caring for your sweaters?

[jamesbond]

There was actually a good article in this months GQ about this but it only covered cashmere. I know RJMan has said to handwash but what do you guys think. I have a number of nice sweaters ranging from lambswool Borrelli's to Cashmere RLPL's, what is the best way to care for them? How often should they be cleaned, after every wearing or only sparingly? How do i avoid the pilling(sp) effect? I always let my dirty sweaters sit in a big pile because im at odds with how i should clean/care for them, anyone else do this or am i just going crazy? thanks all.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

You could steam, brush, etc., between wearings, but despite what many people think, cashmere isn't the only fabric that insects attack and stains can set quickly. Careful washing after each wearing can maximize sweater lifespan. Wash by hand in cool water, using a gentle detergent/shampoo. (Some more details can be found here.) Dry flat. (Buy a drying rack.) Good sweaters should not progressively pill if cared for properly. You might need dry-cleaning for certain stains.

 

[robin]

A wash after each wearing? That seems like it would be harsh on the sweater (and lots of work).

The link above has some pretty good info though. Personally, I only have my sweaters dry cleaned about once a year and I only occasionally brush them - this seems to have worked well on several wool sweaters that I've had for many years now. After being worn, they also get folded up instead of hung.

If I was in an environment with insects, mold, or lots of dust, I'd probably also look into using the sweater bag that was mentioned in the article for off-season storage.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

If you're going to put them away without cleaning, you should first air them out.