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It’s official: I’m a sweater-killer. I’ve lost track of the number of sweaters I’ve had to say goodbye to because I’ve thrown them in the wash (or because I’ve snipped a snag). The final straw was when I accidentally washed a brand new sweater from & Other Stories. When I took it out of the machine, it looked like it would fit an American Girl doll. But instead of throwing it out, I decided to try to bring it back to it’s former full-sized glory. Here are the steps I followed:
Fill a sink to tube with lukewarm water and add a cap of baby shampoo (hair conditioner will also work).
Soak the sweater in the soapy water for at least 10 minutes.
Wring out the excess water.
Roll the sweater in a dry towel and squeeze to remove as much excess water as possible. You want the sweater to be damp, not wet.
Place the sweater on a different, dry towel. Gently tug at the sweater to stretch it back into the shape. Let it lay flat to dry.
You can also use this trick to bring your cotton t-shirts and jeans back to their original size. The sweater is still a little snug, but it’s definitely an improvement. Plus, cropped sweaters are in style anyway!
Want more clothing hacks? Check out how to fix a snagged sweater and how to repair a broken zipper.
