Thrifting is more than just a hobby for me—it’s a way of life! I’d estimate that 90% of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores. My love for secondhand treasures started early, thanks to my mom. She instilled in me the importance of shopping secondhand: you save money, reduce waste, and support the local economy.

Recently, I stumbled across a gorgeous red wool sweater at a thrift store. It was listed at $9.99, which is an amazing price!  Typically hand knitted items can go for hundreds of dollars.  While I am not a reseller of any kind, I do enjoy researching a thrifted price vs a retail price.  My husband even calls me the ‘Rain Man’ of thrifting, haha! Mostly because I can remember what I paid for every single piece, even those from decades ago.

The moment I saw it, I could tell it was handmade. Even though I’m not a knitter, there’s something unmistakable about the care and quality of a handmade piece compared to mass-produced garments. Plus you can always turn the item inside out to reveal the hand finishings of lose ends tied together.  I’ve been striving to focus on natural materials when thrifting (like wool, cotton, and linen) since these can eventually be composted when they’ve reached the end of their life.

Whoever made this sweater likely poured hours of work into it. I immediately knew it deserved to come home with me, to be loved and cherished for years to come.

Living in South Central Texas, I don’t get to wear sweaters often, but we’ve been experiencing frigid temperatures—and even a little snow—as I write this. But before I could wear my newfound gem, it needed a proper wash.

Have you ever wondered how to wash a wool sweater? It’s always important to wash thrifted items. You never know their history, and in this case, the sweater had a strong mothball smell. Wool garments require extra care—they can’t just be tossed into the washing machine with regular detergent. Wool is sensitive to heat and agitation, which can lead to shrinking or stretching.  While it is possible that some people do use a washing machine for this.  I am not willing to risk my garments getting ruined. 

Many resources suggest using Woolite detergent, but if you’re an eco-conscious person like me, you might want to skip it. Woolite contains ingredients I can’t pronounce, has a low rating on the EWG scale, and comes in a big plastic jug. Instead, I prefer a more sustainable option: handwashing with shampoo!

Yes, you read that right—shampoo! Wool and human hair are both made of keratin, so it makes sense that a gentle shampoo can work for washing wool. I use Plaine Products Unscented Shampoo, which is made with sustainable, vegan ingredients. (As an affiliate, you can use my code AMBER20 for a discount. I’ve been a loyal customer since 2019 and genuinely love their products!) You can also read more about Plaine Products here. 

That said, please note: Plaine Products doesn’t advertise their shampoo for washing clothing, so proceed at your own discretion. 

This is my second time handwashing a wool garment, and both times, the results have been fantastic. Please note to NEVER use shampoo inside your washing machine.  These directions are ONLY for hand washing specific wool garments that can’t go into the washing machine. Here’s my step-by-step process:

Step 1: Fill your sink with cold water and add a few pumps of gentle shampoo, like Plaine Products. Swish the water to distribute the shampoo evenly.

Step 2: Turn the sweater inside out and submerge it in the water. Gently agitate it with your hands, then let it soak for 30 minutes.

Step 3: After soaking, drain the sink. You may notice dirt and some dye in the water—this is normal. Rinse the sweater thoroughly with cold water to remove any remaining shampoo.

Step 4 (Optional): If your sweater has a strong odor (like mothballs), fill the sink again with cold water and add a few tablespoons of white vinegar. Submerge the sweater and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Vinegar neutralizes odors and acts as a natural fabric softener. Don’t worry—it won’t leave your sweater smelling like vinegar!

Step 5: Gently press out excess water from the sweater without wringing it.

Step 6: Lay a clean, dry towel on a flat surface. Place the sweater on top, then roll the towel (like a cinnamon roll) to absorb excess water.

Step 7: Lay the sweater flat to air dry. Avoid using a dryer, as this will shrink the wool. I like to air dry mine on top of the dryer or outside if the weather permits. I still have my sweater inside out at this point.

Drying can take up to a day, depending on your environment. Once dry, revert your sweater inside out and it’s ready to wear!

You might be surprised to learn that wool sweaters don’t need frequent washing. Think of them like coats—typically, you’re wearing a base layer underneath, so they’re not directly in contact with your skin. Unless the sweater has visible stains or an odor, washing it once a year is usually sufficient.

Thrifting is an adventure, and finding a handmade wool sweater is a rare and special treasure. Now that you know how to properly care for wool, I hope you’ll feel confident bringing one home the next time you spot one at a thrift store. With a little TLC, you can enjoy your thrifted find for years to come!

Happy thrifting!