How to Make an Annoying, Itchy Sweater Less Itchy
We’ve all had to deal with an infuriatingly itchy sweater at some point in our lives. And we can all pretty much agree that it is the absolute worst. Isn’t having to layer for winter bad enough? It’s enough to make you want to pack a bag filled with all-linen-everything and buy a one-way ticket somewhere the temperature doesn’t go under 70º F. Alas, that’s not always an option—but luckily, there is a fix for your annoying, scratchy knits. And it’s pretty easy.
To make your itchy sweaters less, well, itchy, all you need to do is give them some TLC. Basically, you need to treat your knits like you do your hair. And these five steps will get you there.
-
Turn the perpetrator inside out and soak it in cold water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar for 15 minutes, making sure that all the fibers are thoroughly saturated. Drain.
-
While the sweater is still wet, gently massage a generous amount of hair conditioner into the fibers. Avoid stretching the fibers and don’t use a cheap hair conditioner, since those usually contain waxes that will cause a weird buildup.
-
Let the conditioner sit on the sweater fibers for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cold water. Gently press excess water out of sweater, being careful not to stretch the garment out of shape.
-
Dry flat on a towel. Once fully dry, fold neatly and place in a large ziplock bag.
-
Now place sweater in the freezer and let it sit overnight. In the morning: No more itchy sweater!
Here’s why these five steps work: The vinegar and conditioner softens the fibers, while the freezer keeps the shorter fibers from sticking out, sort of like how a cold blast from the hair-dryer smooths your hair.
There are other factors to keep in mind when it comes to why your sweater is itchy in the first place.
Check the fiber content of the offensive garment. It’s possible you may be allergic to its natural fibers; wool, alpaca, cashmere, and angora are common irritants for some people. And if you’re allergic, no amount of soaking and freezing will help. Donate the sweater to Good Will and look for knits made from acrylic instead.
Similarly, some fibers are just coarse and itchy no matter what. If you don’t feel like wearing a button-down or turtleneck under your annoying sweater all the time, donate it. Remember: Life’s too short to deal with annoying sweaters.
Shop some of our favorite cozy sweaters for the season, below.
