Merino wool, coming from Merino sheep, is a luxurious and high-quality wool. As with all your most precious fabrics, Merino wool requires special care when washing to ensure that it maintains its softness, shape, and durability over time.
The first step to take care of your merino wool may feel a bit counterintuitive, but trust us. Only wash your Merino Wool when it is visibly dirty. The more you wash your clothes, the more the quality of them can degrade, so an easy way to make them last longer is by only washing your merino wool jumper if it is actually dirty. To skip a few washes, use our Deodorizing Spritz - this kills 96% of bacteria while also freshening up the scent of your clothes.
While it is possible to wash merino wool in the washing machine, on a wool or hand wash cycle, handwashing is the safest way to avoid any mishaps.
In this blog post, we'll outline the steps you need to follow to hand wash your merino wool garments properly.
Step 1: Prepare your merino wool garment
Before you begin the washing process, it's essential to prepare your merino wool garment properly to help protect the fabric fibres as much as possible while washing. Start by turning the garment inside out, which will help protect the outer fabrics from any potential damage during washing. Next, fill a clean sink or basin with lukewarm water and add a small amount of wool detergent. Our Cashmere and Wool Detergent provides a natural moth protection for your wool and its gentle pH neutral formula keeps the wool fabric fibres strong.
Make sure that all the detergent is dissolved in the water before your next step.
Step 2: Soak the merino wool garment
Once you have your wool laundry detergent solution ready, add your merino wool garment to the sink or basin and gently submerge it in the water. Leave your wool garment to soak for about 30 minutes. Remember to not agitate or rub the garment, as this can cause the wool fibres to stretch.
Step 3: Rinse the merino wool garment
After 30 minutes, drain the sink or basin and refill it with fresh, clean water. Gently move your garment in the freshwater, ensuring that all the detergent residue is removed. Repeat this process a couple of times, until you are satisfied that the wool detergent has been properly washed off.
Step 4: Remove excess water from the merino wool garment
Once the garment is rinsed thoroughly, gently press down on the wool to remove any excess water. Do not twist, wring, or rub the garment, as this can cause the fibres to stretch and become misshapen. Instead, roll the garment in a clean towel and press down to remove any remaining water.
Step 5: Reshape and dry the merino wool garment
After you have removed as much water as possible from your garment, it's time to reshape it and dry it. Lay the garment flat on a clean, dry towel, and gently reshape it back to its original shape. Allow it to air dry, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, until it is completely dry.
So there you have it - a simple guide to handwashing your merino wool garments that you can easily follow this to make sure they keep looking and feeling their best.
Remember to use laundry wool detergent to protect the delicate wool fibre. Then, to keep your wool protected from any pesky moths, store them with a moth repellent scent bag nearby, and give them a couple spritzes a week of our instant moth repellent Knitwear Mists.
By taking good care of your merino wool garments, you'll enjoy their luxurious feel and exceptional quality for many seasons to come!
For more clothing care tips explore more of our blogs, such as our blog on how to hand wash a wool blanket, or how to hand wash a wool jumper. To keep your merino wool protected from those moth holes then explore our range natural moth defence products shop our moth repellent collection.
For our whole range of detergents, mists, tools and accessories that extend the life and improve the look, feel and smell, of your wardrobe favourites, explore our whole range.
