How to wash a hoodie and a sweatshirt

Short answer: Wash inside out at 40 degrees, close the zip, skip the fabric softener and dry flat in the air. The tumble dryer is what wears sweat fabric the most. With these four habits your hoodie and sweatshirt keep their shape and surface for longer.

Close the zip first

An open zip snags other clothes in the drum and can catch the fabric itself, leaving small pulls and holes. Close it fully before the hoodie goes into the machine. Tie a knot in each end of the hood cord too, so it is not pulled into the channel during the wash. This applies to the styles in bamboo hoodie for men.

Inside out protects the surface

Sweat fabric pills where it rubs against other clothes and the drum. If you turn it inside out, the rubbing hits the inside instead of the side that shows. That keeps the surface smooth and the colour fresh for longer. Turn the sleeves as well so the whole piece lies evenly. This applies to bamboo sweatshirt for women.

Dry flat

A wet hoodie on a hanger is stretched by its own weight, and the shoulders can get bumps from the hanger. Lay it flat on a drying rack or a towel instead, and ease it into shape while it is wet. Turn it halfway so both sides dry. Do the same with the rest of your bamboo sweat for men and women.

40 degrees is enough

Hoodies and sweatshirts rarely get very dirty, because there is usually a layer underneath. 40 degrees is enough to get them clean, and a higher temperature wears the fabric more and can make it shrink. If there is a single stain, treat it with a little detergent directly on the spot before washing.

Skip the fabric softener

Fabric softener leaves a coating on the fibres. It may make the fabric softer at first, but over time it can make sweat fabric heavier and less airy, and the fleecy inside can clump. A soft fabric does not need it. Use a mild dose of ordinary detergent instead so no residue is left behind.

The tumble dryer wears it most

The heat and movement in a tumble dryer are the hardest on sweat fabric. The fabric can shrink, the ribbed cuffs and hem go slack sooner, and the surface pills more. Tumble drying is possible, but clothes last longer if you dry them in the air. It takes longer, but it pays off in fit.

Gentle spin

A high spin twists the fabric and can pull at seams and edges. A lower speed is gentler and leaves fewer sharp creases. The fabric comes out a little wetter, so drying takes longer, but it is a good trade. Avoid filling the machine completely, so the clothes have room to move without rubbing too much.

Air between washes

The best way to spare a hoodie is to wash it less often. Air it on a hanger overnight, ideally by an open window, and wear a T-shirt underneath to take the sweat. Then the hoodie or sweatshirt only needs a wash every third to fifth wear, and the fabric stays looking good for longer.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to dry

Up to a day indoors. Turn the piece halfway so both sides dry, and make sure there is air around it so it does not start to smell musty.

Can you tumble dry sweat

You can, but it shrinks the fabric and makes the ribbed edges slack sooner. Air drying takes longer, but the clothes keep their shape better and look good for longer.

How often should a hoodie be washed

Every third to fifth wear if there is a layer underneath. Air it in between, ideally on a hanger overnight by an open window.