheep's fleece is a warm and durable natural fiber.

Visit the National Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris and you'll see a series of tapestries from the 15th century known as "The Lady and the Unicorn." These tapestries are still in existence largely because they are made of wool (and silk). Weavers in the Middle Ages used wool because it was warm and extremely durable. Your wool sweater is made of the same durable material as many of these tapestries and with proper care it will last a long time. Remove the wrinkles from your wool sweater by following a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Padded or shaped clothes hanger
• Bathroom with a shower

Instructions

1. Hang your wool sweater on a padded or shaped clothes hanger and allow it to rest for 24 hours between wearings. This rest will let the wool recover its shape and will help the wrinkles leave it.

2. Fold your sweater and store it in a drawer or on a shelf. Do not store your sweater on a hanger.

3. Place your wool sweater on a padded or shaped clothes hanger and hang it in a bathroom with a shower if the sweater is wrinkled after storage or after being allowed to rest for 24 hours.

4. Turn on the shower in the bathroom until the bathroom is filled with steam. The steam will remove the wrinkles from your wool sweater. According to MarthaStewart.com, this is also a good way to "freshen" an unwashed sweater.

References

• Musée National du Moyen Âge/The National Museum of the Middle Ages, Paris: Textiles
• MarthaStewart.com: How to Hand-Wash a Sweater
• denverfabrics: Wool Fabric Care Tips
• "Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House"; Cheryl Mendelson; 2005
• clothingdictionary.com: General Fabric Care Guide