How to Care for Wool?
Could You Wash Wool In The Washing Machine?
When learning how to take care of wool you should be aware that you could wash wool in the washing machine
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to hand wash wool:
- Use cold water and select the delicate/hand wash cycle on the washing machine.
- Avoid warm water or excessive agitation as it may cause the wool to shrink. Opt for the coldest and gentlest cycles available.
- Turn items like sweaters or pants inside out before placing them in the machine.
- Start the cycle and let it run through. Once finished, promptly remove the wool item from the machine.
- Lay a towel flat and place the wool item on top of it.
- Gently roll the towel, with the wool item inside, pressing gently to remove excess water without causing damage.
- Unroll the towel and lay the wool item on a dry towel to air dry completely.
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How to Hand Wash a Sweater?
To hand wash wool, you can follow these simple steps:
Fill a sink or bathtub with cold water and add a mild soap (use less than you think you need).
Turn the sweater inside out and immerse it in the water, gently swirling it around to avoid stretching the fabric. Let the sweater soak for up to 10 minutes.
Drain the sink or bathtub and refill it with cold water. Gently swish the sweater back and forth in the clean water to rinse out the soap. Repeat this rinsing step as needed until the soap is completely gone.
After rinsing, gently press the sweater to remove excess water. Avoid wringing or twisting the garment, as the fibers are delicate when wet. If you need to use a dryer, set it to an air fluff/no heat setting. Hanging the wet wool sweater can cause it to stretch out of shape
More tips on hand drying wool
Spread the sweater on a thick, dry towel. Gently roll the sweater in the towel, pressing as you go to remove all the moisture. Avoid twisting the towel.
Unroll the sweater and lay it on a dry towel placed on a flat, waterproof surface.
Reshape the sweater as desired. After 12 to 24 hours, spread the sweater on a dry towel to allow it to finish drying.
Once the sweater is completely dry, check for any wrinkles or folds. If needed, use a steamer or the steamer setting on your iron to gently remove them. Always test with your iron first to ensure it is suitable for your sweater.
By following these numbered steps, you can effectively hand dry your wool sweater and keep it in good shape.
How to Store Wool for the Winter?
The simplest way to store is in dry cleaner plastic bags or plastic storage containers. Some use big plastic bags. Even though this will work, the fabric can not breathe.
Dry cleaner plastic bags trap moisture and dry cleaning chemicals in with your clothing and absolutely refuse to let the air in or out. Put simply, your clothes cannot breathe.
That being said, I have used plastic bins and my wool was fine. No moths got inside. Wool sweaters looked good.
If you have expensive wool sweaters I would suggest a higher quality storage box. Not to be confused with garment bags, these storage bags are often rectangular in shape, zippered, and made with a breathable fabric. The breathable fabric is the key.
Hayden Hill square garment bags are made of breathable, cotton. They have large zippers to prevent clothes from snagging and are available in two sizes. This is an expensive option but if your sweaters were pricey preserving them correctly might be worth it.
Why is Brushing Wool Important?
Brushing Wool is important to keep clothes clean.
Using a soft garment brush, brush garments lengthwise after wearing to remove surface soil that might become stains later on. Dust and dirt can dull the appearance of wool fabrics.
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