How To Wash Wool By Hand & In A Washing Machine

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Here’s how to wash your wool clothing by hand and in the machine. Plus I’ve got my top tried and tested tips on how to dry wool, and how to store and care for your woollen clothes, to help them last a lifetime.

Wool is great at keeping you warm. Come this time of year I’m rarely out of a woolly jumper or cardigan, or without a woolly hat or scarf. There’s nothing quite like a soft woollen to keep you warm. And what I love most about wool is that if you look after it, it can last a lifetime.

However, it can be tricky to wash. As such, I’ve put together this handy guide on how to look after your woollen clothing, and wash wool either by hand or in your washing machine, to help keep you right!

These will help to keep your garments looking fresh and as good as new, no matter how old they are. They’ll also lengthen their lifespan, for extra sustainability points.

Let’s talk laundry!

Table Of Contents

Do Your Wool Clothes Actually Need Washing?

Woollen jumpers folded in a pile with a blue text box that reads how to wash wool clothing by had or in the washing machine.

Before you start looking out the laundry detergent, firstly, you should ask if your clothes actually need washing.

Wool is naturally breathable, allowing it to dissipate any moisture it might absorb. That means you can get away with washing it less than you would other types of material. This is great because washing less helps prolong your garment’s lifespan.

If your woollen clothes have been lightly worn, and they aren’t stained or sweaty, then they probably don’t need washing. Instead, just hang your clothes outside for a few hours on a dry day. This will refresh your clothes without having to wash them.

Take a look at my post on how to refresh clothes without washing them for more tips.

How To Hand Wash Wool Clothing

Wendy from Moral Fibres wearing a grey wool jumper whilst standing in a white metro tiled kitchen

If your clothes are dirty then hand washing is my preferred option for washing wool. The laundry care label may even specify that your wool item is suitable for handwashing only, like the jumper I’m wearing in the photo above.

Handwashing might sound like a faff. However, this method gives you a bit more control, rather than being at the whim of your washing machine. Hand-washing wool is pretty straightforward. And the good thing is, for the most part, you just let the water and the soap do their thing.

The Prep

Fill your sink with lukewarm water (30ºC or less) and add some gentle laundry detergent specially made for washing wool and other delicates. Mix it in well before adding your clothes to the water.

Don’t be tempted to use conventional laundry detergents as they tend to be on the more alkaline side. Alkalinity isn’t good for both the wool itself and the dyes used on the wool. These detergents can make your wool prone to breakage and fade its colour.

Instead, opt for something wool-safe. I’ve been using Clothes Doctor products on my woollens. As well as being plastic-free, it leaves my wool clothing in top condition.

The Handwashing Process

A white ceramic sink with folded wool jumpers and natural cleaning products and detergents

The first step in the handwashing process is to separate your colours. If I’m washing a few garments I’ll wash the light colours first. I’ll then wash the dark colours second, to avoid any potential dye transfer.

Once you’ve sorted your colours, pop your clothes into the soapy water, submerging them to ensure the whole garment is wet. Then allow the clothes to soak for at least 10 minutes. This allows the water and soap to penetrate the fibres, ensuring a nice thorough clean. I like to use this 10 minutes or so to have a nice cup of tea. Got to make the chores bearable!

After 10 minutes, give your garment a gentle swirl and give any areas that need particular attention a gentle rub with your hands. Avoid rubbing the fabric together, like you might do when you hand wash other fabrics. Then remove your garment from the soapy water, and rinse twice with clean water to ensure all the soapy suds are out.

Now, this is where you need to take the most care. The last thing you want to do is wring your garment out. Doing so will cause stretching and loss of shape. Instead, press the water out of your garment gently, and then lay your garment on a clean dry towel. Then roll your garment up, like you would roll a Swiss roll, to squeeze out the excess water.

Next, unfurl your garment, reshape your garment if need be, and let your garment dry flat.

How To Machine Wash Wool Clothing

I tend to use my washing machine for washing wool if I’ve got quite a few woollens that need laundering in one go.

Again, wash darks and lights separately if you’re using your washing machine. Add the wool laundry detergent to the dispensing drawer rather than to the drum, and run the wool programme, if your machine has one. If not, run a 30ºC or less cycle, with the lowest spin cycle your machine has.

Once the cycle is finished, remove your clothes from the machine. Reshape your garments whilst damp and then dry them flat.

How To Dry Woollen Clothing

For both methods, I’ve emphasised the need to dry your woollens flat. Hanging wet woollens vertically, either on a washing line, clothes horse or radiator can stretch the wool fibres, making your clothes lose their shape and fit.

I’d therefore always dry your woollens flat on a drying rack, away from direct heat. And avoid the tumble drier at all costs. This is sage advice at the best of times, but all the more pertinent when dealing with wool.

How To Remove Stains From Wool

If your best woolly jumper or cardigan has a stain on it, then don’t worry!

I’ve found that eucalyptus oil makes for a good natural stain remover. I use a couple of drops of eucalyptus essential oil and leave for 10 minutes before washing, and then wash as normal. As always, do test the oil out on an inconspicuous area before using it for the first time on any fabric or garment.

Alternatively, try applying Marseille Soap to remove oily or fatty stains from wool with ease.

How To Store Woollen Clothing

I fold my woollens and keep them in my drawer, rather than hanging them up in the wardrobe (Martha Stewart agrees with me!). This helps them retain their shape but also protects them from any errant hangers that might snag the wool.

When it comes to storing your woollens away for the summer, it’s always best to wash your woollens before packing them away. This is because moths and other wool-loving insects are especially attracted to dirt.

I like to store my woollens in an airtight vacuum bag, with a sachet of lavender added for good measure. As well as repelling the wool munching critters, this method has the added advantage that your clothes take up very little storage space (a boon for small space dwellers like myself.)

Other Top Clothing Care Tips

How you wash, dry and store your wool clothing is just one part of the jigsaw. If you want your wool clothing to look its best for longer I have some other top tips:

  • I tend to give jewellery a miss when wearing wool, especially when I’m wearing a looser knit, to avoid the risk of snagging the fibres.
  • I use a fabric shaver to remove any bobbles. This Steamery shaver is my absolute favourite.
  • I find it’s best to address any minor repairs promptly to prevent small issues from escalating into larger problems.

And there you go, with this advice on how to wash wool, and how to look after your woollen clothes, hopefully, you can prolong the length of your woollens.

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