How to Make a Wool Sweater Back to its Original Shape
Wool sweaters can easily shrink or become distorted in shape. This is generally caused by drying the sweaters or using a detergent that is unsafe for the wool. If this happens to one of your wool sweaters, don't sweat, you will most likely be able to fix the sweater and make it back to its original shape. To avoid wool sweaters from shrinking, it is important to wash and dry the sweater properly, using a mild temperature water and a mild detergent. It is also important to avoid drying the sweater in a clothes dryer. Air-drying is the best method for handling wool clothing items.
Instructions
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Fill a sink with warm water and mild soap. Place the wool sweater, inside out, in the solution for 10 to 20 minutes. The warm water will unlock the fibers in the wool helping you to reshape the sweater. If you do not want to use soap, substitute a few tablespoons of white vinegar instead. Vinegar will soften the fibers in the fabric and help them to unlock to be reshaped. Never add bleach to the solution because it can destroy the wool fibers and avoid kneading the sweater while in the water.
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Rinse the sweater. Run warm water and rinse the sweater thoroughly, ensuring that all of the soap is out of the sweater.
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Take the sweater out and place it on a towel. Pat the sweater with the towel to remove the excess water and then begin stretching the sweater back into place. Avoid tugging too hard, when stretching, which can cause overstretching to occur.
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Allow the sweater to air dry on a towel. This will cause the sweater to dry in the shape you formed. Depending on the temperature and humidity, it may take between 12 and 72 hours to completely dry out. After it dries out, fold the sweater and avoid hanging it up; which will cause it to reshape also.
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References
- Photo Credit Keith Brofsky/Stockbyte/Getty Images
