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When the temperature dips, pulling out the cotton sweaters is a no-fail way to amp up your fall and winter wardrobe. Cozy, warm and stylin’ cotton sweaters drape easily over your bod and keep you toasty. One of the best features of these warm separates is that you can machine wash them.
Benefits of Cotton
A sweater with cotton threads will keep you warm in stellar style. This sweater will drape comfortably with just enough thickness to make it perfect for layering over another blouse or shirt. A cotton sweater feels soft and luxurious on your skin, making it a pleasure to wear. As long as you follow washing and drying instructions to a T, cotton sweaters should hold their color and size for many seasons.
Washing Cotton
Check the care label on your sweater to see how the manufacturer recommends washing and drying the garment. It’s probably safe to use standard laundry detergent and set the washing machine to warm or cold water. Use a basic wash cycle with standard agitation and spin. Avoid chlorine bleach unless the care label specifically gives the go-ahead.
Drying Cotton
Some cotton sweaters do fine in the dryer and others need to dry flat. Follow manufacturer instructions or you risk shrinking or damaging the cotton fibers. If you machine dry, set the dryer to a medium setting. If you dry it flat, spread a towel on a flat surface and place the sweater on the towel, smoothing it neatly so it dries without wrinkles.
Other Care Tips
After wearing your sweater, inspect it carefully for stains. Toss it in the washing machine promptly if you find stains -- don’t put it away dirty. Fold your sweater neatly and put it away in a drawer or on a shelf. Hanging a cotton sweater is asking for a stretched-out garment over time. Check the label for dry-cleaning recommendations -- many cotton sweaters will clean up nicely with a trip to the cleaners.
