How to Wash Fleece Jackets & Pullovers

Whether you’re dealing with changing seasons in the north or unpredictable air conditioning in the south, you probably have a favorite fleece jacket or pullover in your closet. But you probably don’t have many more than one, which means you need to keep it clean! To keep your fleece in great condition, follow the care tips offered below. Here’s how to wash fleece jackets and pullovers.

Quick Start Guide

Here are a few quick and easy steps to help you clean your fleece pullovers:  

• Read the label. This is the best place to start when preparing to wash a garment. Check the label for suggested cleaning methods and avoid doing anything the manufacturer says is a no-go.
• Consider a quick soak. If your fleece has some stains, try filling your sink or a clean bucket with some cold water and a small amount of detergent (like WIN Detergent). Soak the fleece in the cold water and gently rub any stained areas to help get them out.
• Move on to the machine. Next, place your fleece in the washing machine. Be sure to use cold water and a gentle cycle. High temperatures can damage the material that makes up your jacket, so be careful to avoid heat.
• Hang it to dry. Finally, you will need to hang your fleece to dry. Just as hot water can be damaging to the fibers that make up the garment, so can the heat of your dryer. Instead, find an out-of-the-way spot to hang dry your fleece items, like a shower curtain rod or towel rack. Fortunately, fleece tends to dry pretty quickly on its own, so this step shouldn’t take as long as it would with other materials.

Wash in Moderation

Fleece is a delicate material. Washing it will take a toll on the garment over time, even when you carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions. Therefore, this is not an item that you should wash after every use. The good news is that since a fleece is typically worn over another layer, it won’t be right up against your skin, so it may not get as dirty as quickly as other items of clothing.

Does this mean you should never wash your fleece? Of course not—just monitor its condition and wash it once every few uses or so. That way, you can keep it clean without shortening its lifespan.

Watch Out for “Pilling”

Anyone who has ever owned a fleece knows that the material can start to “pill” after it has been worn for a while. Pilling is the term for the little balls of fuzz that begin to appear on garments like fleeces and sweaters. There might just be a few little pills at first, but after enough wears, your favorite Patagonia or Columbia fleece could soon be covered in fuzz—making it look old and worn out.

But, don’t toss out the fleece just because it pilled! To prevent pilling from the outset, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions and our tip on staggering your wash cycles. To remove pills that are already in place, you can pick them off with your hands or consider using a fabric shaver to cut them from the garment.  

Use the Right Detergent

If your fleece still smells dirty after you wash it, don’t blame the fleece; your detergent is likely the problem. That’s because most regular detergents are designed to treat cotton rather than synthetic materials.

Sweaty fleece jackets are no match for the cleaning power of WIN Detergent, which is specifically designed to clean and remove odor from synthetic materials. To keep your favorite fleece and other synthetic clothing items smelling great, order a bottle of WIN today!

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