The Best Tips for Washing Wool Garments

Wool garments are delicate and require special treatment during the washing process. In this article, we'll share some recommendations on how to properly do so.
The Best Tips for Washing Wool Garments

Last update: 15 December, 2022

If you’ve washed wool garments without knowing what you were doing, then you probably know what happens…

If you want to wash wool clothing without ruining it, you have to know a few tricks.

Today, we’d like to give you the keys to keep your wool garments in perfect condition. With these simple tips, you won’t have any problems keeping them clean and in perfect shape.

Wool Garments

Wool is the perfect choice for cold days, given its insulating qualities. It keeps you at a constant warm temperature without humidity. However, this natural fiber is delicate and absorbent, so you must learn how to handle and wash it properly.

When done incorrectly, washing wool garments causes them to shrink and lose their shape.

If you’d like to maintain their quality, comfort, and softness, then read these essential tips on how to take good care of wool clothing.

Tips for Washing Wool Garments

1. Look at the manufacturer’s label.

A knit in progress.
Before you wash any woolen garments, it’s important to read the instructions on the label. This way, you’ll be more familiar with the type of care they require.

First of all, any time you wash your garments – be it wool or any other fabrics – you must pay attention to the manufacturer’s label. There, you’ll find the information you’ll need to wash them properly.

Also, you’ll find out more about the quality of the fabric.

When it comes to wool garments, washing care is essential because not all of them require the same kind. Some need dry cleaning while others must be hand-washed. Also, there are some you can machine wash.

2. Machine wash it correctly.

Can you wash wool garments in a washing machine?

Yes, you can.

However, you must pay attention to the program you select. Otherwise, you’ll ruin them.

Some automatic washing machines have a program just for wool clothes. If yours doesn’t have one, then select the “delicate” or “hand wash” cycle.

In any case, make sure the cycle you select uses cold water and has low-intensity revolutions. Warm water will shrink your clothes.

We’d also like to recommend soaking your wool clothing in cold water for half an hour before washing it. This will also prevent shrinkage.

Put the garment in a mesh bag first and then inside the washing machine. This will keep it from getting caught with other clothes or damaged with other types of fabrics. This is optional but highly recommended.

3. Dry wool garments carefully.

A woman hanging clothes on a drying rack.

To dry wool clothes, you have to remove excess water. Thus, you’ll keep it from losing its shape.

Never use an automatic dryer when it comes to wool garments; it will ruin them. The heat will shrink the item, even if you’ve religiously followed every other previous step.

When drying a wool garment, you must lay it flat. If you hang it, then the weight of the water left in the clothes stretch it and it would lose its shape.

You can also wrap it with a towel and thus remove some of the moisture before drying it. Place the wool garment on a dry towel and roll them together. Squeeze out the excess of water as much as you can.

4. Keep in mind a few general tips.

Whether you’re going to wash wool garments by hand or by machine, there are some general instructions you should follow:

  • First, wash clothes only when necessary, not every time you wear them. You shouldn’t wash wool with the same frequency you wash other garments.
  • Also, flip it inside out before washing it.
  • If you’re using a washing machine, then select the gentler cycle. If you’re washing it by hand, then don’t scrub too hard.
  • Always choose a mild, liquid detergent.
  • If all you want is to remove the bad smell of your garment, then either air it or soak it by itself.
  • If, in spite of all of your care, the clothes seem to shrink after washing them, stretch them gently while they’re still wet.
  • Always opt for handwashing when dealing with a delicate knit.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.