How to Wash Wool: Tips & Tricks
Your favorite wool sweater got a stain? No big deal! We explain how you can wash wool so that everything gets clean again.
Washing wool: Tips & tricks
- Wool is a natural product that can become deformed or matted if it is treated incorrectly: As with human hair, countless keratin scales lie around the wool fibre. At hot temperatures or high friction, the cuticle layer rises up and becomes entangled. The felting process is set in motion, which causes the piece of wool to shrink.
- With wool products you should always study the label: It is often pointed out specifically what has to be observed when washing! However, some wool garments may not be washed at all. In this case, this is specially noted on the label. These pieces are best given to a dry cleaner.
- Wool should only be washed cold or at most lukewarm. Attention: Wash cashmere only with cold water!
- Avoid friction and spinning as far as possible!
- Always turn the laundry inside out and wash dark and light wool clothes separately. Also close hooks and snap fasteners, otherwise threads will be pulled.
- In general, you should wash your wool clothes as rarely as possible: The wool fibre is surrounded by a layer of lanolin, which gives the wool its dirt and water repellent properties. This layer is broken down during washing. Often it is already enough to hang out the woollen sweater or cap overnight. This allows the fibres to air out and neutralises unpleasant odours.
Washing wool: In the washing machine
Before you wash a garment made of wool, always check the label! If hand washing is recommended, use the appropriate program on your washing machine. Alternatively, many machines have the program “wool washing”. The temperature must not be higher than 30 degrees – it is best to wash the wool pieces only in cold washing. The spin cycle should be kept as short as possible. In general, you may only fill the drum of the washing machine to one quarter of its capacity: Otherwise, the woollens will rub against each other and mat faster!
Washing by hand, on the other hand, is only possible very carefully. Often the structure of the wool fibre is stressed too much by wringing, rubbing or too hot water, which quickly damages the clothing. When hand washing, make sure that you only press the wool gently and that the water is at the same temperature for the washing and rinsing process!
Washing wool: The right detergent
- Use a mild wool detergent: the neutral pH value protects the structure of the fibre. Alternatively a shampoo is suitable for babies.
- Heavy-duty and colour detergents are taboo for washing wool products, as they contain enzymes that attack the fibres. The same applies to fabric softener!
- For care, the clothing can be treated occasionally with a wool rinse. It contains the natural wool wax lanolin, which makes the fibre dirt and water repellent.
Drying wool properly
If you hang up wet wool laundry, it can quickly lose its shape and wear out. It is therefore better to pull the piece of wool into shape, then place it on a large towel and roll it up. The water is gently pressed out this way. Then place the towel and clothes on a clothes horse and let them dry lying down.
Attention: Never dry the wool laundry over the heating or in the sun. The label also indicates whether drying in a tumble dryer is possible.