The ugly holiday sweater is made to be loud, and that is exactly what makes it hard to clean. Between the glued-on ornaments, the pom-poms, the battery pack for the lights and the cheap yarn, one trip through a regular wash cycle can undo the whole thing.
Here is how to clean one without wrecking it, and when it is smarter to hand it over.
Start With the Care Label
The label tells you the fiber and what the maker recommends. Many novelty sweaters are acrylic blends, and some say hand wash or dry clean only. If the label is missing or faded, treat the sweater as delicate.
Take Off What Comes Off
- Remove the battery pack from any sweater with lights. Water and batteries do not mix.
- Unclip bells, ornaments or detachable pieces if they can come off.
- Check for loose pom-poms or beads and note them before you start, so you know what was already coming loose.
Spot Clean First
Most holiday sweater stains are spills from a party: punch, gravy, frosting. Blot, do not rub. Rubbing pushes the stain into the yarn and can fuzz the surface. Use a little mild detergent on a damp cloth and dab from the outside of the stain inward.
Hand Washing, If the Label Allows
- Use cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent.
- Press the sweater under the water instead of scrubbing or wringing.
- Rinse in cool water and press out the water with a towel.
- Lay it flat to dry, away from direct heat. Hanging a wet knit stretches it.
When to Bring It to the Cleaner
A sweater with sewn-on embellishments, sequins, or a wired light strand is better handled by us. The same goes for anything marked dry clean only, or anything with a stain you have already tried to treat. Tell us what you used, so we are not guessing.
We will tell you honestly what cleaning can do. Some party stains lift easily, and some set into synthetic yarn. And if a sweater is too fragile to survive cleaning, we would rather say so than risk it.
Store It Clean for Next Year
Clean the sweater before it goes into storage, since food residue attracts pests and sets over time. Fold it instead of hanging it, and keep it somewhere dry. For more on storing knits, see our guide to storing sweaters for the season, and if a pom-pom or seam gives way, our sweater repair guide covers what can be fixed.
When to Let Us Handle It
If the sweater is delicate, embellished, or already stained, bring it in before the party instead of after. We will look at it with you and tell you what is realistic.
Schedule a pickup or sign up for Vogue Valet today and enjoy expertly cared-for clothes without the hassle.
