How to Wash Hoodies Without Shrinking, Fading, or Damage

Although hoodies are an essential piece of clothing, improper cleaning can lead to shrinkage, fading, or loss of softness. Common errors that shorten the lifespan of your favorite pieces include using hot water, strong detergents, ignoring care labels, and overloading the machine.

Professional care keeps hoodies vibrant, soft, and fresh for a safe, worry-free solution. Convenient laundry pickup & delivery services let you handle your laundry without ever leaving your house.

Why Hoodies Get Damaged During Washing

Strong detergents, hot water, and aggressive washer cycles can all cause damage to hoodies. Over time, the hoodie may lose its softness and shape due to shrinking, fading, and weakening of its fabric fibers. There is a greater chance of wear and tear, especially on designs and decorations, if crucial actions like checking care labels or turning the sweatshirt inside out are neglected.

Combining hoodies with heavy or rough materials can also cause harm, leading to strained seams and pilling. The hoodie's fit may be further distorted by overloading the washing machine or drying it on high heat. Your hoodies will stay vibrant, silky, and long-lasting if you wash them properly.

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How to Prepare Your Hoodie Before Washing

A little preparation goes a long way toward protecting the fabric, preventing fading, and ensuring a complete, gentle clean before washing a hoodie. The hoodie's softness, color, and overall shape can be preserved by taking a moment to check the labels, empty the pockets, and turn it inside out.

Why to Wash Hoodies Inside Out for Color Protection

One of the easiest methods to keep printed images from fading is to turn your hoodie inside out before washing. This technique helps colors stay brilliant and extends the life of your favorite items by reducing friction on the exterior fabric, whether you wash sweatshirts or hoodies.

How to Inspect Hoodie Tags Before Washing

Before washing, always read the care tag to learn about the hoodie's particular fabric requirements, the ideal water temperature, and if it can be machine washed or needs to be handled gently. By pointing you to the safest cleaning technique for your clothing, these recommendations help you prevent shrinkage, fading, or damage.

How to Wash Hoodies in a Washing Machine Safely

You can preserve the softness, color, and form of hoodies by learning how to wash hoodies in a machine. To avoid damage, always wash hoodies inside out, separate them by color, and use a gentle cycle with cold water. To keep your hoodie looking its best for longer, use a gentle detergent, don't overload the machine, and avoid strong chemicals.

How to Wash a Hoodie by Hand for Delicate Fabric

Like a Bape hoodie, handwashing is ideal for delicate textiles, high-end items, or clothing with intricate patterns. This technique preserves details, keeps the cloth from stretching, and protects it.

• Pour cold water into a basin.

• Add a tiny bit of mild detergent.

• Soak the hoodie for ten to fifteen minutes.

• Don't scrape or twist the fabric; instead, gently press it.

• Use cool, clean water to rinse thoroughly.

• Reshape, lay flat on a towel, and let it air dry.

How to Wash a BAPE Hoodie Without Ruining Prints

Although BAPE hoodies are renowned for their bold designs and premium construction, improper maintenance can make the printing and stitching more prone to wear and tear. Always wash a Bape hoodie by flipping it inside out, using cold water, and selecting a moderate cycle to minimize friction on the artwork to preserve its distinctive appearance.

Avoid using bleach, harsh detergents, and high heat, as these can weaken stitching and break prints, ultimately lowering the hoodie's value. The safest technique is air drying, which keeps the fabric and the recognizable BAPE design intact for extended usage.

How to Wash AMIRI Hoodie & Other Designer Hoodies

To maintain their premium fabric, structure, and details, luxury hoodies need special care.  Use a gentle cycle, cold water, and a mild detergent designed for delicate clothing to safely wash AMIRI hoodie or any other designer item. The hoodie's prints, decorations, and stitching can be protected from friction by turning it inside out.

Professional cleaning is often the best choice for expensive clothing. To ensure your designer hoodie retains its original quality, fit, and craftsmanship, experts use controlled methods to prevent shrinking, fading, or damage to specialty fabrics.

How to Wash Black Hoodie Without Fading

It takes careful maintenance to keep a black hoodie appearing deep and rich. To properly wash a black hoodie, turn it inside out and use cold water to preserve the color. To keep that deep black tone, use a gentle detergent that won't fade the color.

To prevent patchy or washed-out areas, avoid excessive wash cycles and never use bleach or strong stain removers. The optimum method is air drying, but if you must use a dryer, use low heat to avoid fading and fabric deterioration.

How to Wash White Fox Hoodie Without Yellowing

Sweat, body oils, and detergent residue can cause white hoodies to lose their brightness over time, resulting in dull spots or yellow stains. Always use cold water and a gentle, color-safe detergent to properly wash white fox hoodies.

Wash the hoodie separately from dark or colorful items, turn it inside out, and avoid bleach. To keep your hoodie fresh and crisp without damaging the fabric, you could add a little amount of baking soda or a whitening booster for added protection.

How to Wash Sweatshirts & Hoodies Together Safely

Sorting is essential to avoiding damage and color transfer when washing hoodies with sweatshirts. To keep materials looking fresh, start by grouping items by color, like lights with lights, darks with darks.

Next, to ensure even washing and prevent stretching thinner fabrics, group clothing by fabric thickness. Lastly, washing sweatshirts or hoodies with rough materials, such as towels or trousers, can cause abrasions or pilling on delicate fabrics.

How to Dry Hoodies Without Shrinking

As crucial as washing your hoodie is, properly drying it also is. Shrinking, stiffness, or loss of shape might result from improper technique, especially if you're using excessive heat or neglecting mild care techniques.

Choosing the correct method keeps your hoodie soft and long-lasting, whether you prefer air drying, machine drying, or dry cleaning for extra protection.

Air Dry Method

Shake your hoodie lightly after washing to help it regain its original shape and release extra moisture. To avoid stretching or creasing while it dries, lay it flat on a fresh, dry towel and smooth down the hem, hood, and sleeves.

Use a flat drying surface, such as a table or drying rack, and place another towel below to absorb moisture for optimal results. Hanging the hoodie while it's wet can cause the fabric to pull downward, distorting the fit.

How to Use a Dryer Safely

To reduce the chance of shrinking and fabric damage, always use a low-heat or delicate setting while drying your hoodie. Keep drying times short and make sure the hoodie doesn't regularly overheat. Avoid overloading the dryer, take off the hoodie when it's slightly damp, and allow it to air dry flat. This keeps it soft, long-lasting, and in form.

How to Store Hoodies to Maintain Their Shape

Hanging your hoodies can cause the shoulders to stretch out and the fit to become distorted, so always fold them neatly to keep them looking new. To prevent needless stretching or creasing, store them in a cool, dry place with heavier hoodies stacked at the bottom.

To prevent odors or mildew, store hoodies in a well-ventilated area and make sure they are completely dry before storing. 

See our guide on Winter Clothes in Great Shape for more tips on seasonal maintenance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Washing a Hoodie

• A hoodie may fade and pill if it is not turned inside out before washing.

• Using hot water causes prints or logos to shrink and get damaged.

• Overloading the washing machine increases fabric wear and prevents proper cleaning.

• Using bleach or strong detergents that remove color and suppleness.

• High-heat drying weakens fibers and causes misshaping.

• Ignoring care labels and washing delicate or specialty fabrics incorrectly.

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When Should You Use Professional Hoodie Cleaning?

Professional cleaning is the safest option if you don't know how to wash hoodies, handle tough stains, or care for high-end materials like wool blends or embroidered designs.  Additionally, it's perfect if your hoodie has lingering smells or if you want to maintain color and smoothness without worrying about shrinkage.

You can also refer to our guide, "Care for Cold Weather Clothes," for additional advice.

ByNext can assist you when you require professional care without the inconvenience. Our reliable cleaning experts carefully handle hoodies, guaranteeing thorough cleaning and fabric preservation. We make professional care easy with clear pricing and convenient laundry pick up & delivery service, so your favorite hoodies stay soft, long-lasting, and fresh.

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FAQS - How to Wash Hoodies

Can I wash my hoodie in the washing machine?

Yes, you can wash your hoodie in the washing machine, but use cold water to prevent shrinkage. Wash hoodies inside out and use a gentle cycle to protect the fabric and print. Wash with cold water to prevent shrinking, and avoid harsh detergents for longer-lasting softness.

How to wash hoodies and keep them soft?

To keep hoodies soft, wash them inside out on a gentle cycle using cold water and a mild detergent. Avoid fabric-damaging heat, air-dry or tumble dry on low, and skip harsh chemicals or overloading the machine to maintain softness and shape.

How often should hoodies be washed?

Hoodies should usually be washed after 5–6 wears, unless they’re visibly dirty or exposed to sweat or strong odors. Washing less frequently helps maintain their softness, color, and overall quality.

Keep Your Hoodies Fresh with ByNext

When it comes to washing a hoodie, a little consistency goes a long way. Your hoodies will remain soft, colorful, and precisely formed if you use low-heat drying, gentle cycles, and mild detergents. Your go-to layers will always look and feel comfy if you follow a basic maintenance schedule.

ByNext Chinatown laundryoffers expert-level clothing care for people who prefer it. We guarantee the safest, long-lasting treatment for your hoodies with dependable service across our ByNext New York City. We make it easy to keep your favorites fresh without any work, from deep cleaning to light fabric preservation.