How to take care of your wool garments

Can you machine wash wool?

Yes, some wool pieces are machine washable. It’s important to always read the care label of the garment before washing it. If the care label of your garment specifies that it’s machine washable, it’s designed to withstand a gentle machine cycle. Use a wool program and mild detergent or wool detergent. When in doubt, opt for hand washing your wool to not risk shrinking or damaging your beloved pieces.

How do you machine wash wool in the best way?

To machine wash wool safely, it’s important to wash on the correct washing program and with the right detergent. Take these steps into consideration when washing your wool:

1. Turn your wool garment/s inside out to minimise friction
2. Select a wool or delicate program at low temperature and with a low spin cycle. High temperatures and high spin cycles can cause wool to shrink.
3. Ideally use a wool-specific detergent, as regular detergents can be too harsh and damage the natural fibres of the wool.
4. Avoid fabric softeners, as they may coat the wool and reduce breathability.
5. After washing, reshape the garment while damp and lay it flat to dry. Avoid hanging wool as it may cause the garment to lose its shape. And never tumble dry your wool pieces.

Can you hand wash wool?

Absolutely. Hand washing wool is often the safest way to wash your wool garments. It gives you full control over the washing process and reduces the risk of shrinking or damaging the fibres.

To hand wash wool, follow these steps:

1. Fill a container with lukewarm water and a small amount of wool detergent or mild detergent.
2. Soak your garment for 10-15 minutes, avoid rubbing or wringing as this can cause felting. Instead, softly press the water through the wool fabric.
3. Rinse thoroughly with clean, lukewarm water and carefully squeeze out excess water.
4. Reshape if needed and lay the wool garment flat to dry.

How do you dry wool garments?

Drying your wool garments correctly is key to making them last as long as possible and to keep their shape and softness. After washing, never tumble dry wool as it may cause damage and shrinking to the delicate wool fibres. Instead, after washing – gently press out excess water and lay flat to dry. For best results, lay the garment flat on a clean, dry towel and reshape it while damp. This will help maintain the garment’s original fit and prevent it from getting caught in the drying rack.

What's the best way to store wool clothing?

The best way to store your wool garments is to fold them rather than hang them, as hanging wool can cause stretching and misshaping. Fold them and put them in a breathable, cool, and dry place. Avoid storing wool in direct sunlight as it can fade colours and weaken fibres. To keep moths away, consider using natural repellents like cedar wood or lavender – this will also leave your pieces feeling and smelling fresh.

How to get stains out of wool

When it comes to spot cleaning wool, speed is key. As soon as you get a stain on your wool piece, gently dab it with a clean, dry cloth to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Then, you can first try using lukewarm water to remove the stain. Gently dab the affected area with a damp, soft cloth or sponge. If the spot still won’t come out, you can use a small amount of wool-safe detergent mixed with water.

After spot cleaning, rinse the area carefully with clean water and blot away excess moisture. As always, lay the garment flat to dry.

Wool pilling – what's the cause and how to safely remove pills?

Wool that is pilling is completely normal, and usually happens in areas exposed to friction, like under the arms, along the sides of your garment, or where bags and accessories rub against the garment. As wool is a natural fibre, even high-quality wool can experience pilling.

Pilling doesn’t mean your garment is damaged, and pills can safely be removed from your garment in a few different ways:

• Use a wool comb by gently "combing" the surface of your garment without pressing too hard. Wool combs are best suited for fine-knit and medium-weight pieces.
• For extra fine knitwear pieces, like cashmere or merino wool, you can use a fine wool comb, especially made for more delicate materials.
• Electric fabric shavers are great for thicker wool garments, like jumpers, cardigans, and coats. They quickly remove pills from larger surfaces.
• Lint rollers can help remove surface fuzz, but won’t remove large pills.

⁠No matter what depilling tool you’re using, remember to avoid pressing too hard to prevent damaging the fabric. Never pull off pills by hand as this can weaken the yarn and lead to further pilling.

How to repair wool garments

Wool is a durable natural fibre, but everyday wear can lead to small holes, loose threads or thinning areas. These things usually happen in places with a lot of friction, like elbows, cuffs, and underarms.

For small holes in your wool pieces, mending it with a needle and matching yarn is a simple and effective solution. You can also use the technique “invisible mending” or “duplicate stitching” to reinforce the area. Both these techniques create invisible looking repairs that keep the look of your original garment. If you are looking for a funkier mending technique, check out visible mending – a creative repair technique that gives worn clothing a new personality.

If your wool garment has loose seams, you can carefully stitch them back together using a stretch-friendly stitch to maintain flexibility. Avoid pulling the thread too tightly, as wool needs room to move naturally.

Repairing and mending your wool pieces is not only good for keeping them looking great for longer but can also be a fun and creative craft.

Frequently asked questions