CARE OF WOOL
You are probably wondering how wool connects with cultures. Much of the milk in the world comes from not only cows but sheep, goats, water buffalo, and camels. Let's not forget Llamas for wool.
Since I noticed that care of wool was sadly lacking or against my grain on the Internet, I decided to include my method for washing and caring for wool products.
Since I noticed that care of wool was sadly lacking or against my grain on the Internet, I decided to include my method for washing and caring for wool products.
The process I use is only for blankets, sweaters, throws, scarves, and other flat unlined woolens. This process is not for unlined or lined woolen suiting or dresses (There are too many variables to consider without the garment present). This process also can be used for rayon or raw silk or any other natural fiber.
Yes, rayon is a natural fiber. Rayon is made from cellulose. Cellulose comes from plants. It is a plant fiber.
Remember, sheep never go to the dry cleaners.
HAND WASHING
First of all, let's look at hand washing your woolens. Never use laundry detergent, fabric softeners or even products that claim to be safe for woolens and delicate natural fabrics. I only use Original Palmolive green dish washing liquid. It has the right pH for natural fibers and I have even used it as shampoo when I have run out. It is that gentle.
Here is the scoop on caring for woolens. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html
Yes, rayon is a natural fiber. Rayon is made from cellulose. Cellulose comes from plants. It is a plant fiber.
Remember, sheep never go to the dry cleaners.
HAND WASHING
First of all, let's look at hand washing your woolens. Never use laundry detergent, fabric softeners or even products that claim to be safe for woolens and delicate natural fabrics. I only use Original Palmolive green dish washing liquid. It has the right pH for natural fibers and I have even used it as shampoo when I have run out. It is that gentle.
- Run water in a clean sink (Water temperature should be neutral, not warm, not lukewarm, not cool and not cold. Extreme temperatures of water will shock the fibers and cause felting or other textural problems that cannot be reversed.)
- Add a small amount of Original Palmolive dish washing soap, the green liquid. Palmolive has the correct Ph for natural fibers including hair. Laundry detergent is the wrong pH and too harsh for natural fibers and may cause felting. Laundry detergent has other additives that may strip the natural oils from the fibers thus ruining the textile.
- Agitate the water with the soap in it with your hand to mix it.
- Add the textile and agitate it gently with your hands soaking the fabric through.
- Rinse with fresh water at the correct temperature.
- Gently squeeze (do not wring) excess water from the fabric.
- Lay flat on a large dry bath or beach towel to dry out of the sun. You can lay down an oilcloth or vinyl table cloth on a dining table, lay a towel on top of that and then place your fabric on the towel, gently blocking it out in its original shape smoothing as you go. You may have to change to a dry towel once the original one becomes too damp.
- Fold the garment or blanket, never hang sweaters or blankets. Store natural fibers with cedar block or in a cedar chest or air tight container so that bugs like moths will not attack the fibers and create holes. They don't actually eat the fibers but the "silk" they lay on the fabric causes the holes.
Here is the scoop on caring for woolens. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7435.html
MACHINE WASHING YOUR WOOLENS
Yes, I machine wash some of my woolens. Frankly, I have a king size bed with a king size 100% woolen blanket on it. Against all recommendations from the retailer and the manufacturer, I washing it in the washing machine and here is how:
The results of my washing my beautiful blanket were even better than I expected. After completely drying, it was soft and fluffy and showed no signs of shrinkage or felting whatsoever. It is even more beautiful than when I bought it. My dryer lint trap was only half full and the lint was light and loose.
There it is, I overcame my fear of using a washing machine to wash my favorite and expensive "dry clean only" wool blanket, now you decide if this or the hand washing method is for you. I really have an aversion to dry cleaning chemicals, their use, effect on the environment and the chemicals that might remain in my precious fabrics so I took a chance with the the knowledge I was given by my weaving teacher and study of textiles.
Yes, I machine wash some of my woolens. Frankly, I have a king size bed with a king size 100% woolen blanket on it. Against all recommendations from the retailer and the manufacturer, I washing it in the washing machine and here is how:
- I dialed in "Super" for size of load
- Ran the water 1 part hot and 6 parts cool to achieve a neutral temperature water. Not too hot, too warm or too cool or too cold, just right. When putting your hand in the water it should feel neither warm or cool. nor hot or cold.
- Added about a tablespoon of Original Formula Palmolive dish washing liquid. When the machine was finished filling with water, I let the water and soap agitate for a few seconds until the soap was mixed in.
- Put the blanket in the water pressing it down so it was soaked through and completely covered with water.
- Dial in "Delicate" or "Wool" selection on your washing machine.
- Close the washer's lid and allow the machine to continue through all the cycles including spin.
- Remove the blanket from the washer and place it in the dryer.
- Dry on "AIR ONLY" setting for an hour. Check the lint trap.
- I removed my blanket from the dryer and placed it over a recliner to finish drying. You can also lay it over a sofa or lay over towels placed on a dining table. The blanket should only be slightly damp. The warmer the room the faster it will dry.
- Fold the blanket and place in an airtight container or place on your bed or place of your choosing away from heating sources. If you decided to wash your sweaters this way, fold them and place in an airtight container. I use cedar and have not had a problem but it is not foolproof, moth balls help but a good cleaning of the storage area and floors it the best method to eliminate most problems.
The results of my washing my beautiful blanket were even better than I expected. After completely drying, it was soft and fluffy and showed no signs of shrinkage or felting whatsoever. It is even more beautiful than when I bought it. My dryer lint trap was only half full and the lint was light and loose.
There it is, I overcame my fear of using a washing machine to wash my favorite and expensive "dry clean only" wool blanket, now you decide if this or the hand washing method is for you. I really have an aversion to dry cleaning chemicals, their use, effect on the environment and the chemicals that might remain in my precious fabrics so I took a chance with the the knowledge I was given by my weaving teacher and study of textiles.
Alternative Washing Methods
As long as we are discussing washing woolens, I thought I would include a method I found on the Internet from a man who boldly washes his woolen blankets.
I have not been able to locate the original site but here is the gist of it.
He washes his wool blankets in the hottest possible water in his washing machine. I think he just uses water only. He then puts the blanket in the dryer on the hottest possible setting. The results, a perfectly felted blanket. He was fine with this. Apparently, he commonly does this procedure for all his wool blankets as soon as he procures them.
I suspect this is a fine procedure for those folks who just don't want to worry about doing things more delicately. It may be thought that felting offers a warmer blanket which may be true as some articles of clothing such as boots vests, jackets and slippers use felted wool.
* Felting is where the fibers are shocked and close up instead of staying loose and fluffy. As a result of the fibers tightening, there is shrinkage. This occurs where the wrong soaps are used in washing wool and in using extreme water temperatures and extreme dryer temperatures.
As long as we are discussing washing woolens, I thought I would include a method I found on the Internet from a man who boldly washes his woolen blankets.
I have not been able to locate the original site but here is the gist of it.
He washes his wool blankets in the hottest possible water in his washing machine. I think he just uses water only. He then puts the blanket in the dryer on the hottest possible setting. The results, a perfectly felted blanket. He was fine with this. Apparently, he commonly does this procedure for all his wool blankets as soon as he procures them.
I suspect this is a fine procedure for those folks who just don't want to worry about doing things more delicately. It may be thought that felting offers a warmer blanket which may be true as some articles of clothing such as boots vests, jackets and slippers use felted wool.
* Felting is where the fibers are shocked and close up instead of staying loose and fluffy. As a result of the fibers tightening, there is shrinkage. This occurs where the wrong soaps are used in washing wool and in using extreme water temperatures and extreme dryer temperatures.
Image courtesy of Nicholas Tarling @ freedigital photos.net http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/agree-terms.php?id=10020565