Here are our top 4 tips for looking after your wool.
From your thermals to your coats, every wool piece is different, so keep in mind this advice might vary from piece to piece.
Don’t Wash It (Often)
The best way to care for your wool really is to leave it alone. That’s right, today we’re giving you permission to avoid chores.
Most woollen pieces, like jumpers, pants, or skirts, only need washing once (or twice) a season. In between these washes, you can just spot-treat them if they need it, or give them a spritz with a fabric spray.
For things like thermals or activewear, you might want to wash them a bit more frequently.
Use Lukewarm Water
This is a bit of a Goldilocks situation.
If your water’s too hot, you’ve got an almost guaranteed shrunken jumper on your hands.
If it’s too cold, you’re going to see some serious pilling, and your jumper will start looking like it has pom-poms.
What you need is lukewarm water, around 35 degrees. You should be able to stick your elbow in without having any sensory reaction to the temperature, which will mean that it’s very close to your body temperature.
This will keep your wool in perfect condition after every wash.
Lay Flat To Dry
When drying wool, it’s best to play it safe. The best way to do this is to lay your woollens flat on top of a clothes horse. Wool (especially wet wool) is very susceptible to stretching, so both tumble drying and hanging it normally with pegs can lead to a jumper that’s misshapen in all the wrong ways.
Freeze Second Hand Wool
When you purchase second hand wool you run the risk of bringing home wool loving creatures with it. But don’t let this deter you from buying that 100% wool jumper from the op-shop, there's an easy solution. The best way to keep your wool safe from moths year round is to put it in the freezer.
As soon as you get home for your second hand shopping spree just pop your clothes in a zip lock bag and leave them in the freezer for 72 hours. This will make sure no potential clothes eating bugs make their way into your wardrobe.
And there you have it: the four golden rules for washing, drying, and storing wool.
Hopefully, this gives you the confidence to purchase that wool jumper, knowing you’ll wear it for years to come.
