Despite the tragedy of shrinking a wool sweater, the deed is reversible. Here is the best laundry tip; an easy step by step tutorial on how to unshrink a wool sweater.

Have you committed the laundry sin of [gasp] shrinking a wool sweater? In the name of absent mindedness, daydreaming or just a simple mistake — I know I have! And every time I pull out that miniature version of what used to be, like some magician’s bunny hat trick, an unpleasant emotion — somewhere between stubbing my toe and obligatory laughter — wells up inside me.

But despite the initial sorrow, all is not lost for you or that sweater. Here is an easy and fast way to unshrink a wool sweater. Try it out right now or bookmark this How To, and next time you find yourself needing to unshrink a wool sweater, we’ve got you covered.

1. First, fill a sink or bucket with warm water and dissolve a quarter-size amount of both shampoo and conditioner in the water.

2. Soak the wool sweater in the mixture for about twenty minutes. Move around at first so your sweater really absorbs the shampoo and conditioner.

3. After about twenty minutes, remove sweater and lightly ring the moisture out.

4. Next, stretch the sweater, pulling on all angles to loosen the fibers. (For true precision, but a bit of uncomfortableness, you can wear the sweater while stretching it. This will help mold the shape back to your size and fit.)

5. After the sweater is stretched about 2/3 it’s original size, lay it flat or hang over a chair to dry.

6. Lastly, once the sweater is dry, put on and lightly stretch out one final time.

Voila! Enjoy many more cozy days to come with that sweater!

Want more How To tips? Related on EcoSalon:

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Do you ever pass those big, expensive bottles of essential oils at the natural foods store and wonder who needs that much? Most of us are used to using just a few drops at a time; after all, they’re super-concentrated. But next time, you won’t blink an eye at the thirty dollar price tag on that 4-ounce bottle of tea tree oil. Why? Because it’s possibly the most powerful essential oil there is, with dozens of medicinal, beauty and domestic uses. Seriously: you need tea tree oil. Lots of it. Here are just 10 examples of what you can do with it.

Mold Killer

I recently had a knock-down, drag-out fight with mold. Things got ugly fast when a leak in the basement wasn’t fixed quickly enough, and before long, mold was all over everything that was stored down there. While I had to throw a lot of things away, I saved a lot thanks to a really easy and natural solution that kills virtually all strains of fungus – plain white vinegar with about a teaspoon of tea tree oil added to it, in a spray bottle. Spray liberally and vigorously wipe all affected surfaces, but don’t rinse.

Laundry Scent and Booster

Anyone who’s ever dealt with dirty cloth diapers, cloth menstrual pads or a post-illness load of laundry knows that sometimes, your clothes and linens need a little something more than just plain old laundry detergent. But don’t break out the bleach. A teaspoon of tea tree oil in your wash water will kill any germs and other gross stuff – just hang them out in the sun to dry and stains will disappear, too.

Insect Repellent and Bite Soother

When all else fails – even trusty old citronella – tea tree oil keeps annoying mosquitoes, gnats and other buzzing and biting bugs far away. Pour about an ounce of tea tree oil and four ounces of witch hazel into a spray bottle, and shake it up before applying. Both ingredients are soothing to existing bites. You can add some cedar, lemongrass, or lavender to make it even more powerful and prettier-smelling, too.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Sometimes referred to as ‘Mother Nature’s most powerful antiseptic’, tea tree oil is a great addition to just about any homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe. Here’s my favorite: add 2 cups of hot water to 2 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax, ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap and ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil in a spray bottle; shake it and spray it anywhere germs lurk, like doorknobs and toilets.

Relief from Chest Colds

Put 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in a basin of hot, steaming water, then cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam for up to 10 minutes. Since tea tree oil has antiviral properties, it can help keep that cold from getting out of hand, especially if you catch it early enough.

Cold Sores

Nothing says “kiss me” like a hideous, contagious eruption right next to your mouth. Tea tree oil can help make it go away fast, since its antiviral effect subdues the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Apply a few drops to the sore with a cotton swab once a day until it’s gone, and don’t forget to pop some lysine, an amino acid that has been proven to stop the herpes virus from replicating.

Gum and Sticker Remover

Whether it’s a wad of gum someone stuck under your dining table or a stubborn label on a gift, tea tree oil is so astringent that it cuts through sticky substances with ease. Just pour on a few drops on a cotton ball and rub away.

Acne Buster

The active ingredient in tea tree oil, terpinen-4-ol, is thought to kill the the bacteria that colonizes our pores and throws the disgusting, unsightly parties that result in acne. Just a drop added to a paste of baking soda and castile soap makes a super-effective natural face and body scrub that will also buff away the dead skin cells that make breakouts even worse. Some people can be sensitive to high concentrations of this powerful oil, so if you get a rash, discontinue use.

Athlete’s Foot and Other Fungal Issues

As gross as it sounds, the same properties that make tea tree oil such a potent mold-killer make it great for the fungus that causes athlete’s foot, too. The same goes for any other fungal infection, like ringworm, dandruff and nail infections. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a base oil like sweet almond, olive or coconut and apply it to the affected area, add it to your shampoo or add it to hot water for a foot soak.

Head Lice Zapper

What do you do when your kid’s got a head full of creepy-crawly, blood-sucking lice? Blast those suckers into oblivion as soon as possible. But many parents inadvertently expose their children to even worse health problems when they resort to noxious chemicals. Try tea tree oil first – research shows that it can dislodge mature lice. Mix a teaspoon of tea tree with 4 teaspoons of either olive or coconut oil, rub it into the scalp and leave it on for 15 minutes; then use a nit comb before washing the mixture out.

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Summer sunshine and gorgeous weather make for the ideal conditions to get moving – whether hiking, running, biking with your family or simply taking your dog for a walk. But working out in the heat, always comes with a side of sweat, and all too often sweat-stained clothing make laundry a tricky task. How do you get rid of those embarrassing and icky yellow pits without reaching for chemical bleach or another harsh formula?

You can stick it to sweat stains with an easy DIY removal solution. In a spray bottle mix one cup of water with one cup of ammonia. Spray directly onto yellowed areas or dip an old rag into the formula and dab it onto the stains. Let the solution do its sweat-removing magic for 10 minutes.

Then wash your soon-to-be-white-again workout whites as usual. When you take them out of the washer you’ll love how clean they finally look and you can put them back on and start sweating all over again.

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There’s no escaping it, laundry is a fact of life. Before you toss your next load of whites in the washer, take a look at these five planet-friendly laundry gizmos that claim to go easy on the environment while cleaning your skivvies.

Wonder Ball – According to the manufacturer, this spherical “proprietary blend of minerals and magnetics” reduces the surface tension of the water to allow the gadget to deep clean clothing fibers. It can be used with laundry detergent, or on its own with just water. It works in hard or soft water and will last you about 2,000 washes.

Dryer Balls – What’s good for the washer, is good for the dryer. Several companies make dryer balls, little orbs that you toss in the dryer clothes to keep your clothes from sticking together, so they dry more quickly. Apparently these little doo-dads can reduce drying time up to 25 percent. Who knew?

Static Eliminator Eco Dryer Sheets – Unlike chemical-laden disposable dryer sheets, these reusable alternatives can be used up to 500 times. The hypoallergenic fabric draws static electricity away from garments and whisks away clingy pet hair while tumbling around the dryer.

Soapnuts – Dried fruit gets your clothes clean? Evidently so. Soapnuts are actually the the fruit produced by a particular type of Himalayan tree. Once harvested, they’re de-seeded, dried, and packaged as a natural, organic alternative to standard laundry detergents.

Have you ever tried any of these laundry products? What did you think? Let us know in the comments. And for drying tips, don’t miss these eco drying secrets.

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