By Maria, Founder & stylist at ITALICA, our boutique in downtown Sarasota, FL. Written from first-hand experience sourcing and wearing these pieces. Sources are cited at the end of this guide.
To wash a wool sweater without shrinking it, hand-wash it in cold water below 30 C with a wool-safe detergent, never wring it, and dry it flat. Heat and agitation are what shrink and felt wool, so the whole method is about keeping both low. Below is the full routine — washing, de-pilling, drying, and storing — so your Italian knitwear lasts for years.
Quick takeaways
- Hand-wash wool in cold water (below 30 C) with wool detergent.
- Never wring — press water out gently and dry flat.
- Heat and agitation cause shrinking and felting; avoid both.
- Remove pills with a comb or de-piller, not by pulling.
- Store knits folded, not hung, to keep their shape.
How to wash a wool sweater step by step
Wool is delicate but easy to care for once you know the rules:
- Check the label; if it says dry-clean only, follow that.
- Fill a basin with cold water (below 30 C) and a little wool-safe detergent.
- Turn the sweater inside out and submerge it; press gently, do not rub or twist.
- Rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
- Press the water out gently — never wring — then roll in a towel to absorb more.
- Lay flat on a dry towel, reshape, and let it air-dry away from direct heat or sun.
Many machines have a wool or hand-wash cycle that replicates this; use cold water and a low spin if you go that route.
How to get rid of pilling
Pilling — the small bobbles that form where fabric rubs — is normal and fixable. Remove pills with a fabric comb, a de-pilling tool, or a disposable razor used gently across the surface; do not pull them off, which can damage the knit. Washing inside out and avoiding friction against rough fabrics (like a bag strap) reduces future pilling. Mohair and large-knit pieces need an especially gentle touch.
A mohair knit that rewards gentle, cold-water care.
Shop Large-knit mohair cardigan →
Drying and storing knitwear
Always dry knits flat — hanging a wet sweater stretches it out of shape. Once dry, store sweaters folded on a shelf or in a drawer rather than on hangers, which create shoulder bumps and stretch the knit. For long storage, keep them clean and add a cedar block or lavender to deter moths. See how different knits behave in our guide to Italian fabrics.
A wool knit to hand-wash cold and store folded.
Shop Wool cardigan with glitter →
Keep your knitwear season after season
Cared for this way, quality knitwear lasts for years — which is the point of buying well in the first place. See how to bring knits into your outfits in how to style a cardigan and summer to fall outfits, and see which knits lead the season in fall 2026 fashion trends from Italy. Browse knitwear and cardigans.
Frequently asked questions
How do you wash a wool sweater without shrinking it?
Hand-wash in cold water below 30 C with wool-safe detergent, press gently without rubbing or wringing, rinse cold, then dry flat. Heat and agitation are what cause shrinking.
Can you machine wash wool?
Only if the label allows and your machine has a wool or hand-wash cycle. Use cold water and a low spin; otherwise hand-wash to be safe.
How do you get rid of pilling on a sweater?
Remove pills with a fabric comb, de-piller, or a razor used gently across the surface. Do not pull them off. Washing inside out reduces future pilling.
How should you store sweaters?
Fold knitwear and store it on a shelf or in a drawer rather than hanging it, which stretches the shape. Keep it clean and add cedar or lavender to deter moths.
Sources
- Wool-care guidance — textile care references.
- ITALICA knitwear care notes.
More: how to style a cardigan · guide to Italian fabrics · cardigans · tops · shop knitwear.
