Wool Wash and Care Instructions

[EmnJJsMom]

This was taken from Butterfly Bunz with the owner's permission. (Thank you beepsmnms!

Wool Wash & Care



Wool only has to be washed once every 2 or 3 weeks unless of course it gets soiled. Wool has a self cleaning property in it called lanolin. If your wool feels damp or wet after wearing it, simply lay it out flat to air out and let the wool do its job of self cleaning. When the lanolin properties get too low, its time to lanolize them. Lanolizing only needs to be done every 2 or 3 months depending on how often its washed. The instructions below will help you care for your wool, for washing only, omit the lanolin step.

Here are the steps to caring for your wool:

1. Run your hot water until its good and HOT in the bathroom sink, allowing it to drain, once its hot turn it off for a few seconds to do step 2.

2. Put the plug in your bathroom sink and put your lanolin in the bottom of the sink, I use about a 1/2-1 inch glob of the lanolin.

3. Run a little hot water in the sink and add baby shampoo or baby wash to the water (wool wash may be used too). Only run enough hot water in the sink to break up the lanolin.

4. Run room temp water to fill the rest of the sink up.

5. Turn your wool wrong side out and submerge into the mixture in the sink and let soak 30 minutes (longer if you feel it needs more lanolizing).

6. After you're done soaking, lay a towel folded in half for you to lay your wool on; take the wool out of the water and gently squeeze the excess water out, do not ring.

7. Lay your wool on the towel and roll the towel up with the wool inside, gently squeeze as your rolling.

8. Lay flat to dry, I like laying them on one of those sweater racks. They take 24 hours sometimes to dry.



Beeps recommends the Northern Essence wool wash. Northern Essence

Add your wash routine and wash/lanolin recommendations too!

[Llamajama]

Here are my favorite wool care tips:

Always test your wool for color fastness before washing multiple items in the sink at once.

To speed up the drying process spin your wool in your washing machine using the spin cycle.

Never hang wet wool, always dry it flat.

Baby shampoo is okay in a pinch but soap developed for wool is better.

Always rinse wool soakers or longies to remove any soap residue, even if your wool wash is a "no-rinse" formula. Soap can build up and interfere with the wools ability to shed water.

Take a few minutes to reshape your wool when you lay it to dry, button buttons, make sure collars are straight, hems align, etc. This extra step is called blocking and it will improve the appearance of your wool garment.

You can avoid lanolin spots (when unmelted lanolin attaches itself to the wool leaving grease like stains) by using liquid lanolin. Liquid lanolin does not need to be melted like solid lanolin (like Lansinoh)

If your wool needs a lanolin boost you can use spray lanolin in between lanolizing treatments. Free spray lanolin recipe

If you plan to store your wool for another season (or child) give it a good washing to remove any dirt or oils and dry it completely. Store your wool in an airtight container, like a zip lock bag in a dry place. Don't store your wool in an attic or basement.

Enjoy your wool, let your kids wear it to the park, sledding, to their friends house, whatever, it's only wool and it cleans up surprisingly well : )

[booboonfattymagee]

Do I need to do this before I use my new wool

[Llamajama]

Originally Posted by booboonfattymagee Do I need to do this before I use my new wool

Unless the knitter tells you that your wool has been washed & lanolized it's safe to assume you need to do it first.

[sbolen]

Do you have any recommendations for getting poo stains out?

[lovendove]

Originally Posted by sbolen Do you have any recommendations for getting poo stains out?

I came looking for the same answer LOL off to search some more

Edit to add:

I found this just in case it helps anyone else out
http://www.cutofcloth.com/howto_woolcare_kiwipie.asp

[Mommyof2boys]

So I can use my lanolin from Lansinoh that I use for my nipples???

[lovendove]

Originally Posted by Mommyof2boys So I can use my lanolin from Lansinoh that I use for my nipples???

nak

thats what i read but it should be 100% i think

[scorpiox2]

Originally Posted by Mommyof2boys So I can use my lanolin from Lansinoh that I use for my nipples???

i use it. works great and haven't had any problems.

[Llamajama]

Originally Posted by sbolen Do you have any recommendations for getting poo stains out?

For poo stains, try to rinse the stain as quickly as possible under cool or cold water (heat can set stains).

Wool wash bars work best on stubborn stains - or try sunning your stained cover. If you sun dyed wool, you will want to watch it closely as the sun can also fade colors.

So I can use my lanolin from Lansinoh that I use for my nipples???

You absolutely can use lansinoh on your wool covers - however Lansinoh is in a paste/wax form so you will need to change it to a liquid before using it. To do that, add about a 1/4 - 1/2 inch of Lansinoh to a mug of warm water & add a squirt of baby shampoo or liquid wool wash. Microwave it for about 30 seconds and stir to dissolve the lanolin. Add that mixture to your water.