I Stopped Ruining Sweaters Thanks to This $24 Foldaway Drying Rack – No More Shrinking or Stretching

They're a winter essential – but do you know how to wash and dry wool sweaters without shrinking or damaging them?

All too often, I hear stories of sweaters shrunk to half their size, or stretched double as long after being hung to dry. Having done it myself on my favourite sweater, I can wholly recommend using the OXO folding sweater dryer, available at Amazon, to keep sweaters looking as good as the day you bought them, no matter how often you freshen them up in the washer. Shoppers love them so much, they're buying up to seven and stacking them for bigger loads.

So, even if you think you know how to do laundry, it's an investment in your winter wardrobe that's well worth making.

I Swear By My Folding Sweater Dryer for Washing Wool Sweaters Without Damage

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

If you know how often to wash sweaters, you'll know they don't need washing nearly as regularly as you may think. But they do need a wash and freshen up every so often.

Importantly, once washed, if your sweaters are wool or wool blend, they are undoubtedly things never to put in the dryer, unless you're trying to shrink your clothes, that is.

They also should never be hung up to dry, as the weight of the wet wool will pull the knit downwards and leave it stretched to your knees. So, how can they safely be dried then? Enter: The OXO folding sweater dryer, available at Amazon.

It's such a simple piece of kit, but it will make such a difference to your laundry arsenal. After all, drying sweaters correctly is one of the things people who are good at laundry always do, and there's no reason you can't too.

With a generous mesh surface, this rack is specifically designed for drying delicate clothes quickly, helping to make laundry smell better and avoid having to get mildew smells out of your clothes.

It's also handily folds in half, and the legs also fold too, meaning it's suitable even if you're looking to maximize space in a small laundry room, and compact enough to store with ease, either in a cupboard, on a shelf, or behind a door.

You can even neatly stack multiple dryers one on top of the other to dry more than one sweater at once, and it's small enough to use on countertops or on top of your washing machine.

One five-star reviewer, Joshua, on Amazon, says they love the rack so much, they've now got seven they regularly use.

'I love these!' they write. 'I first bought three of these in May of 2022. I had accumulated enough clothing that needed to be flat while drying. I purchased three racks.

'I searched through a lot of the different drying racks that were available on Amazon and other sites, looking for what would fit my needs, but was also sturdy enough to last a while.

'I picked this because I liked the design, it had good reviews, and was large and stackable, but at the same time, it can be broken down easily to store between uses. By the way, if your rack is bending downward at the hinge when you set it up, you've got it upside down. That's a frequent complaint I saw.

'I've been using the first three since May of last year, and finally convinced my spouse to buy three more.'

Josh assures that the racks are lightweight, efficiently stackable, and quick and easy to assemble and break down for storage, adding that they place multiple racks together to allow for more flexibility and even more drying space for drying clothes quickly.

'I had initially worried a little about the price being more than others I researched, but it is 100% worth it to me,' they continue. 'I have a total of seven racks now, and I use them weekly, sometimes daily. I've been extremely satisfied with my experience with them.

'If you aren't too rough with them, you can have them last a long time. And your delicates can, too!'

Shop Our Edit of Winter Washing and Drying Essentials

For other, non-wool garments, it's still just as important to know how to dry clothes inside in winter to prevent any musty odors.