How to Keep Folded Sweaters from Having Wrinkles

Carefully folding and stacking your sweaters prevents wrinkling.

Snuggling into your favorite sweaters can take the sting out of those cold winter days. To keep your sweaters looking their best and to extend their life, you must care for them properly. Either dry clean your sweaters or hand-wash them in cold water with a gentle detergent. Always lay your sweaters flat to dry.

Things You'll Need

• Drawer or sided shelving

Instructions

1. Lay your sweater flat and smooth out any wrinkles.

2. Place a piece of tissue paper on top of the sweater. The tissue paper, which prevents wrinkles from forming, will be folded with the sweater.

3. Carefully fold the sweater. Fold each sleeve straight across. Then, fold one side toward the middle. Repeat with the other side. The sleeve folds should meet at the center of the sweater. Depending on the sweater’s size, fold the bottom up once or twice.

4. Neatly stack your sweaters. Arrange them so the bulkiest and heaviest sweaters are on the bottom and the lighter, more-fragile ones are on top. If large, heavy sweaters are placed on top, they will compress the light ones, which causes wrinkles and creasing. Alternatively, store your bulky and lightweight sweaters in separate piles.

5. Place your sweaters in a drawer or on shelving that has sides, which will keep them from spilling over the edges.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not crowd too many sweaters in one space. Stack your sweaters in small piles, which reduces weight and, therefore, wrinkles. If you are packing sweaters, place plastic bags in the folds of your sweaters and between your clothes. The bags create air pockets, which prevent wrinkling. Grocery or dry cleaning bags work nicely.

• Do not hang sweaters. They will stretch out of shape.

References

• “Real Simple”; How to Fold a Sweater
• Martha Stewart: Blocking and Folding a Sweater
• Martha Stewart: How to Hang Clothes

Resources

• “Home Comforts”; Cheryl Mendelson; 1999