Quick answer

Wash girls' sweaters inside out in cold water on a gentle or hand-wash cycle with a mild detergent, then lay them flat to dry—never hang them wet. Skip the dryer and fabric softener, and treat stains before washing. This routine keeps knitwear from stretching, pilling, and losing its shape.

Check the label before you do anything

Sweater care starts with the fiber, not the stain. Cotton and cotton-blend sweaters usually tolerate a gentle machine cycle, while wool, cashmere, and other animal fibers need hand washing or a dedicated wool cycle. If the label says dry clean only, follow it—especially for structured or embellished sweaters.

If a sweater has no care label, treat it like wool: hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. That conservative approach is safer than guessing.

Treat stains and prep the sweater

Blot stains with a clean cloth, then apply a small amount of mild detergent or a stain remover formulated for delicate fabrics. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes before washing. Close zippers and buttons, and turn the sweater inside out to protect the outer surface from friction.

Empty pockets and remove any detachable belts or accessories. Small items can snag knitwear in the wash.

Choose the right wash cycle and detergent

Use cold water (below 85°F/30°C) on a gentle, delicate, or hand-wash cycle. Hot water can shrink wool and fade colors. Select a mild liquid detergent without bleach or fabric softener; softener coats fibers and can make sweaters feel stiff or pill more.

If your machine has a center agitator, consider a mesh laundry bag to reduce stretching. For wool or hand-wash-only sweaters, fill a basin with cool water and a capful of gentle detergent, then gently squeeze the suds through the sweater—never rub or twist.

Rinse and remove water without wringing

After washing, rinse with cool water until no suds remain. To remove excess water, press the sweater between two clean towels or roll it in a towel and gently press. Never wring or twist—that's how sweaters stretch out of shape.

For machine-washed sweaters, run an extra spin cycle only if your machine has a no-heat, low-spin option. Otherwise, let the gentle cycle finish and move straight to drying.

Dry flat, reshape, and store

Lay the sweater flat on a drying rack or a clean towel, smoothing it into its original shape. Avoid hanging wet sweaters—gravity pulls them long. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, which can fade or shrink fibers.

Once dry, fold sweaters rather than hanging them. Hanging can stretch shoulders over time. Store folded in a drawer or on a shelf, and use a pill shaver or fabric comb to remove any pills that form.

Step-by-step sweater washing routine

  1. Read the care label: Check fiber content and washing instructions. Wool, cashmere, and embellished sweaters often need hand washing or dry cleaning. If there's no label, hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry.
  2. Pre-treat stains and turn inside out: Blot stains, apply mild detergent, wait 10–15 minutes. Close zippers and buttons, then turn the sweater inside out. Skipping this step can set stains and cause surface pilling.
  3. Wash in cold water on gentle: Use a delicate cycle or hand wash with mild detergent. Avoid hot water, bleach, and fabric softener. Hot water shrinks wool; softener encourages pilling.
  4. Remove water without wringing: Press water out between towels or roll in a towel. Never twist or wring the sweater. Wringing stretches fibers and distorts the shape.
  5. Dry flat and reshape: Lay the sweater flat on a rack or towel, smooth it into shape, and keep it out of direct sun and heat. Hanging wet sweaters causes shoulder stretch.
  6. Fold and store: Once dry, fold sweaters for storage instead of hanging. Use a pill shaver to remove any pills. Proper storage keeps sweaters ready for the next wear.

Tea Collection pieces that pair well with sweater care