Natural wool is one of the oldest fibres around. It’s been used by humans for centuries, and rightly so. It absorbs and releases moisture, doesn’t itch, smell or crease and is stain and fire resistant. It’s also a sustainable and renewable resource. However, not everyone knows the correct ways to machine wash woollies. With winter right around the corner, now is the time to start freshening up those knitted jumpers, cardigans and blankets.
The laundry specialists at Fisher & Paykel have some advice on machine washing wool products correctly.
Step 1
Check the garment care label says ‘machine washable’ and has the Woolmark™ logo. Machine-washable wool is safe to wash at home as its been pre-treated with a mild, thin resin spread evenly over the fibre surface before spinning. This prevents shrinkage. If the label doesn’t state ‘machine washable’, the garment could shrink.
Step 2
Always separate your dark and light colours before washing, as well as when they are wet. Wash your garments inside-out and use a mild liquid wool detergent. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners as bleach dissolves wool fibres and fabric softeners encourage wool fibres to pill. Fabric softener can also coat wool fibres in a residue that reduces the wool’s natural ability to breathe and regulate moisture and temperature.
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Step 3
Wash your woollens in 30 to 40-degree-temperature water to ensure no heat damage. For best results, use a washing machine with a Woolmark™ approved specialist wash cycle. It will help you care for your woollen garments with confidence.
Step 4
Shake out and reshape your machine-washed woollens before laying them flat to dry. Use a cool or wool setting if they need ironing, and always use steam heat and avoid ironing the fabric when it is totally dry. Once dry, knits should be gently folded and kept flat in drawers or on a shelf, as hangers can alter the stretch and shape.
Step 5
At the end of winter, wash your woollens before placing them into an airtight container or bag, as any residue of food stains or body oils can attract moths.
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.
Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark
Woolmark
The iconic Woolmark logo was created in 1964 and has since grown to be universally known to be the marker of quality wool products. By 1970 Australia had a record 180 million sheep and within a few years wool exports had passed the $1 billion mark for the first time since the Korean War boom.
Hand washing is the most recommended method for washing your woolen items, as it offers the best care for delicate fibers. The first step is to fill a basin with warm water and add a small amount of detergent, making sure it is specifically formulated for woolen items.
To wash your coat, turn it inside out, to help prevent pilling and damage. If your washing machine has a wool cycle, use it.If not, use the gentle or delicate cycle on cold. Never wash wool on hot—it will weaken the fibers and shrink the fabric.
If you hand-wash woolens on a regular basis, we recommend Eucalan Delicate Wash. For hand-washing items that need a detergent with oomph to remove tough stains, body oil, and odors, Dirty Labs Hand Wash & Delicates Detergent, an enzymatic detergent that is safe for silk and wool, will do the job.
Washing wool with vinegar is recommended if your woolen garments are smelly. Vinegar helps to get rid of odors from wool clothing and makes wool less itchy. Washing wool with vinegar is done separately, after you've washed your garments with a detergent and rinsed them properly.
Wool is sensitive to water temperature and agitation, so a gentle hand wash for wool is ideal. ) to a wash tub basin or sink filled with cool water. Wool clothes will shrink in hot water, so be sure to keep it cool. Mix the water and wool wash and soak for up to 30 minutes.
Woolite Damage Defense's formula has been specially created to Clean & Care for ALL types of fabrics and ALL colors in all washing cycles. Woolite's detergent effectively washes away everyday dirt, while helping care for all types of clothes - from jeans, to tees, to more delicate fabrics like wool and silk.
Wool fiber swells when it becomes wet and then contracts when it dries.This is what causes wool to shrink when you wash it in hot water. So If you don't want it to shrink, just avoid washing it in really hot water. Handwashing in cool or slightly warm water is always recommended for wool garments.
Depending on the thickness or weight of the item, wool fabrics should be either air dried or placed in the dryer on a gentle dry cycle. While heavier fabrics like coats and jackets may need the heat of a dryer, it's recommended to air dry older or delicate, lighter wool items.
Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).
To take off any surface dirt and gust, grab a garment brush and gently stroke the coat ensuring you only go in one direction, from collar to hem. If you don't have a garment brush, a damp cloth will suffice.
You can add a dose of Woolite® Damage Defense or Woolite® Delicates laundry detergent and follow the machine washing instructions above. If you want to be extra cautious, you can hand wash your Merino items with Woolite®.
Certain wool garments can safely be dried in a tumble dryer without the item shrinking. Woolmark-approved garments that have a care claim that states 'tumble dry' can be tumble dried on a low heat setting or a setting for wool or delicates.
The delicate wash is gentle all of the way through ending in fairly slow spin. In between the rinses the machine does a bit of gentle tumbling around to remove water. The wool program is very gentle wash action at a high level of water followed by gentle rinse but finishing with quite fast spin that ramps up quickly.
Wool should never be washed above 30°C, to prevent shrinking and contracting of the fibres. In addition, you should keep the spin cycle as short as possible when washing your favourite wool garments. To avoid being too rough on the fibres, the machine speed should be no more than 600 rotations per minute.
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