The wool comes from fiber harvested from various mammals. It is important to have an understanding of wool to inform your choices when it comes to wool and woolen care.
What is Wool?
The wool comes from fiber harvested from various mammals. Sheep, goats, and rabbits are commonly raised for their fiber. This fiber is processed, turned into yarn, and then woven or knitted into clothing. Sometimes wool is combined with other fibers to make wool blends.
Types of Wools
Virgin: Typically soft, this wool comes from sheep’s first shearing when they are lambs.
Merino: Comes from Merino sheep. This wool is known to be quite soft, warm, and breathable.
Shetland: Comes from Shetland sheep. This wool tends to be on the itchier side.
Angora: Comes from Angora rabbits. This wool is extremely delicate and super soft.
Cashmere: Comes from Cashmere goats. Well-known, luxurious wool. Very soft and fine.
Alpaca: Comes from Alpacas (cousin to llamas). This wool is similar in drape and feels to cashmere.
Mohair: Comes from goats. Mohair is a fine fiber and is popularly used for suits and clothing. It is soft and warm.
Benefits of Wearing Wool
- Breathable: Wool fibers breathe which helps to maintain a comfortable temperature, in either warm or cold weather.
- Dry: Wool can absorb up to 40% of its weight in moisture before it feels damp
- Warm: Even when wet, wool continues to keep us warm
- Low Maintenance: Thanks to the fats in the wool it needs much less washing than other fibers
- Odorless: Wool naturally removes its odors
Woolen Care
Wash and dry your wool by hand and with care and you should have a piece that fits you for a long time to come!
Woolen Care: Washing Wool
When the day comes when your wool does need a bath, there is no better option than your sink. Companies such as Eucalan and Lanacare make special products for wool care. These “soaps” are not abrasive to the fibers and don’t strip away the beneficial lanolin.
How To Hand Wash Wool
Active Time:
5 minutes
Additional Time:
12 hours
Total Time:
12 hours 5 minutes
Difficulty:
Easy
Washing wool and woolens at home
Materials
- Wool clothing/material
- Sink
- Running water
- Wool safe wash soap
Instructions
- Fill the sink with cool water
- Add wool-safe wash soap as directed
- Let wool soak for approximately five minutes
- Gently swish, rub, and wring your woolens under running water until the water runs clear
- Lay flat to dry for 12+ hours, taking care to dry the wool in its original shape (hanging is not recommended)
Notes
Using hot water or agressive agitation can cause wool to shrink (called felting)
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Woolen Care: Drying Wool
Air drying your pieces while laid flat is the best method for wool and woolen care. It is important to remember that excessive heat can be bad for your wool, so drying it in the dryer is not recommended. Wool can also take the shape of the position it is dried, so take care to lay your piece flat in its original shape to avoid warping. Drying woolens it a slow process, it can take 12+ hours.
Felting Wool (oops!)
Note that when that wool is scrubbed, aggressively wrung, or agitated it “felts” the wool. Interestingly, if you view wool fibers under a microscope you would see they are covered with tiny barbs.
When wool gets felted those barbs stick together and push out all the minuscule air pockets causing major shrinking. An adult sweater, when felted, typically fits a toddler. Not something any of us would want to happen to our favorite wool pieces.
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