Care & Storage
Wool lasts decades if you let it.
Most wool needs less washing than you think. Airing out and spot cleaning handle the rest. When it does need a wash, the rules are simple: cool water, no agitation, no enzymes.
REF-01
Washing by Hand
- 01Cool to lukewarm water, around 30 °C (85 °F) or below. Keep the rinse the same temperature; sudden changes encourage felting.
- 02Use a wool wash: pH-neutral and free of enzymes. Protease enzymes in many laundry detergents break down wool protein.
- 03Soak, don’t scrub: press the garment under and leave it 15–30 minutes.
- 04Squeeze gently, never wring. Roll it in a towel and press to remove water.
- 05Dry flat, away from direct heat and sun, reshaping while damp.
Superwash wool can usually go in the machine on a wool cycle. Check the care label first.
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Why Wool Felts
Felting needs three things at once: heat, moisture and agitation. The fiber's scales lock together and can't be pulled apart again. Remove any one of the three and wool washes safely.
| Cause | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Heat | Hot washes, hot dryers, radiators |
| Agitation | Regular machine cycles, scrubbing, wringing |
| Temperature shock | Hot wash followed by cold rinse |
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Lanolin & Water Resistance
Lanolin is the wax sheep produce to shed rain. Most is scoured out at the mill, but adding a little back restores water resistance to diaper covers, mittens and fisherman sweaters.
- Melt about a teaspoon of pure lanolin in a cup of very hot water with a drop of wool wash.
- Stir it into a basin of lukewarm water until it disperses.
- Soak the garment inside-out for several hours or overnight, then press out water and dry flat.
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Pilling, Moths & Storage
- Pills form where fibers rub. Remove them with a sweater comb or fabric shaver; they slow down once loose fibers are gone.
- Clothes moths lay eggs on wool and the larvae eat keratin, especially where there are body oils or food stains.
- Store clean: always wash or dry clean before putting woolens away for the season.
- Seal it: airtight bins or bags are the most reliable protection. Cedar and lavender help only a little.
- Freeze infested items: a sealed bag in the freezer for about a week kills eggs and larvae.
- Brush coats with a clothes brush after wear to lift dirt before it settles in.