Sweater Season Is Back? Keep Your Knits Soft With Detergent-Free Cold Washes

It's the first frosty morning of the fall. You open the bottom drawer and pull out your favorite sweater, the soft gray one you've worn for years.

It still feels cozy, and you want to keep it that way all winter. Sweater season is back, and so is the question of how to wash your knits.

The good news is simple. With EcoWasher® Pro, you can keep your knits soft with detergent-free cold washes. Nothing goes into the drum but cold, ozone-rich water.

Short answer: Check the care label, turn sweaters inside out, and use a mesh bag on a cold, gentle cycle with low spin. With EcoWasher® Pro, no detergent goes in. Then reshape and dry flat.

Why sweaters need a gentler routine

Knits are made of soft, loose loops of yarn. That's what makes them cozy, and it's also why they need a little extra care.

Warm water, heavy spins, and crowded loads are hard on those loops. So is rubbing against jeans and zippers in a full drum.

Detergent adds one more step to think about. Thick, soft yarn can hold onto what goes in the wash, so many people worry about rinsing it all out.

Then come the extras. Softener and dryer sheets promise a soft feel but leave a coating of their own on the fibers.

Fleece and cotton knits count too. Hoodies, cardigans, and thick socks all do better with the same easy care.

A cold, gentle, residue-free wash is simply kinder to knits. That's the routine this post walks through.

Why detergent-free cold washes suit knits

The idea is simple. EcoWasher® mixes ozone into your cold wash water before it reaches the drum. Then the ozone returns to ordinary oxygen.

No detergent goes in, so there's nothing to rinse out of soft yarn. You never need laundry detergent again.

Start with your home. Sweaters come out soft, bright, and fresh, ready to fold back into the drawer. EcoWasher® also helps extend the life of the washer you already own.

Next, think about time. There's no measuring for a small knit load. You load the mesh bags, pick cold and gentle, and press start.

Then there's comfort. Many people skip softener once they go detergent-free, as our post on fabric softener after detergent-free laundry explains.

Washing less often helps too. Airing a sweater out between wears keeps it fresh and saves a trip through the washer.

And for the planet, cold washes skip heating the water, and fewer plastic jugs go in the recycling bin.

A sweater week with EcoWasher® Pro

Saturday morning, you sort the sweater drawer. You check each care label and set aside a cashmere scarf marked dry-clean only.

• Original laundry-first EcoWasher® design
• About 16.5 × 8 × 6.5 inches and 5 lb
• No screen and no hose to manage
• AC 100–240 V, ozone at 0.5–1.0 mg/L
• Works on cold wash cycles
• 1-year warranty with registration
• $337 sale, $397 regular

Saturday afternoon, you install EcoWasher® Pro on the washer you already own. It takes about ten minutes.

Sunday, the first knit load goes in. You turn each sweater inside out, button the cardigans, and zip each one into a mesh bag.

You keep the load small so the sweaters have room to move. Then you pick a cold, delicate cycle with low spin and press start.

Sunday afternoon, you lay each sweater flat on a towel. You gently reshape the sleeves and hem, and let them dry away from heat.

Monday, the kids' fleece pullovers get the same treatment. They go in inside out, with a few soft tees to fill the load.

Tuesday evening, the sweaters are dry. You fold them loosely and stack them in the drawer, heavy knits on the bottom.

Wednesday, you wear the gray sweater to work. That night, you air it out on a chair instead of tossing it in the hamper.

Friday, you smooth a few fuzzy spots with a sweater comb. By the weekend, your knits are folded, soft, and ready for winter. We help families make this switch, from picking a model to setting it up.

Pro, SE, or EXL for your knits?

Every EcoWasher® is built so everyday loads never need laundry detergent again. The ladder runs Pro, then SE, then EXL. Pro is not a step down from SE; they are different feature sets.

Regular prices are $397 for Pro, $597 for SE, and $797 for EXL. See all three on our EcoWasher model comparison.

Any model works for knits, since all three wash with cold, detergent-free water. The difference is in the extras.

Pro fits the home that wants the simplest laundry-first setup for sweaters plus everyday loads. There's no screen or hose to learn.

EcoWasher® SE adds an LCD and a spray hose, handy for a coffee drip on a cardigan. EcoWasher® EXL fits boutiques, rentals, and heavy, repeated loads.

Each unit serves one washer. Our guide to choosing SE, Pro, or EXL walks through each one.

Getting started this sweater season

1. Check behind your washer for the cold-water inlet and a nearby outlet.
2. Mount Pro on the wall behind the machine.
3. Connect it to the cold-water line, using the EcoWasher setup guide.
4. Wash your knits inside out in mesh bags on a cold, gentle cycle with low spin, with no detergent. Then dry them flat.
5. Register your unit to activate the 1-year warranty.

Related reading

• Why clothes feel scratchy after the wash
• Pulling Out the Winter Comforters? Wash Bulky Bedding Detergent-Free
• How to stop buying laundry detergent