Most hoodies don't wear out. They get washed wrong and then feel worn out. The fleece goes flat. The fabric pills. The hoodie shrinks a size. None of that has to happen. Here's how to wash a hoodie the right way.
Why Hoodies Get Ruined in the Wash
A hoodie is typically a blend of cotton and polyester with a fleece interior. Each of those materials has a weak point when it comes to laundry.
Cotton shrinks with heat. The more cotton content in your hoodie, the more it'll shrink in hot water or a hot dryer. Most hoodies are 50-80% cotton, which means heat is your biggest enemy. Polyester fleece is more heat-tolerant but gets damaged by aggressive agitation. The loops that create that soft inner texture get matted down or pill when they're rubbed against rough fabrics or tumbled too hard. High heat can also melt or deform polyester fibers at a microscopic level, making the fleece feel scratchy and flat over time.
Fabric softener sounds like it should help, but it actually coats fleece fibers and gradually reduces their ability to loft back up. A hoodie washed regularly with fabric softener ends up feeling less soft, not more.
The Right Way to Wash a Hoodie
Cold water, gentle cycle. That's the foundation. Cold water prevents shrinkage and protects the fiber structure. The gentle cycle reduces agitation so the fleece doesn't pill.
Turn the hoodie inside out before it goes in. This protects the exterior surface, where pilling is most visible, from contact with the drum and other clothes. The inside gets just as clean either way.
Use a regular amount of detergent. More detergent doesn't mean cleaner. It means more residue left in the fabric after rinsing, which contributes to stiffness over time. Skip the fabric softener entirely.
How to Dry a Hoodie Correctly
Air drying is the safest option. Lay it flat or hang it to dry, and the shape stays exactly right. Takes a few hours but requires zero effort.
If you're using a dryer, use low heat. Not medium. Not the default setting most people use. Low. A dryer ball helps, too. It keeps the hoodie tumbling loosely and helps the fleece loft back up as it dries, rather than matting flat against itself.
Take it out of the dryer while it's still slightly damp. Let it finish drying flat or on a hanger. This prevents over-drying, which is where most of the damage happens. Over-dried fleece feels stiff and loses that soft, thick quality that makes a good hoodie worth wearing.
Browse our hoodies if you want to see what you're working with before committing to one.
What to Avoid Washing With a Hoodie
Don't wash your hoodie with jeans, towels, or anything with zippers or hooks on the outside. Denim is abrasive. Towels have a rough surface that creates friction. Loose zippers and hardware snag fleece loops and create pulls or holes that can't be undone.
Washing your hoodie with other soft items, other sweatshirts, t-shirts, or lightweight cotton pieces, is fine. The goal is just to avoid anything that acts like sandpaper against the fleece.
Zipper Care Before Every Wash
If your hoodie has a zipper, zip it all the way up before washing. An open zipper flaps around in the drum and catches on other fabric, creating pulls and pilling. It can also catch on the interior of the hoodie itself. Takes two seconds to zip it closed and saves you a lot of frustration.
How Often Should You Wash a Hoodie
Every 3-5 wears is a reasonable baseline, assuming normal everyday use. A hoodie worn over other clothes doesn't pick up sweat or body oils the way a t-shirt does. Washing it every single wear is overkill and accelerates wear.
Exceptions: if you wore it during a workout, if you were outside in the cold and came home sweaty, or if it actually smells, wash it. Otherwise, air it out between wears and you'll get more life out of it.
Check out our men's hoodie collection to find one worth taking care of.
How to Restore a Hoodie That's Already Gone Flat
If the fleece interior has already gone flat from previous washes, a few dryer cycles on low with a tennis ball or dryer ball can help restore some loft. It won't bring a badly matted hoodie back to new condition, but it can improve it meaningfully.
For pilling on the exterior, a fabric shaver (also called a lint shaver) removes pills cleanly without damaging the underlying fabric. They cost about $10-15 and can make an older hoodie look significantly better. It's not a permanent fix, but it extends the life of a hoodie you like.
Quick Reference: Hoodie Wash Checklist
Before washing: zip up the zipper, turn inside out, separate from rough fabrics. Wash: cold water, gentle cycle, no fabric softener. Dry: low heat with a dryer ball, or air dry flat. Remove from dryer slightly damp. That's the whole routine. It takes about 30 seconds of extra thought and it makes a real difference in how long your hoodies last.
FAQ
Can I wash a hoodie in warm water?
Technically yes, but cold is better. Warm water speeds up cotton shrinkage and is harder on fleece fibers over time. Cold water washes just as effectively for everyday dirt and sweat.
Why does my hoodie feel scratchy after washing?
Usually a combination of high heat drying and fabric softener buildup. High heat flattens the fleece loops. Fabric softener leaves a coating that stiffens fibers. Try a low-heat dryer cycle with a dryer ball and skip the softener on the next few washes.
Should I hang or lay flat a hoodie to dry?
Laying flat is better for heavier hoodies because hanging while wet can stretch the shoulders and distort the shape. Lighter hoodies can hang without much issue.
How do I get rid of pilling on my hoodie?
A fabric shaver removes pills cleanly. Run it lightly over the pilled area and it shaves them off without damaging the fabric underneath. They're inexpensive and worth having if you own fleece items.
Can I put my hoodie in the dryer?
Yes, on low heat. High heat is where damage happens. Low heat with a dryer ball is fine and actually helps restore fleece loft. Just take it out slightly damp.
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