Wool fabrics care [english version]

When it comes to care, wool is a very user-friendly fibre because it does not need to be washed as often as most fabrics, and its fibres are reluctant to take on dirt, dust and odours. It is good to know that a woollen garment only needs to be aired out before it is worn again.

However, when it comes to washing, we need to remember a simple but important rule: when handling wool, avoid sudden temperature changes and friction, as these are harmful and completely unnecessary.

For washing woollen clothes, use only dedicated detergents - woollen washing liquids (they are also perfect for silk fabrics). We have a large selection of dedicated liquids on the market. Excellent and proven liquids are for example Sonett, Winni's, White Deer, Disana, Ekos. In contrast, the market brands known from advertising can be too aggressive and I would recommend caution when using liquids like Woolite or Perwoll.

Moving on to washing - soak knitted or woven woollen fabrics for 30-60 minutes in a solution of lukewarm water and liquid in proportions as recommended by the detergent manufacturer. The ideal temperature is 30°C. Wash the soaked textiles by kneading them for a while with your hands, and then rinse them with water at a temperature similar to the one at which you washed them.

Remembering that wool doesn't like friction, after rinsing just squeeze it out of the excess water, absolutely avoiding wringing. To get rid of the rest of the water, you can press the garment or woollen material in an absorbent clean dry towel. The most effective way to remove the rest of the water is to "pat" the woollen garment wrapped in a towel. While woollen fabrics can be hung up, knitted fabrics are dried flat to avoid deformation. Wool should not be dried in close proximity to heat sources, bearing in mind that wool does not like sudden temperature changes. It dries quicker than cotton and linen, so you will be able to enjoy it again in no time.

If we want to take even better care of our woollen wardrobe, we can give it a little woollen spa. Natural wool contains lanolin in its fibres, which gives it elasticity, strength and increased resistance to dirt and odours. Given that wool fibres 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 fibres is reduced. The sheep themselves produce lanolin to keep the fleece in the right condition, but we can also manage this in our own way. There are wool care products on the market that contain lanolin, such as the wool fabric regenerating conditioner 'Brand' or the wool regenerating liquid 'Sonett'. Bathing in such a solution will serve your woollen garments and prolong their life.

If, despite washing, stains are still visible on woollen garments, stain removal may be necessary. Here it should be mentioned that many common stain removers can harm woollen fabrics, damaging the fibres or felting them. Safe and tried-and-tested ways are to de-stain with soapberry spray, coconut soap or galas soap. Although the names may sound unfamiliar, these remedies are available in organic drugstores and online shops, and galas soap is available in many stationary drugstores. Often, wool laundry detergent alone applied directly to the stain and left for a while before the next wash is also sufficient.

To summarise:

- water at 30°C

- only use liquids dedicated to wool

- do not rub

- do not wring

- press into a towel

- dry away from heat.

 

Finally, if your washing machine has a programme dedicated to washing wool, and if the manufacturer of the garment allows washing in a washing machine, you can try automatic washing using detergents dedicated to wool, of course.

With self-made woollen garments, the situation is a little more complicated. Here, the woollen fabric or woollen knitwear will require preparation and testing of a sample. The prepared piece, preferably measuring 10×10 centimetres, is washed in the washing machine, dried according to art, and then the effects are assessed. If it has retained its unchanged or only minimally altered size and appearance, we can wash our sewing machine without fear of damaging it.

 

Author: Kamila Muszarska-Iwaniczko