Wool is a wonderful fabric with lots of useful attributes – it is warm, soft, and moisture wicking to name just a few. Wool is also a delicate fabric that requires some special care. Wool has a tendency to snag and produce lint in the wash. Wool is also is known to shrink and lose its shape when exposed to heat.
In this article we tell you everything you need to know about how to wash wool. Can you put wool in the washing machine? Can you wash wool in hot water? Can you put wool in the dryer? We answer all of these questions and more.
How do you wash wool?
Here are all of our best tips for washing wool garments.
- Wool is a somewhat delicate fabric so you shout spot clean it rather than cleaning the full garment whenever possible.
- Wool has a tendency to produce lint so you should avoid washing wool in the same load as fabrics like corduroy that attract lint.
- Wool snags easily so you should avoid washing wool in the same load as garments with lots of zippers, buttons, or velcro patches.
- You should always wash wool on the delicate setting to prevent it from snagging. If you have a protective mesh laundry bag you should put the wool in this bag before putting it in the wash.
- Wool has a tendency to shrink when exposed to high temperatures so you should always wash it in cold water. You should also avoid putting it in the dryer.
- Unlike many other fabrics, wool can shrink multiple times. Just because you have shrunken a wool garment once does not mean that you are in the clear.
- You should use a gentle detergent like woolite when you wash wool.
- You should always air dry wool and if possible you should let it dry laying flat rather than hang drying it.
- You should use a clothing shaver to shave balls of lint off of your wool garments. This will prevent the balls from snagging on anything and unraveling your garment.
Can you put wool in the washing machine?
Can you put wool in the washing machine? You can put some wool garments in the washing machine but you have to be very careful about which settings you use. Wool has a tendency to snag on other garments in the washing machine so you should wash it on delicate. You should also make sure not to wash wool in the same load as garments with velcro or lots of zippers and buttons that are likely to snag the wool.
If you have a protective mesh delicates bag that you use to protect delicate garments in the washing machine you should consider using it for your wool garments. This will keep the wool away from other garments that might snag the wool and unravel it.
Can you use laundry detergent on wool?
Can you use laundry detergent on wool? Yes, you can use laundry detergent on wool but you have to be careful of what type of laundry detergent you use. Like many other natural fibers, wool is sensitive to harsh laundry detergents. Luckily, there are many brands of gentle laundry detergent, such as woolite, that are safe to use on wool. You should look for a laundry detergent that says that it is gentle, and optimally one says that it is wool safe.
Can you wash wool in warm water?
Can you wash wool in warm water? No, you should not wash wool in warm water. Wool has a tendency to shrink and lose its shape when it is heated up so you should always wash wool in cold water.
Can you put wool in the dryer?
Can you put wool in the dryer? No you should not put wool in the dryer. Wool has a tendency to shrink and lose its shape when it is exposed to warm temperatures. Wool also has a tendency to snag of other garments when it is tossed around like it would be in the dryer. You should always air dry wool.
How should you dry wool?
How should you dry wool? You should always air dry wool. It is best to let wool garments lay flat on a counter or laundry rack when they dry. Wool garments lose their shape when they are washed. After they are washed, they take on whatever shape they were in when they dried. If you hang dry wool garments they will take on the shape of the clothes hangers and be slightly misshapen in the shoulders when you put them on.
Can you shrink wool more than once?
Can you shrink wool more than once? Yes, you can shrink wool more than once. There are many fabrics that are unlikely to shrink after you have shrunken them one time, but cool is not one of those fabrics. Wool will continue to shrink each time it is exposed to high temperatures.