Washing-Wool a quick guide to getting the best finish with your woolen items.

The main difference between them is the fineness or size of hair fibre and the amount of oil or lanolin left after manufacture.

Wool will hold a large percentage of its weight in water without much change in feel, shape, or insulation properties, which allows them to be used to keep we humans warm even in dampest conditions.

The original Guernsey Jumper as used by the fishing/naval/seafearing world, was designed to be worn next to the skin to provide an air gap of warm air even in a storm.

And if you go to the following website you will find the ones I have been wearing for years available brand new and in all sizes and traditional colours Nauticalia for all things nautical at Washing-Wool They have a super range of products and send things all over the world.

If in doubt about the type of fibre in your garment, Check the wash care label

I have produced a separate page on the wash care label or wash care symbols.

If you are in any doubt as to how to understand the symbols on the label follow the link to Laundry-Symbols, how to read the wash care label and safely wash your garment. Where there is a mix of fibres in a garment, choose the most delicate and easily damaged fibre as the guide for the wash.

For example where there is a cotton, lycra, wool mix, wash the garment as for Washing-Wool.

Always err on the safe side and use the lower temperature and light mechanical action program.

But do not use a delicate wash on everything, as this would be a complete waste of time and effort, not to mention power, water, detergent and drying time, as these programs normally have a slow spin speed too.

Quality of the dye and fastness is the first test. In Washing-Woolens

Colour fastness can be tested by dabbing the garment with a damp piece of cotton wool to see if any colour is transfered.

Most modern front loading washing machines will provide a safe wash environment of your precious cashmere as long as you follow the guidlines.

Do Not wash woollens or any delicate items in a top loading washing machine which uses a revolving paddle arrangement to provide the mechanical action. The garment would almost certainly be damaged beyond repair.

For more information on how the wash cycle works check out the How to do laundry page. This page will give you a complete explanation on how the wash process is controlled within your machine. The importance of mechanical action, time, chemical action and wash temperatures.

Felting or shrinkage in woolen fabrics and how to avoid them.

If during handling, washing, or drying these fibres are rubbed together too much, the fibres interlock and ratchet up into tight links of fibre which produces the shortening of the length of the woven yarn. This produces the visible felting, or shrinkage of the garment, which is permanent and not reversible.

So, we choose a wool wash program, which is low temperature, high water level, so that as the drum turns the fabrics are given gentle mechanical action to remove soiling followed by a rest of nearly a minute.

The rest periods between wash drum action is very important as this allows any slight tightening of the fibres to relax back to their original length and shape.

Use a proprietory brand of woolen detergent which normally will contain silicons to aid the slipping of the fibres against each other without the felting.

Never when Washing-Woollens use a cottons or coloureds program, these have a low water level and high mechanical action program. Permanent damage would almost certainly be done to the garments very quickly.

Most Wool wash programs wil have an overide on the temperature so that even if you forgot to reduce the temperature it would wash at a maximum of 40 degrees Centigrade.

Why not Take a look at the Miele UK Website, and see the type of machines that are currently availble. Then come back soon to read the drying of woollens.

Drying your washed woollens in Washing-Wool

When woollen garments are wet they can easily loose their shape, to avoid this always carry them and remove them with care from your washing machine to the drying area.

If possible dry in the open air lying them flat or supported on several rungs of an airer or washline.

I use our tumble dryer for the workaday woolen items such as Guernsey Jumpers and shetland sweaters, a few lambswool items are also dried in the tumble dryer occasionally, but we try to dry them out in the fresh air if possible.

All fashion wear should be dried flat to retain their shape.

With some fashion items you may have to remove items before washing such as buttons which may cause damage to the garment during the wash. It is worth taking this precaution if you value your garment and wish it to last a long time.

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