Saturday, January 21, 2012

How To Care For Your Woollen Clothing?

Anyone paying attention to current trends will know that there is an increasing demand for consumers to know exactly what we are putting in and on our bodies. Organic, preservative free, and natural are not just marketing hype: they reflect an innate human desire to be safe and warm. The ultimate in safe and warm are natural wool products, but many people feel intimidated by what they perceive to be as complicated care regimens: they're concerned they will shrink, felt or otherwise ruin a natural wool product by throwing it in the washing machine. In some cases, this is true, but it isn't as complicated as it may seem.

The key to caring for your woollen clothing is knowing exactly what you have, and what the best way to care for your particular natural wool product is. Many producers have developed manufacturing processes which mean items can be successfully machine washed on special woollen or delicate cycles, or even regular cycles in some cases. Always look for a care label, and if in doubt, hand wash.

Bear in mind that wool is a natural fibre. It is naturally breathable and may need less washing than your average synthetic item of clothing. If you remove your woollen item of clothing after wearing and air it, you may find it needs washing only a few times per winter.

If it does need washing, the primary dangers to natural wool products are excess heat, vigorous agitation, bleach or detergents containing bleach.

Water temperature is crucial. Hot water causes natural wool fibres to be damaged and dye to run. The ideal temperature is blood temperature (38 C). You should also bear in mind that letting water run onto your natural wool product may cause the fibres to matt. If you are hand washing, fill the bucket or sink with water before immersing your woollen item of clothing in it. Agitate gently, taking care not to rub it against itself. You are aiming to soak and rinse the dirt out.

The next factor to consider is detergent. Modern detergents are designed to break down dirt, but their alkalinity means they may also cause damage to your natural wool products, meaning they may wear out faster. Special wool detergents protect the fibres. These are readily available, but you can also use baby shampoo or castile soap.

To dry a woollen item, you simply lay it on a towel, then roll the towel and the item of clothing up to remove excess moisture, then unroll and leave to dry flat. Store somewhere cool and dry, with mothballs or cedar chips to protect against damage.

1 comment:

  1. I really appreciate your way of presentation. Some great information to be absorbed in this post. Thanks a lot for sharing.
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