Washing woollens is often a challenge and we’ve all had shrinkage nightmares when it comes to a wool wash.
The ethical and natural material is super warm and cosy and it’s gained in popularity again due to its environmental friendliness, but washing the material can be tricky.
The good news is that woollens generally need less washing than synthetics – and a YouTuber has highlighted one common ingredient that will help with the washing process.
Organising TV has thousands of followers – and the channel has shared tips on how to wash wool ‘without ruining it’.
The first interesting tip is that wool jumpers and outer layers need less washing as the lanolin in the natural fibre neutralises smells in the first place.
But once you’ve established that your item does need to be washed, Organizing TV has great advice to ensure you don’t wreck it.
First, check the label – and they said you can generally run the item on a hand wash cycle in your machine if it says ‘hand wash only’, but you need to ‘be careful’.
Organizing TV advises if the wool garment has any stains, you should first use a wool detergent on these areas, pre machine wash, in a cold water soak in a sink until the stains are ‘removed completely’.
The YouTuber said: “If you are scared that your wools are going to shrink, such as a handmade sweater, you can put it in a sink full of cold water for half an hour.”
Then to move on to the washing machine cycle, you should first turn the clothes inside out, they said.
You can use mesh bags too for further protection, just place each garment in a bag – and do not mix other materials in with a wool wash, the YouTuber advises, and choose a wool or hand wash cycle.
Don’t overload the machine, Organizing TV added, as it causes extra friction in the machine – and before the cycle starts add some ‘super gentle detergent’, one especially for wool.
The channel suggests Wool Light, a ‘super popular’ brand, but they also had another hack to share with a simple household ingredient that you can also use during the cycle.
Never use fabric softener, Organizing TV said, suggesting to skip this and instead ‘add a little vinegar’ 40ml ‘is enough’ this will help to soften the wool and make it ‘less itchy’.
For the washing programme ‘turn down spin as much as possible’ is the advice and choose a hand wash, delicates or wool cycle.
Don’t use a dryer or drying cycle either, he said, best to ‘hang it up to dry’, however another handy tip is that you can ‘squeeze out excess water with a towel’ before hanging up your woolens to dry.
