Quick answer: Most winter clothes last longer when you wash them less often, in cool or lukewarm water, with a gentle liquid detergent. Hand wash or use the wool or delicate cycle for sweaters and shawls, wash puffer jackets on a gentle cycle and dry them fully, wash thermals inside out after two or three wears, and never put away winter clothes that are even slightly damp. At the end of the season, wash everything, dry it in the sun and store it with neem leaves or cloves to keep moths away.
Winter clothes are some of the most expensive things in an Indian wardrobe, and also the easiest to ruin. A sweater shrinks in one hot wash, a jacket goes flat and lumpy, a shawl comes out of the trunk with moth holes. The good news is that caring for winter clothes is mostly about a few simple habits. This guide covers how to wash, dry and store each type, from everyday sweaters and thermals to jackets, shawls and kids' woollens.
The golden rules of winter clothes care
- Read the care label first. It tells you whether a garment can be machine washed, hand washed or only dry cleaned.
- Wash less often. Outer layers like sweaters, jackets and shawls rarely touch your skin, so they do not need washing after every wear. Air them instead.
- Use cool or lukewarm water. Hot water shrinks wool and damages the finish on many synthetic fabrics.
- Choose a gentle liquid detergent. Liquid dissolves fully in cold water and rinses out more easily than powder, which can leave white marks on dark woollens. Read more in does detergent work in cold water.
- Never wring or twist. Press water out gently instead.
- Dry completely before storing. Damp clothes in a cupboard lead to musty smells and mould.
Mentioned in this guide
Lavender & Geranium Plant-Based Laundry Liquid, Bio-Enzyme, for Machine & Hand WashPlant-based · 100% biodegradable · Lab tested
Rs. 480.00Rs. 800.00
How to wash sweaters and woollen clothes
Wool shrinks and felts when it meets heat and rubbing at the same time. Hand wash sweaters in cool water with a small amount of gentle liquid detergent, squeeze the suds through softly, rinse in water of the same temperature, and roll the sweater in a towel to press the water out. If your machine has a wool or hand wash cycle, use it with cold water and a low spin, with the sweater turned inside out in a mesh laundry bag.
Always dry woollens flat on a towel, never on a hanger, or they will stretch out of shape. For a full step-by-step guide, see how to wash woollen clothes at home without shrinking.
How to wash a winter jacket at home
Puffer and padded jackets
Most polyester puffer and padded jackets can be machine washed. Check the label, empty the pockets, close all zips and fasteners, and turn the jacket inside out. Wash it on its own on a gentle cycle in cold water with a small amount of liquid detergent, and add an extra rinse so no detergent stays in the filling.
Drying is the most important step. Squeeze out water gently, then hang the jacket in a warm, airy spot or in indirect sun, and shake it and pat the filling every few hours to break up clumps. A thick jacket can take one to two days to dry fully in winter. If the filling smells or feels damp inside, it is not dry yet.
Denim and cotton jackets
Wash denim and cotton jackets inside out in cold water to protect the colour, and hang them to dry on a broad hanger so the shoulders keep their shape.
Leather and suede jackets
Do not put leather or suede in water. Wipe leather with a slightly damp cloth, let it air dry away from direct heat, and take it to a specialist cleaner for stains. Brush suede with a soft brush to lift dust.
How to wash thermals and inner wear
Thermals sit right against your skin, so they need washing more often than outer layers, usually after two or three wears. Turn them inside out, wash in cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle, and skip fabric softener, which can coat the fibres and reduce how well they hold warmth and wick away sweat. Hang them to dry in the shade. Avoid very hot water and direct heat, which can shrink them and loosen the elastic.
How to care for shawls, stoles and pashminas
Fine shawls, pashminas and embroidered stoles are best dry cleaned, especially if they are expensive, hand embroidered or very old. Simple wool or acrylic shawls can be hand washed in cool water with a small amount of gentle liquid detergent. Do not rub or scrub. Swish gently, rinse, press the water out in a towel and dry flat in the shade. Test a hidden corner first for colour bleeding, especially with deep reds and maroons.
Socks, gloves, caps and mufflers
These small items get the most contact with sweat and skin, so wash them every one or two wears. Put them in a mesh laundry bag so they do not get lost or stretched in the machine, wash woollen ones on the wool cycle, and dry them flat. Monkey caps and mufflers often lose shape if hung by one end, so lay them flat to dry.
Kids' and baby winter clothes
Children's sweaters, booties and caps are washed often and touch delicate skin. Use a gentle, fragrance-light liquid detergent, add an extra rinse so no residue stays in the fibres, and dry them fully in the sun or near warm air. Our guide on detergent residue and skin irritation explains why rinsing matters for sensitive skin.
How often to wash winter clothes
| Item | How often |
|---|---|
| Thermals, inner wear, socks | After every 1 to 3 wears |
| Sweaters worn over a shirt | After every 4 to 6 wears, or when they smell or look dirty |
| Shawls and stoles | A few times a season |
| Jackets and coats | Once or twice a season, and before storing |
| Razais and quilts | See our razai and quilt guide |
How to dry winter clothes when there is no sun
Thick winter clothes take much longer to dry, and clothes left damp for too long start to smell. Spin as well as the fabric allows, space clothes out so air can move between them, dry them near a window or fan, and turn heavy items over halfway through. For more tips, read why clothes don't dry in winter, and how to stop the damp smell.
How to store winter clothes at the end of the season
- Wash or clean everything first. Moths and insects are attracted to sweat, food stains and body oils, not clean fabric.
- Dry fully in the sun. A day of sunlight before storing helps remove any last dampness.
- Fold, do not hang, knitwear. Hanging stretches sweaters over months. Hang only coats and jackets, on broad hangers.
- Use breathable storage. Cotton bags, old bedsheets or breathable boxes are better than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture.
- Add natural moth repellents. Dried neem leaves, cloves, bay leaves or cedar blocks in small cloth pouches help keep moths away. If you use naphthalene balls, keep them away from children's clothes and out of reach of kids and pets.
- Air them once or twice. On a dry, sunny day in the monsoon, open the trunk or cupboard and let things breathe.
Common winter clothes care mistakes
- Washing sweaters in hot water or on a normal cycle.
- Hanging wet woollens, which stretches them permanently.
- Drying jackets or woollens right next to a heater, which can shrink or scorch them.
- Using too much detergent, which leaves residue and stiffness. More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes.
- Storing clothes that are not fully clean or fully dry.
What we use
Our Plant Based Laundry Liquid is a liquid detergent that dissolves easily in cold water, is gentle on skin, and is free from harsh toxins, parabens and synthetic VOCs, with a calming lavender and geranium fragrance. It is 100% biodegradable and independently lab tested, and you can see the results on our lab reports page. For the rest of the home this season, see our winter cleaning checklist for Indian homes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I wash winter clothes without shrinking them?
Use cool water, a gentle liquid detergent and a wool or hand wash cycle, avoid wringing, and dry woollens flat away from direct heat. Heat and rubbing together are what cause shrinking.
Can I wash a puffer jacket in a washing machine?
Most polyester puffer jackets can be machine washed on a gentle, cold cycle if the care label allows it. Close the zips, turn it inside out, add an extra rinse, and make sure it dries completely, shaking the filling as it dries.
How often should I wash sweaters?
If you wear a shirt or thermal underneath, every four to six wears is usually enough. Air them between wears and spot-clean small marks.
How do I remove the musty smell from stored winter clothes?
Air them in the sun for a few hours first. If the smell stays, wash them gently and dry them fully before wearing. Make sure your storage space is dry before you put them back.
Is it better to dry clean woollens?
Dry cleaning is safest for fine pashminas, embroidered shawls, tailored coats and anything labelled dry clean only. Everyday wool and acrylic sweaters can usually be hand washed at home.
How do I keep moths away from woollen clothes naturally?
Store woollens clean and dry, in breathable bags, with dried neem leaves, cloves, bay leaves or cedar. Air the storage space a few times a year.
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