Knits, Puffers and Coats: Caring for Winter Clothes

Three ways winter clothes get ruined

Winter clothes tend to get ruined in the same few ways. The first is washing: animal fibers like wool tangle together, shrink and stiffen when water, heat and friction combine. The second is weight: hanging a heavy knit stretches out the shoulders and length. The third is storage: if sweat or food stains stay on through the summer, discoloration and odors develop, and wool and cashmere can be eaten by the larvae of pests like clothes moths. Avoid these three, and your winter clothes will last much longer.

How to wash a knit

Wash a knit at home only when the label shows a washing symbol. If it says hand wash or dry clean only, following that is the safest choice. If it can be washed, reduce friction and heat with these steps.

• Check the label for whether it's washable and at what temperature
• Turn it inside out and use a laundry net, or gently press it by hand
• Use cold or lukewarm water with a wool or neutral detergent
• Don't wring it; roll it in a dry towel and press out the water
• Reshape it and dry it flat in the shade

Storing knits and dealing with pills

Store knits folded. If you must hang one, drape it in half over the hanger so the weight doesn't pull on the shoulders. Pills form when fibers clump through friction, so they appear where a bag strap rubs at the side or on the inner sleeves. Pulling them off by hand draws more fiber out and makes new pills form easily, so lightly trim the surface with a fabric shaver or scissors. Letting a knit rest for a day after wearing helps the fibers recover and odors fade.

Washing a puffer

Puffers need washing less often than you might think. Handle dirty spots like the collar and cuffs with spot cleaning; a full wash once or twice a season is usually enough. If the label says it's washable, close the zipper and snaps, use a small amount of down or neutral detergent on a gentle cycle, and rinse thoroughly so no detergent remains. Drying matters most. Even if the outside feels dry, filling that's still damp inside can clump and smell, so dry it all the way through over a few days, patting it by hand along the way to break up clumps. If the product allows tumble drying, use low heat.

Everyday care and storage for puffers

A puffer's warmth comes from the filling expanding to trap air. If it stays compressed for a long time, it loses volume and warmth. Flattening it in a vacuum bag over the summer saves space, but the filling can set in a compressed state, so if possible hang it with room to spare or fold it loosely. After taking it out, hang it somewhere airy and pat it to restore its loft. If it gets wet, wipe the surface and dry it well in the shade before storing.

Caring for a wool coat

A wool coat lasts through regular grooming rather than frequent washing. When you come home, brush it along the grain with a clothes brush to remove dust, and let it rest for a day on a wide, thick hanger in an airy spot. Narrow wire hangers distort the shoulders. If it gets wet from rain or snow, blot it with a dry towel and dry it in the shade, avoiding spots right next to a heater or a hair dryer's hot air. If it gets stained, don't rub; it's safer to take it to a professional cleaner according to the label.

End-of-season checklist

How you prepare winter clothes for storage determines their condition next winter. Anything worn even once still carries sweat and skin oils, even if it looks clean, so wash it before putting it away.

• Wash worn clothes or have them cleaned before storing
• Remove dry cleaning plastic and switch to a breathable cover
• Add a moisture absorber and don't pack the closet too tightly
• Follow the instructions on moth repellents and don't mix different types
• Fold knits; hang coats on thick hangers

Common mistakes

Most winter clothing mishaps start with thinking it'll probably be fine. Running a knit through a regular machine cycle with other laundry, washing it in hot water and putting it in a hot dryer are the most common causes of shrinkage. Storing a puffer before it's fully dry or leaving dry cleaning plastic on for months also invites odors and discoloration. Shrunken wool is hard to restore, so for expensive pieces you're unsure about, a professional cleaner is ultimately the cheapest option. Keep moth repellents and moisture absorbers out of reach of children and pets.