How To Instantly Refresh Musty Sweaters You Haven’t Worn In Ages

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Sweaters Smelling Musty? Here’s How To Refresh Them — With & Without A Dryer

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September 18, 2024

mbg Spirituality & Relationships Editor

By Sarah Regan

mbg Spirituality & Relationships Editor

Sarah Regan is a Spirituality & Relationships Editor, and a registered yoga instructor. She received her bachelor’s in broadcasting and mass communication from SUNY Oswego, and lives in Buffalo, New York.

Image by Tatjana Zlatkovic / Stocksy

September 18, 2024

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With autumn well underway and winter just around the corner, it can only mean one thing: sweater weather. But as you pull your favorite sweaters out of storage, you may notice they could use a bit of a refresh.

So, to find out how to get our sweaters back to smelling brand-new, we asked Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama for her top tips. Here are three ways to bring yours back to life, with and without a machine:

Got a freezer? Believe it or not, you can use it to help eliminate smells, according to Rapinchuk. All you have to do is fold your sweater up, place it in a bag, and leave it in the freezer overnight.

“The cold air will kill bacteria, and the bacteria is what is giving it a little funky smell,” she explains. And just as an FYI, Rapinchuk adds this method also works well with jeans and sports gear.

Fabric refresher is a quick and simple way to bring life (and a pleasant scent) back to your sweaters, and Rapinchuk has a great DIY recipe for one. Here’s how to make it:

And last but not least, if you have access to a dryer, giving your sweaters a quick spin can help fluff them up fast. Rapinchuk recommends putting them in the dryer with wool dryer balls on low/no heat. It shouldn’t take much time at all for them to look freshly laundered, so check on them after 5 to 10 minutes and repeat if necessary.

The takeaway

Your favorite sweaters don’t always need to be taken to the cleaners for a refresh once winter hits.

With these quick and simple home methods, you’ll be fully prepared for the months of sweater weather to come.

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