Avoid These Mistakes When Washing Wool
Wool is a pretty incredible fabric : it’s antimicrobial, breathable, odor resistant, and extremely durable. It can also be difficult to wash and dry.
While some wool garments can be machine washed, other garments should be hand washed, stained or dry cleaned. Here are a few mistakes to avoid when washing wool to keep it in good condition (and not shrink).
Mistakes to Avoid When Washing Wool
Washing wool is not that difficult – you just need to do it right. Here are some examples of how to do it wrong:
Not reading the care label
Look, we get it: laundry care labels can be confusing. That’s why we have an entire post dedicated to deciphering them.
But an extra few seconds to read the care label on a wool garment can mean the difference between keeping an item safe and potentially harming it. Therefore, first of all, learn how to wash wool.
Let the stains soak in
Spilled something on a wool sweater or blanket? Handle it immediately. First, pour some cold water or sparkling water over the stain. Then gently pat it dry with a clean absorbent cloth.
Wash any woolen clothes in the washing machine
Ideally, this is something you will avoid in the future by reading the care label, but we all knew that something needed to be hand washed or dry cleaned, but made a conscious decision to put it in. car because it would be easier. Don’t do this with wool.
If the label says “dry clean only”, you should probably do so. If it says “hand wash only” or if there’s a symbol (hand pointing down into a container of water), here’s how to do it:
How to wash wool by hand
The hand wash symbol is a recommendation to use water between 86°F (30°C) and a maximum of 104°F (40°C) according to these American Wool Council guidelines:
- First, dissolve the fine detergent in plenty of water.
- Let the woolen product float in the solution and gently move it around.
- Do not rub, pull or squeeze.
- Rinse thoroughly immediately.
- Place between two towels and press lightly to remove excess water.
- Lay the garment flat on a flat surface to dry in its original shape.
Shrinkage in the dryer
Some wool can be put in the dryer, but again, you need to read the care label to see if your item falls into this category. If not, place the piece of clothing between two clean, dry towels and press gently to remove excess water. Then lay it out in its original form and let it dry away from direct sunlight or heat sources.