HOW TO WASH & CARE FOR SWEATSHIRTS

​​Russell Athletic sweatshirts stand the test of time, and proper care for your collection can add even more years to the lifespan of each one you own. From the Inventor of the Sweatshirt, here are the do's and don'ts when it comes to properly caring for cotton and wool sweatshirts and hoodies. Become an expert at preserving and folding your favorite pieces with the following maintenance tips.

A general rule of thumb is about five or six wears before it’s time to wash your sweatshirt. Thankfully, sweatshirts are fairly low-maintenance, which ensures their longevity. This is especially true if your sweatshirt is being used as a pullover.

If you bought a sweatshirt and later realized it’s too big, you’re in luck. You can easily shrink the fabric so it fits better.

Sweatshirts are already designed to be form-fitting. When shrinking cotton sweatshirts specifically, the material tends to shrink upward and closer to the body. To ensure maximum shrinkage, a hot dryer will do the trick. When making a sweatshirt smaller, use the following steps:

1. Wash the sweatshirt at the hottest temperature.

2. Dry the shirt on high heat in a dryer.

If a hot dryer shrunk your sweatshirt down, this process can help. Making a cotton sweatshirt bigger requires a combination of moisture, heat, and stretching. When stretching a cotton sweatshirt, use the following steps:

1. Completely submerge a sweatshirt in lukewarm water, adding some conditioner into its fibers. The sink or a bucket will work as a container for the lukewarm water.

2. Let the garment sit in water for 30min or an hour.

3. Drain the container and refill it with cool water to rinse the conditioner. Submerge the sweatshirt under the water again and wring out as much liquid as you can from the fabric.

4. Lay the sweatshirt on some bath towels to dry it. Lay it down as flat as you can, stretching as you go to achieve the desired length.

5. Air dry the garment.

Cotton is made of fibers, making stains a challenge to remove if you’re not careful. Follow these steps to remove the stain out of a cotton sweatshirt with ease:

1. Once stained, treat the spot immediately after it happens or as soon as you notice it.

2. Identify the cause of the spot and prevent additional stains.

3. Rinse the spot under lukewarm water if possible. This may involve removing the garment, especially for larger stains.

4. Pour a small amount of white vinegar on the stain to wet the area and loosen the stain.

5. Let it sit for an hour.

6. Run the cotton sweatshirt through a cold-water wash cycle.

7. Inspect the sweatshirt to see if the water cycle removed the stain.

8. If the stain persists, dab the stain with hydrogen peroxide. If it begins to bubble, the chemicals are reacting to the stain.

9. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Sweatshirt Stain Removal Tips: Hot water is the enemy, as they make stains worse and can even shrink the garment. Don’t simply throw a sweater in the laundry and expect everything to wash out.

While most of our sweatshirts today are made with anti-pill technologies, some pilling may still occur after years of wear. Here’s how to prevent sweatshirts from pilling in the wash:

1. Turn the sweatshirt inside out.

2. Wash on delicate or hand wash your sweatshirts.

3. Avoid using a dryer and lay your sweatshirts out flat. If you’re in a rush, use a low heat setting.

While this isn’t as much of a problem with newer sweatshirts, you may have old ones in your collection that need pilling removed. There are several techniques, and the least harmful to the material include:

• Fine toothed comb: Lay the sweatshirt on a flat surface and gently comb against the grain of the pilling.

• Scissors: Simply cut off the pilling without getting too close to the sweatshirt itself. This may take the longest depending on how much pilling the sweatshirt has acquired.

• Duct Tape: Dab the sweatshirt material with the sticky side of duct tape. The pilling will adhere to the duct tape, removing it from the sweatshirt itself. If any small pilling is leftover, grab your scissors and cut them off by hand.

Should you fold your clothes or hang them? It’s an important distinction to make. For sweatshirts, think about the material and weight. Crew neck sweatshirts tend to be on the heavy side, and pool weight to certain spots when hung. This may distort shapes, which could reduce the lifespan of an old favorite. Try folding the sweatshirt instead.

When folding cotton sweatshirts and other heavy garments, take caution to reduce the risk of wrinkles and creases with these tips:

1. Fold the sweatshirt in half, and smooth out any wrinkles.

2. Now fold the sleeves into the body of the sweatshirt, so the sleeves are pointing downward.

3. Fold the sweatshirt in half so that the sleeves are now at the crew neck sweatshirt line.

4. You’re done!

Aside from materials, the lifespan of your sweatshirt directly depends on how well you care for your clothing. If your sweatshirts are near the end of their lifespan, find your new favorite from our collections below.

Learn more about:

• Finding the right size sweatshirt

• How to wear a sweatshirt