One of the best parts about the onset of cooler weather is breaking out your sweater collection. There's always that one gorgeous sweater, though, that's just a little too itchy and sadly finds its way to the bottom of the drawer no matter how much you love it. If comfort is your priority, you wouldn't tolerate shoes that don't fit, stiff jeans, or too-small tops, so why accept itchy sweaters?
But now you can give your sweater a new life and get rid of that itch once and for all. See how it's done below, and then scroll down to shop for your next favorite sweaters.
1. Soak Your Sweater in Water and Vinegar
Mix together cold water and a few tablespoons of white vinegar. Turn your sweater inside out and submerge it in the mixture, making sure it's totally saturated, and then drain it.
2. Massage in Hair Conditioner
When the sweater is still damp, massage it with a good hair conditioner—the cheap stuff will cause a waxy buildup. Try to avoid stretching the sweater's fibers when you do this.
3. Let It Sit, Then Rinse
Give the conditioner 30 minutes to set on the sweater, and then rinse all of it out with cold water. Press gently on the sweater to remove the rest of the water, making sure not to lose its shape.
4. Lay Flat to Dry and Store It in a Plastic Bag
Place the sweater on a towel and let it dry flat. When it's completely dry, fold it neatly and put it in a large zip-top plastic bag.
5. Store It in the Freezer Overnight
Place the bagged sweater in the freezer overnight, and in the morning, it won't itch anymore! The conditioner and the vinegar make the fibers in the sweater softer, and freezing it prevents its short fibers from poking out.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.