Some may sigh at the signs of winter -- chilly nights, frosty windshields -- all signals that the possibility of more snow is not far off.

But plummeting temperatures are also a welcome signal. A sign it's time to bring out our soft, fuzzy knits -- sweaters, scarves, hats, shrugs, gloves and more.

All cozy to wear, but sometimes puzzling to deal with in the laundry room.

Those labeled "dry clean only" are easy. There's likely a good reason the manufacturer chose that care label. According to a news release from Lands' End, it's often because of the buttons and other trims, not the fiber in the body of the garment.

Big, bulky sweaters often carry the same label but that's because thick, heavy sweaters can take days to dry after hand washing, sometimes developing an unpleasant musty smell.

But when the label simply says "dry clean" you often have the option of hand washing, said JimaLee Painter, owner of Sheep's Clothing, a Kennewick yarn shop.

Hand washing takes time and a little care on your part but it also saves you money and two trips to the cleaners.

Don't feel you're being lazy or miserly when you opt for hand washing. "It's a lovely thing to do, easier on the fibers because dry cleaning can dry out wools and angora," she said.

Even manmade fibers, like some acrylics, can react badly to heat and agitation.

Keep your sweaters clean but don't overdo the washing. Lands' End says they're not meant to be washed every time you wear them, unless you're clumsy with your meals.

Each time a knitted garment's washed, the fibers "bloom," opening up a little. So limiting the number of washings helps extend the life of your garment.

In a survey done for the clothing company, 53 percent said said they clean their sweaters about every three wearings.

But don't make those wearings months apart -- especially for fine wools. The Mid-Columbia is home to wool-eating moths who are attracted to the smallest amount of human or food smell, Painter said.

Wearing wool clothing helps keep the moths away.

"They like dark, quiet, not-so-clean spaces. So wearing, moving them around in your closet and keeping the closet itself clean helps discourage them," Painter said.

Hanging cedar blocks and chips in your closet or tucking lavender sachets among your fine knits on the shelf or in a drawer also helps. Do the same thing when you pack them away at the end of the season.

"It won't kill the moths or repel them but masks the smell of the wool and other scents that attract them. Because if they can find your wools, they will eat them," she said.

Moth balls and cakes work too. "But it's hard to get rid of the smell when you're ready to wear your clothes," Painter said.

Here are some more care tips from Painter and Lands' End:

-- When you take your sweater off, give it a good shake to remove any crumbs, threads or hairs. Then air it out for a few hours by laying it flat on a clean, white towel out of direct sunlight.

-- Fold, don't hang, your sweaters and nice knits. This keeps them from stretching out of shape.

-- To remove the pills, or round balls of fibers on the surface of a sweater, use a mechanical remover to cut them off or one of the textured "stones" to grab and remove them. Don't pull them off with your fingers. You could loosen the yarn and soon end up with a hole.

-- If your sweater has set-in wrinkles, steam them out using your iron. Use the lowest setting that will produce steam and try to not actually touch the sweater. Hold the iron just above the wrinkle and let the steam do the work. Smooth the wrinkle out with your fingers while the area is still warm.

-- When it comes time to store wools and other natural fibers for the season, avoid putting them in a closet in the basement, even in a sealed plastic bin.

"Remember, moths like dark, quiet places like an out-of-season closet. And sealing them in plastic is bad because, apparently, wools and angoras all need to breathe," Painter said.

Lining the closet in cedar would help but the best place is still a cedar chest, she said.

-- Be sure any knitted garment you store away is clean, especially anything made of wool or part wool. Otherwise you'll find them honeycombed with holes when you pull them out in the fall, Painter said.

-- Hand washing requires a gentle touch -- that means no scrubbing, no agitation.

First, unless you're doing one garment at a time, separate your sweaters into dark and light colors.

Fill a basin or clean sink with cold water and use a gentle detergent made for hand washables. For expensive or hand-knit wool garments Painter recommends using a soap or detergent made especially for wool. You'll find them at shops specializing in yarn and stores and catalogs, like Lands' End, where fine woolens are sold.

Treat any stains on knit garments gently. Use a stain remover and follow directions to the letter. Don't use chlorine bleach.

To dry, lay the garment flat on a clean, white towel. If the towel becomes saturated with water, replace it with a clean one. Resist any urge to wring or twist your garment.

Be sure the place you choose for drying is airy and out of direct sunlight.

* Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com