Care of woolen materials
However, when the time for washing comes, we must remember simple yet important rules: when handling wool, we will avoid sudden temperature changes and friction, as they are harmful and completely unnecessary.
For washing woolen clothes, we only use dedicated detergents - wool washing liquids (which are also excellent for caring for silk materials). There is a wide selection of dedicated liquids on the market. Excellent and proven liquids include, for example, Sonett, Winni's, Biały Jeleń, Disana, Ekos. On the other hand, well-known commercial brands advertised may turn out to be too aggressive, and I would recommend caution when using liquids like Woolite or Perwoll.
Moving on to washing - we soak knitted or woolen fabrics for 30-60 minutes in a solution of lukewarm water with detergent in proportions according to the manufacturer's instructions. The ideal temperature is 30°C. After soaking, we wash the textiles by kneading them gently with our hands, and then rinse them in water at a temperature close to that in which we washed.
Remembering that wool does not like friction, after rinsing we only squeeze it to remove excess water, absolutely avoiding wringing. To get rid of the remaining water, we can press the garment or wool fabric in an absorbent clean dry towel. The most effective method is to "tread" the wool wrapped in a towel. While we can hang woolen fabrics, we dry knitted items flat to avoid distortion. We do not dry wool in direct proximity to heat sources, remembering that it does not like sudden temperature changes. It will dry faster than cotton and linen materials, so we will be able to enjoy it again in a short time.
To take even better care of our woolen wardrobe, we can provide it with a little wool spa. Natural wool contains lanolin in its fibers, which provides elasticity, durability, and increased resistance to dirt and odors. Considering that wool fibers have a structure similar to our hair, we can think of lanolin as a conditioner. Over time, due to use and washing, its amount in the fibers decreases. Sheep produce lanolin themselves, which keeps the fleece in good condition, but we can also manage this in our own way. There are wool care products available on the market that contain lanolin, such as the "Brand" wool fabric revitalizing conditioner or the "Sonett" wool regeneration liquid. A bath in such a solution will benefit woolen garments and extend their lifespan.
If, despite washing, there are still visible stains on woolen clothing, stain removal may be necessary. It should be mentioned that many popular stain removers can harm woolen fabrics, destroy fibers, or cause them to felt. Safe and proven methods include using a soapberry spray, coconut soap, or gall soap for stain removal. Although the names may sound foreign, these products are available in eco-friendly drugstores and online stores, and gall soap can be found in many physical drugstores. Often, just using the wool detergent applied directly to the stain and left for a moment before the next wash is sufficient.
To sum up:
- water at 30°C
- liquids only dedicated to wool
- we don't rub
- we don't wring it out
- we will imprint in the towel
- we dry away from heat sources.
In conclusion, I would add that if our washing machine has a program dedicated to washing wool, and the clothing manufacturer allows machine washing, we can dare to use automatic washing, of course using detergents dedicated to wool.
The matter with self-sewn woolen clothes will be a bit more complicated. Here, wool fabric or wool knit will require preparation and testing of a sample. The prepared piece, preferably measuring 10×10 centimeters, is washed in the washing machine, dried according to the rules, and then we assess the results. If it has retained its original or only minimally changed dimensions and appearance, we can wash our sewn item in the washing machine without fear of damage.
Author: Kamila Muszarska-Iwaniczko