How to wash wool: rules for washing different types of wool

Woolen items require special care, especially if they need to be cleaned and washed. This is an extremely delicate material, and if you wash it incorrectly, you can say goodbye to your favorite clothes or accessories forever. At the same time, the type of wool from which the product is made should also be taken into account, since each case has its own small, but significant, features. Let’s figure out how to wash different types of wool.

First, let’s list the main types of wool used in the textile industry:

• sheep;
• camel;
• angora (rabbit wool);
• cashmere (wool of Himalayan goats);
• mohair (wool of Angora goats);
• alpaca (lama wool);
• Vigon (vicuña wool, animals from the camel family).

Sheep wool, in turn, has many varieties, depending on the breed of sheep. Also, woolen materials are distinguished by the method of processing and fabrics made from them. However, we will not go into such details. By the way, some types of woolen fabrics are used in sewing coats, and how to wash them is described in this article .

Sheep wool

Let’s start with the most common and least demanding type of wool – sheep. Rules for washing products from it are considered here . In general, there should be no difficulties with how to properly wash wool. Here are the highlights:

• The temperature for washing wool is no more than 35 degrees. At the same time, it is impossible to allow sharp temperature changes, so it is necessary to wash and rinse the products in water of the same temperature.
• You can wash in soap shavings or special liquid detergents for woolen products. Detergents are first dissolved in water, and then the thing is lowered into it. In no case do not wash the product itself directly. Do not use washing powders either.
• Avoid squeezing, stretching, twisting. You can not rub hard, actively rinse the thing. If you wash in a washing machine, be sure to turn off the spin cycle.
• Wool is not soaked before washing, for a maximum of 5-10 minutes. An exception is raw sheep wool .
• Be sure to rinse thoroughly, washing off the remains of the detergent. This should be done carefully. If you wash by hand, then just fill a basin with clean water, immerse the thing in it, move it, take it out, fill it again with clean water and so on, until it is completely washed.
• It is better to dry horizontally in a well-ventilated place, laying an absorbent fabric underneath. Hanging on your shoulders, you risk stretching the product. Do not dry in the sun, as it will fade.

The remaining types of wool are washed according to the same principle with small differences that must be taken into account.

Camel hair

It is very practical, quite warm and light. For these reasons, pillows, blankets, and blankets are often made from it. Washing camel wool is similar to the described recommendations for sheep wool. The differences are as follows:

• The water temperature should be below 30 degrees.
• Detergent is used in minimal quantities, otherwise it will be difficult to wash.
• It is allowed to soak a camel blanket, a pillow for about 20 minutes, after which it must be thoroughly rinsed immediately.

Vigon

Vigon is a subspecies of camel wool, but requires separate consideration. The fact is that it is very thin and soft, assembled exclusively by hand and requires a lot of effort for processing and subsequent sewing of products. Wool is considered the most expensive type of wool. From this it follows that the best way to wash it is to give it to a specialized dry cleaner.

Is it possible to wash wool at home? If desired, it is completely allowed, and even in the washing machine. The exception is things where various impurities are added to the material. This should be indicated on the label.

Tips for washing vigoni:

• Water temperature up to 40 degrees.
• It can be washed in a washing machine, but with spin and drying turned off.
• Detergents – gel or shampoo for washing wool.
• Dry only horizontally, as the horseradish is easily stretched and can lose its shape.
• It is allowed to iron Vigoni products.

Cashmere

This is one of the most delicate woolen materials. With improper care or washing, you can say goodbye to the item forever, as the wear resistance of cashmere is extremely low.

The shape of cashmere products is supported by the substance doublerin. It is easily washed out with careless washing, as a result the thing can be deformed and all that remains is to throw it away. Sometimes synthetic fibers are added to cashmere to make it more durable.

Wool can only be washed by hand at a water temperature of up to 30 degrees.

The detergent is dissolved in water in advance in a small amount.

It is forbidden to crush, rub, wring and make any other efforts to unlock the item. To squeeze out the remaining water, simply hold the product vertically, letting the water drain, then gently wet it by wrapping it in a terry towel.

The rules for washing a cashmere coat are here .

Mohair

Differs in lightness and strength. Jackets, coats, tuxedos are most often made from it, but there are also other products, such as sweaters, hats, etc. Sometimes acrylic or sheep wool is added to the material.

Wash mohair according to the same rules as cashmere.

Alpaca

Very popular material due to its lightness and structure. A special feature is the absence of lanolin, so such products are less greasy and can be easily washed off if necessary.

• The alpaca material is thin, so it is better to wash it by hand so as not to accidentally damage the product. When machine washing, there is a risk that you will get a thing with elongated loops or holes.
• Water temperature up to 30 degrees.
• The detergent is special for wool, you can use ordinary shampoo.
• Clothes are washed quickly, so there is no need to soak them.
• Rinse in the same water temperature as wash.
• Squeeze with a terry towel.
• Dry horizontally.

Angora

Angora is a very delicate material. It is recommended to clean it exclusively in specialized dry cleaners. Soaking angora products is contraindicated. If the manufacturer allows washing, which is indicated on the label, then only by hand, at low water temperatures (25-30 degrees), practically without detergents. Even shampoos for wool are extremely difficult to wash out of angora. Some recommend washing by diluting a shaving of household soap and a spoonful of glycerin in water.

From all of the above, you can draw a reasonable conclusion about how to wash wool. This should be done carefully, following the manufacturer’s recommendations indicated on the label. Practically all types of wool are washed in the same way, with the exception of such delicate ones as angora, cashmere, mohair, as well as woolen materials used in sewing coats. For the latter, it is better to use exclusively dry cleaning.