Put your clean (dry) sweaters -- turned inside out -- into the dryer on the "gentle" cycle and set the temperature to "air" (no heat!). Fluff them for five or 10 minutes. You might add one of those fabric softener sheets along with your dry sweaters -- preferably a variety that is not scented.
Avoid washing sweaters with heavy or bulky items, like jeans, towels, and sweatshirts. After washing, don't put it in the dryer, even on the lightest settings. Instead, hang it flat to air dry. Taking these precautions when machine washing can help your sweater keep its shape and last longer.
Fill the sink or plastic tub with clean cool water and add one-fourth cup of distilled white vinegar. Swish to disperse the vinegar. Add the wet sweater to the rinse solution and gently swish it through the water. If there are excessive suds, you may need to drain and repeat the process.
Most clothing smells can be removed with applications of baking soda or vinegar, but some tough odors may require extra cleaning steps with heavy-duty liquid detergent or household ammonia. Choose a commercial odor remover like Downy Rinse & Refresh or remove odors from laundry using items straight from the pantry.
If the manufacturer's cleaning instructions allow, wash your clothes in the hottest water possible to eliminate odors. Add a cup of vinegar or a cup of baking soda to the wash to combat odors. Consider using a clothesline to dry your clothes outside to get a fresh outdoors scent.
Depending on the thickness or weight of the item, wool fabrics should be either air dried or placed in the dryer on a gentle dry cycle. While heavier fabrics like coats and jackets may need the heat of a dryer, it's recommended to air dry older or delicate, lighter wool items.
Certain wool garments can safely be dried in a tumble dryer without the item shrinking. Woolmark-approved garments that have a care claim that states 'tumble dry' can be tumble dried on a low heat setting or a setting for wool or delicates.
Is It Safe To Dry Wool In Dryer? Yes, you can flat dry your wool garments in the dryer. But not all of them should go into the dryer—you'll want to check the garment care label and "ok tumble" symbol first. In general, natural fibers like wool and cotton tend to shrink when exposed to heat.
That's because wool is a hygroscopic material, meaning that it easily absorbs moisture from the air. Mildew needs moisture in order to thrive and will grow on wool clothing in humid climates, creating a foul odor.
We like this Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, but you can always use Woolite, or in a pinch, you can even use a few drops of a mild dish soap, like Dawn.
The overnight method: One way is to pour some vinegar into a small bowl and let it sit in a small room or closet with your vintage garment hanging over it. If you can find a smaller, airtight space where the vinegar doesn't touch the garment, even better. Let it hang there for a night or two.
You left your clothes in the washer too long.
A dark, wet environment like a washing machine is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew to thrive. These can build up in your clothing as time goes on, eventually leaving them with a permanent odor.
Always flat dry wool sweaters or other knitwear if possible, out of direct sunlight. Line drying or drying on hangers can cause knitted garments to stretch due to the weight of the moisture contained by the garment, with the result that the garment grows in length and loses its shape.
When in doubt with wool, err on the side of hand washing. It helps that those sweaters can go up to five uses before they're washed! You don't need many supplies to hand-wash wool or other delicate garments, either.
Cashmere can also be washed in a washing machine, provided some precautions are taken. Cashmere should not, however, be dried in a dryer; always air dry cashmere to prevent shrinking, fraying, or pilling.
Fill the kitchen or bathroom sink with cool water and two tablespoons of fabric softener or hair conditioner. Submerge the sweater and let it soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Drain the soapy water from the sink, but don't rinse the sweater. Gently press the sweater against the sides of the basin to squeeze water out.
Thick materials and fibers often need a longer time to let the dry cleaning chemicals evaporate. To speed up the process and get the dry cleaning smell out of your clothes, allow your garments to air out in a warm spot for a few days. The heat from the sun will cause the perc to evaporate and the smell will dissipate.
Wash your clothes in a cycle with vinegar.
The water in your machine won't necessarily get hot enough to sanitize your laundry, but the heat combined with the acetic acid in the vinegar will help break up any grime or bacteria that has started growing, which will help rid your clothing of that funky, musty smell.
Heating and drying the air takes away one of the things - moisture - that molds need to survive.
Baking soda makes a great laundry product because of its mild alkali qualities. Dirt and grease are easily dissolved, while clothes are softened. It is especially helpful in homes with hard water because it will clean clothes better, and prevent the stain buildup that can come with hard water.