The wonder of wool is that it does not need washing all that much. Wool fibres have great self cleaning properties and are also fairly resistant to dirt. After wearing you can hang the garment in fresh air, even spray it with a little fresh water mist and let nature do the work to refresh the garment for you.

Spot washing is also a great way to clean a wool item that has been soiled without having to wash the entire garment.

The general rule of washing wool is to wash it as little as possible. With the proper care, your wool garment will last for many years and be a fairly hassle free part of your wardrobe.  Wool will only shrink or distort when it has been treated incorrectly. Regular washing wears down fibres and can result in a shorter garment life, for all clothing, not just wool.

We have detailed the wash routine below for you to follow and learn how to care for your garments appropriately.

 

Wool Fleece:

We advise to hand wash items to avoid damaging the fibre, or worse, shrinking it. Machine washing these items is at your own risk and we do not advise this. Though the care label sometimes states this is fine, washing machines in the country of origin are often programmed with different settings to other countries around the world and we have noticed issues using machine wool wash programs, hence our advice.

Wash very gently by hand in water that must stay the same cool temperature both for washing and rinsing. Changing temperature can shock the wool and shrink it. Do not let your item sit in water as the fibre can swell, making it more susceptible to felting.

You should use a dedicated detergent for wool or a natural/organic baby shampoo. Do not use regular wash detergents as they

Re-shape the garment when wet, and pull lengthwise, laying flat on a towel to dry, you can gently roll the garment in the towel to release excess water. Do not wring the item, spin in a machine, put in a tumble drier, or on a radiator to speed up the drying time. These processes can flatten the fleece, make it hard and brittle, felt or even destroy it.

 

Boiled Wool:

 All SISKIN and Disana wool is organic and untreated and must not be machine washed. Items can be spot washed when needed. Boiled wool garments that get mud on them can be gently brushed when dry. This will take any excess off and then if needed, spot washing. Follow the same wash technique as per Engel Wool Fleece above.

 

Wool & Silk:

Always check the care label first. Some brands are super wash, meaning they have been treated to allow for easy machine washing on low temperatures. Others need a little more care. Again we recommend gentle hand washing with as little agitation as possible. Following the guide for wool fleece above. The sheen of silk can be destroyed when washing on warm temperatures, so keeping the temperature low and consistent through the wash will keep your garment at its best.

 

If in doubt, choose the most gentle hand washing technique, low consistent temperature with as little agitation as possible. We are here to help you get the best from your new purchase and ensure that it lasts you for years to come. Just remember, only wash if you really need to!

Read more about garment care and wool washing in our blog post HERE