A great sweater is one you'll love for a long time. The kind that takes it from first chilly morning to countless fall weekends, year after year, until it becomes one of those pieces that feels like it's been part of your wardrobe forever. 

To help it stay in tip top shape, a little care goes a long way. Wash less when you can, treat your knits gently when you do, and give them a little breathing room between wears and seasons. 

Here's how to keep your sweaters looking good – and in rotation – for years to come. 

Wear More, Wash Less

Let it Breathe

Before you toss your sweater in the laundry, take a second look. Is it actually dirty, or could it use a spot clean – or a little fresh air?

Many natural fibers, especially wool, are naturally odor-resistant and don't need to be washed after every wear. If there's no spill or spot to deal with, try airing your sweater out instead. A few hours in a shady, breezy spot can go a surprisingly long way.

Toad Product Team Tip: Wear a thin layer underneath your sweater – a tee, tank or long-sleeve base layer – to create a little buffer between your skin and the knit. Less exposure to sweat and body oils means less washing over the life of the sweater.

For small spills, spot-treat first. Blot instead of rubbing, work from the outside of the stain toward the middle, and always test stain remover somewhere inconspicuous first.

Try a Snow Wash

Got fresh powder? Snow washing – a traditional way of refreshing wool that's recently made a comeback – uses clean, dry, powdery snow to gently lift surface dirt and freshen natural-fiber knits without a full wet wash. 

Care Label Gets the Final Word

When your sweater does need a wash, always start with the care label. Different fibers and constructions need different treatment, so there's no one-size-fits-all sweater wash. Some can handle a gentle machine cycle (looking at you, recycled/organic cotton Bianca), while others are better off with a hand wash.

No matter how you wash it, we recommend turning your sweater inside out first (think: less friction on the part that everyone sees). 

Skip the Softener

"Soft" might be right there in the name, but fabric softener doesn't do your wool sweater any favors. Some softeners actually make pilling more likely by helping loose fibers work their way to the surface. 

A few universal rules: use cool or lukewarm water when recommended, choose a gentle detergent, and skip the wringing. Wet knits are especially easy to stretch.

Dry Flat

One sweater care rule that always applies: when a knit is wet, lay it flat to dry.

Hanging a wet sweater puts extra water weight on the shoulders, which pulls it out of shape. Instead, gently press out excess water, lay flat on a clean towel, and reshape while damp. Make sure to air dry away from direct heat.

And resist the dryer unless the care label specifically says it's safe. Heat and agitation can cause shrinking. 

Fold, Don't Hang

Over time, hanging will stretch the shape of your knits. Folding helps your sweaters hold their shape. 

Seasonal Storage

Before you pack your sweaters away for the summer, make sure they're clean and completely dry. Moths and other pests are attracted to things like food particles and body oils, so clean clothes are less inviting. 

Toad Product Team Tip: A few hours outside can freshen up natural fiber knits before they go into hibernation. At the end of the winter season on a sunny day, lie them in the sun to breathe before they go into storage. 

Adding a cedar ball (natural alternative to moth balls) to your storage bins is also recommended – it'll help deter pests while the sweaters are stored away. 

What Your Sweaters Wish You Knew

Pilling Isn't The End

You might find pills around the underarms, along the sides, or anywhere a bag or another layer rubs against your sweater fabric (if it's always pilling in the same spot, keep an eye out for what's rubbing against it). It doesn't mean your sweater is wearing out.

For a quick cleanup, use a sweater comb or fabric shaver with a light touch. A fot, clean toothbrush can also work on fuzzier knits. Take your time, though – you're removing loose fibers, not giving the sweater a haircut. 

If It Shrinks, Don't Panic

Accidentally shrunk a wool sweater? You might be able to coax some of the shape back.

A gentle soak in lukewarm water can help relax the fibers, after which you can carefully reshape the sweater while it's wet and let it dry flat. You can also try a small amount of hair conditioner in the soak. 

This isn't a guaranteed magic undo button (if the shrinking is significant, it may not be possible to restore), but it's worth a try. 

Keep the Good Ones Going

The most sustainable sweater is the one you already love wearing. 

Taking care of your clothes means getting more life and more wears out of the things you already own. And when a sweater eventually reaches the end of its time with you, it doesn't have to be the end of its story. Pass it along to give it another life through our ToadAgain resale program. 

Because good clothes deserve to live many lives.