How to Wash a Hoodie So It Stays Soft: Pilling, Shrinking and Fading

A good hoodie should feel as soft in February as it did the day it arrived. Most of what ruins a hoodie happens in the wash: too much heat, too much friction, or the wrong things in the drum with it. Here is a simple routine that keeps fleece soft, helps prevent shrinking and slows down pilling.

Before the first wash: read the label

Every hoodie has a care label, and it beats any general advice, including this guide. Fabric blends behave differently: a 100% cotton hoodie and a cotton-polyester fleece will not react to heat in exactly the same way. If the label and this guide disagree, follow the label.

How to wash a hoodie, step by step

1. Close the zip and empty the pockets. An open zip can snag the fleece of everything else in the load, including the hoodie itself.
2. Turn it inside out. This protects the outer surface and any print from rubbing against the drum.
3. Wash with similar fabrics. Heavy, rough items like jeans and towels create friction, which is the main cause of pilling.
4. Use cold water and a gentle cycle. Heat is what shrinks cotton and dulls colour.
5. Use a mild detergent and skip bleach. Bleach weakens fibres and fades dark colours quickly.

How to dry a hoodie without shrinking it

• Tumble dry on low, or line dry in the shade. High dryer heat is the most common reason a hoodie comes out smaller and stiffer.
• Dry heavy hoodies flat or over a rail. A wet heavyweight hoodie is heavy, and hanging it by the hood or shoulders can stretch it out of shape.
• Keep dark colours out of strong sun. Direct sunlight fades black, navy and other dark shades over time.
• Iron inside out, if at all, and never directly on a print.

Why hoodies pill, and what to do about it

Pills are tiny balls of fibre that form when the surface of the fabric is rubbed again and again: under the arms, at the cuffs, or where a bag strap sits. Brushed fleece is soft precisely because its surface fibres are raised, so some light pilling over time is normal on most fleece, not a sign of a fault.

To slow it down:

• Wash inside out, on a gentle cycle, with similar fabrics.
• Do not overload the machine, so the hoodie is not ground against other clothes.
• Avoid high heat in the dryer.

To remove pills, use a fabric shaver or lint remover, lightly, on a flat surface. Go gently and do not press hard, or you will thin the fabric.

Keeping prints and graphics looking new

• Always wash printed hoodies inside out.
• Use cold water and air dry or tumble dry on low.
• Never iron directly on the print. If needed, iron the reverse side.

How often should you wash a hoodie?

Usually not after every wear. If you wear it over a tee and it is not sweaty or stained, airing it out overnight is often enough. Washing less often is one of the simplest ways to keep fleece soft for longer.

How to store hoodies

Fold heavyweight hoodies rather than hanging them. Hangers can leave bumps in the shoulders and, over a season, let the weight of the fabric pull the hoodie longer.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use fabric softener on a hoodie?

We would skip it. Fleece is already soft, and softener can build up on the fibres over time. A mild detergent and low heat do more for softness.

Can I hand wash a hoodie?

Yes. Use cold water and a little mild detergent, press the water through rather than wringing it, and dry it flat.

My hoodie shrank. Can I fix it?

Not reliably. Cotton that has shrunk from heat rarely returns fully to its original size, which is why cold washing and low drying matter from the first wash.

Does a heavier hoodie need different care?

The routine is the same. The main difference is drying: heavier hoodies hold more water, so dry them flat or over a rail rather than hanging them by the hood. Not sure what the weights mean? See our GSM guide.

Our hoodie care

Every Noir & Lin hoodie and sweatshirt comes with the same simple instructions: wash inside out in cold water, tumble dry low, and iron inside out. The exact fabric of each piece is listed on its product page.

• Men's Solid Oversized Hoodie, 440 GSM
• Unisex Zip Hoodie, 400 GSM
• Unisex Hoodie, 300 GSM
• Solid Sweatshirt, 300 GSM

Still choosing one? Read our winter hoodie buying guide.

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