Ugly holiday sweaters have been a trend for a few years. Lately, though, it seems like the joke is over and we’ve moved on. In fact, we are seeing a resurgence of beautifully adorned holiday-themed sweaters.
Regardless of whether it’s an ugly or loved holiday sweater, they come in a variety of styles. This makes it challenging to assess whether or not your sweater should be dry cleaned. Here are a few things you should consider. First, never use a washing machine. If you clean it at home, hand wash it.
Hand Washing Holiday Sweaters
There is an entire generation who loved decorated holiday sweaters, and while they may at first have been offended with the term “ugly,” they now enjoy a certain status as owners of all the OG holiday sweaters.
An original holiday sweater is valuable. It should receive as much care and protection as possible. However, the sweater’s eclectic or eccentric elements make cleaning more complicated.
- If it is handmade it is unlikely to have a care tag indicating the materials used.
- Is it embellished? If so, irritating the sequins and beads can damage the threads holding them in place.
- Does it have bright colors? If so, it needs special color-sensitive care to prevent fading.
If you choose to handwash a sweater these general tips will help, Keep in mind, though, that you may need to do some research to accommodate your sweater’s unique elements.
- Fill your sink with cool water and a gentle, sweater-friendly detergent.
- Swish the sweater around in the sink to be sure the whole sweater gets cleaned by the detergent.
- After an hour or so (check the directions on your detergent), rinse the sweater with cool water.
- Remove excess water with a towel. Do not twist or squeeze the sweater. It is much more likely to get stretched out while wet than it is dry. Lay the sweater on the towel. Roll the sweater and the towel together. This will safely remove the excess water.
- Lay it flat to dry. Flip the sweater over so it dries evenly on both sides.
Dry Cleaning Holiday Sweaters
Unless you have bad luck with spills and stains, your sweater only needs to be cleaned after wearing it three or four times. In fact, you may only need to dry clean it once at the beginning and once at the end of the season.
How does it smell? Take it to Flair if it has an unpleasant odor. Ask a friend for a second opinion. You have become accustomed to the smell and not notice.
Dry cleaning is a safer, easier alternative to handwashing your holiday sweater. Flair Cleaners has smart washers that can be programmed to clean delicate fabrics. And, if needed, we’ll take care of the repairs.
Do Holiday Sweaters Last?
Unlike the original holiday sweaters, some new items and DIY sweaters are designed to be worn only for one season. Crafters usually purchase an inexpensive sweater and decorate it knowing it will not survive washing. Hot glue is easier and faster than sewing, but won’t stand up to cleaning. While DIY sweaters typically don’t last more than one season, you can always make a new one next year
Leave a Comment