Fall Clothing Care: How to Care for Sweaters, Wool, Leather, Denim & More

Fall is when sweaters, jackets, boots, denim, flannel, and other cool-weather favorites start coming back into regular rotation. After months in storage, though, some of those clothes may need a little attention before you wear them again.

Different fall fabrics need different kinds of care. Wool and cashmere don’t behave like denim, leather needs very different treatment from flannel, and even two sweaters can have completely different cleaning instructions depending on what they’re made from.

The best place to start is always the laundry symbols on the garment’s care label. From there, a few simple habits can help your fall wardrobe stay cleaner, hold its shape, and last longer.

Start by Checking Clothes That Have Been in Storage

Before you put your fall wardrobe back into regular use, take a few minutes to inspect anything that’s been stored away for several months.

Look for:

• Stains you may not have noticed before storing the garment
• Musty or stale odors
• Loose buttons or damaged zippers
• Small holes or signs of insect damage
• Wrinkles or misshapen areas from storage

If something was put away without being cleaned first, stains and body oils may have become more difficult to remove over time. That’s one reason we recommend cleaning seasonal clothing before long-term storage whenever possible.

How to Care for Sweaters and Knit Clothing

“Knit” describes how a fabric is constructed, not what fiber it’s made from. A cotton sweater, wool sweater, and cashmere sweater may all be knitted, but they can require very different care.

Always check the fiber content and care label before washing a sweater at home.

For washable knits:

• Turn inside out before washing and use a gentle detergent.
• Wash according to the care label, usually with cool or cold water.
• Avoid aggressive agitation that can stretch or distort the fabric.
• Don’t wring or twist wet sweaters.
• Reshape the garment and lay it flat to dry when recommended.

Hanging a heavy wet sweater can stretch the shoulders and change its shape, so flat drying is often the safer option.

Wool and Cashmere Need Extra Attention

Wool and cashmere are popular fall and winter fibers because they’re warm without being overly bulky, but they can shrink, felt, stretch, or lose their shape if they’re cleaned incorrectly.

Some wool and cashmere garments can be hand washed, while others should be professionally cleaned. The care label should make that decision for you.

If you do hand wash a garment that allows it, use cool water and a detergent intended for delicate fibers. Avoid twisting or wringing it, and reshape it while it’s damp.

If the garment is structured, lined, heavily embellished, or labeled dry clean only, professional cleaning is the safer choice.

Leather and Suede Care

Leather and suede shouldn’t be treated like ordinary washable clothing. Water, household stain removers, and improper drying can cause discoloration, stiffness, water marks, or permanent changes to the finish.

If your leather or suede jacket gets wet, let it dry naturally away from direct heat. Don’t put it near a radiator, space heater, or hair dryer.

For stains, significant soil, or overall cleaning, leather and suede should be brought to a professional leather cleaner experienced with those materials.

It’s especially important not to experiment with household cleaning products on a favorite leather or suede item. A small stain is usually easier to deal with than a large discolored area caused by the wrong treatment.

How to Care for Denim

Denim is durable, but that doesn’t mean every pair of jeans should be treated exactly the same way.

For machine-washable denim:

• Turn jeans inside out before washing.
• Use the water temperature recommended on the care label.
• Wash dark denim with similar colors.
• Use a color catcher sheet to avoid dye transfer.
• Avoid over-washing when the garment isn’t actually dirty.
• Follow the drying instructions on the label.

Air drying can help reduce shrinkage and fading, but some jeans are perfectly safe to tumble dry. There’s no universal rule that denim should never go in a dryer, so let the care label guide you.

Dark indigo denim can also transfer dye onto lighter clothing, upholstery, and handbags, especially when it’s new.

Corduroy Care

Corduroy is easy to recognize by its raised ridges, or “wales.” Those ridges are also what make the fabric prone to collecting lint and becoming crushed if it’s handled roughly.

For washable corduroy, turning the garment inside out before washing can help protect the surface. Wash it according to the care label and avoid overcrowding the machine.

If the corduroy becomes wrinkled, keep the pants turned inside out and press on the underside of the fabric with low heat.

Flannel Care

Flannel isn’t one specific fiber. It can be made from cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, or a blend, which means the cleaning instructions can vary quite a bit.

Many cotton flannel shirts can be machine washed, while wool flannel garments may require gentler care or professional cleaning.

Again, check the label before assuming that every flannel shirt, jacket, or pair of pants can be washed the same way.

Overly hot water and high dryer heat can contribute to shrinkage, especially with natural fibers.

Don’t Forget Fall Jackets and Coats

Outerwear doesn’t usually need to be cleaned after every wear, but it still picks up body oils, food spills, dirt, smoke, and everyday grime over the course of a season.

How often a coat needs cleaning depends on how frequently you wear it, the fabric, how much direct contact it has with your skin, and whether it has visible stains or odors.

Before cleaning any coat or jacket, check the care label. Wool coats, structured jackets, leather, suede, down, fleece, and rainwear can all require different treatment. When in doubt, bring your coat in for dry cleaning services. We can have it back to you that same day, if you drop it off before 9 a.m. on a weekday!

Common Fall Stains to Watch For

Fall brings its own collection of clothing hazards. Some of the most common include:

• Mud and dirt
• Coffee and pumpkin spice drinks
• Grease and food stains
• Makeup
• Campfire smoke and soot
• Rain and water marks

If you spill something, blot rather than rub whenever possible. And if you’re taking the garment to a professional cleaner, tell us what caused the stain. Knowing whether we’re dealing with coffee, grease, mud, or something else helps us choose the right stain-removal approach, which gives your garment the best chance of being salvaged.

When Should You Take Fall Clothing to the Dry Cleaner?

Professional dry cleaning is often the safest choice when:

• The care label says dry clean only.
• The garment is made from leather, suede, wool, cashmere, or another delicate material.
• The item is structured or has a lining.
• There’s a stubborn or unknown stain.
• The garment has embellishments, decorative trims, or special finishes.
• The item is expensive, sentimental, or difficult to replace.

If you’re unsure, it’s better to ask before experimenting with stain removers or washing methods that could permanently change the fabric.

Clean Fall Clothes Before You Store Them Again

When winter ends and your fall clothing heads back into storage, clean it first.

Body oils, food residue, and stains may not always be obvious when you put a garment away, but they can discolor fabric or attract insects during storage.

Once garments are clean and completely dry, store them in a cool, dry place. Breathable garment bags or appropriate storage containers are usually better choices than leaving clothing sealed in dry cleaning plastic for months at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fall Clothing Care

Should sweaters be washed or dry cleaned?

It depends on the fiber and the garment construction. Some cotton and synthetic sweaters can be machine washed, while wool, cashmere, structured knits, and dry-clean-only garments may need professional cleaning. Always check the care label first.

Can wool sweaters be washed at home?

Some can. If the care label allows hand washing, use cool water and a detergent intended for delicate fibers. Don’t wring the sweater, and reshape it before laying it flat to dry.

Can leather jackets be dry cleaned?

Leather requires specialized cleaning rather than standard dry cleaning. If your leather jacket needs professional care, take it to a cleaner experienced with leather and suede garments.

How often should fall coats be cleaned?

There isn’t one rule that works for every coat. Cleaning frequency depends on the fabric, how often you wear it, whether it has visible stains or odors, the environment you wear it in, and the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Should you clean seasonal clothes before storing them?

Yes. Cleaning garments before long-term storage helps remove stains, food residue, body oils, and odors that can become harder to remove later or attract insects.

Can you dry clean denim?

Some denim garments can be professionally cleaned, but many jeans are designed for home washing. Check the care label and consider professional cleaning for embellished, structured, premium, or specialty denim.

Give Your Fall Wardrobe the Right Kind of Care

There’s no single cleaning method that’s right for every fall fabric. The best approach depends on what the garment is made from, how it’s constructed, and what the care label recommends.

If you’ve got a wool coat, cashmere sweater, leather jacket, stubborn stain, or another item you’d rather not experiment on at home, Max I. Walker can help determine the safest way to clean it.

Originally published August 29, 2017. Updated September 2026 with expanded clothing care tips, fabric advice, and frequently asked questions.

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