After weeks of festive celebrations, it’s more than likely that your knitwear and coats are beginning to show signs of wear.

As we head into 2026, it’s crucial to ensure that your winter wardrobe is getting the care it needs. This is why specialists in natural fabrics and clothing at Nomad the Label have offered their top tips on how to correctly protect your winter wardrobe, helping to keep your winter staples looking fresh throughout 2026. 

Avoid over-washing 

It’s likely that most of us are over-washing our knitwear and coats, causing pieces to become worn down quickly. Over-washing can weaken the fibres of delicate fabrics, which poses the risk of items becoming bobbly or frayed.

For materials containing wool, it’s important to wash as little as possible. This is because wool is rich in lanolin, meaning that the fabric is naturally self-preserving and requires less frequent washes.

This is why it’s best to limit the number of times you’re washing your winter pieces in the months ahead. Hand-wash when possible and always check the care instructions.

When machine washing your winter garments, it’s important to adjust the settings to a wool or delicates wash. This avoids placing stress on the fibres, keeping them intact for longer. 

Invest in a debobbler

Bobbling, also known as pilling, is caused by friction in daily wear. If you notice a piece of knitwear becoming bobbly, then it’s best to treat this straightaway.

Investing in a fabric razor can help to effectively remove these, but it’s important that you do this gently while keeping the garment flat to avoid damaging the fabric. Ensure that you’re using light and short strokes of the razor to keep the material intact.

Using the sticky side of adhesive tape can help to collect the fluff you shave away. Alternatively, using a fine-toothed comb, or even a headlice comb, can help to shave away any bobbles. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re carefully pulling the comb towards you with the teeth angled downward to avoid catching them in the fabric.

While bobbling is often inevitable, it’s important that you correctly care for your knitwear to help prevent these from forming. Always ensure that you’re washing delicate pieces based on their care instructions to avoid damaging the fibres. 

Turn fabrics inside out

When placing delicate fabrics in the wash, it’s always best to turn them inside out. This simple trick helps to prevent wear from the washing machine. 

No matter how gentle the wash is, it will always place unnecessary stress on the fibres, so it’s important to do what you can to prevent this. Washing pieces in a mesh laundry bag can also help to extend their longevity. 

Wash with cold water

Washing our knitwear and coats is often inevitable, especially when pesky spills are involved. This is why it’s important to spot-clean your pieces with detergent and cold water.

Putting your winter wardrobe on a hot wash can create unnecessary stress on the fibres, often resulting in shrinkage. Even lukewarm water has the potential to cause shrinkage, so it’s important to keep the water as cool as possible.

Adding a small amount of hair shampoo or conditioner to the water can also be a fantastic hack when it comes to washing delicate materials. This can help to freshen up fabrics while maintaining their softness. 

Keep materials flat while drying 

After washing, never wring out your knitwear. Instead, give the material a gentle squeeze before laying it as flat as possible on a clean towel. 

When drying, hanging can cause delicate materials to stretch from the weight of the water, so it’s important to keep them flat. Never put your coats or knitwear in the tumble dryer, as this will make them increasingly prone to breakage and shrinkage.

Louisa Warman, the founder of Nomad the Label, has commented: 

“As we are currently in an age of overconsumption, it’s essential to ensure that we’re correctly looking after our coats and knitwear to ensure their longevity. Placing delicate materials on a hot wash has the potential to take years off a fabric’s lifespan, making it increasingly prone to wear and breakage.

“Natural fibres like wool are incredibly durable when treated correctly, but over-washing and incorrect handling can shorten their lifespan significantly. Wool in particular is naturally self-cleaning thanks to its lanolin content, which is why it’s so important to wash these materials sparingly while following care instructions closely.

“Simple yet effective habits like turning garments inside out before washing, only washing with cold water, and laying pieces flat while drying can have a significant impact in preventing stretching, bobbling, and shrinkage. Investing in affordable tools like a fine-toothed comb or a fabric razor can help to keep your winter wardrobe both looking and feeling fresh for years to come.”

This information was provided by specialists in natural fabrics and clothing at Nomad the Label.