Washing Wool

[@n.ayisha]

baby shampoo makes an excellent wash for woolens and other delicate fibers, especially if you have sensitive skin. it only takes a squirt or two to get the job done. there should be just enough shampoo to make a few suds when you agitate the water, but the bubbles should all but disappear when you start washing your wool item. if you're getting lots of suds (like with regular laundry detergent), then you've used too much. the idea is to have just enough soap in the water to mobilize the sweat and dirt (so that they separate from the fibers) but not so much that it leaves a tacky feeling to the garment. fabric softener is optional, but if you want a soft feel to your garment, put a few drops of baby conditioner in your hand and use your fingers to dissolve it into the rinse water. most baby shampoos and conditioners are free of dyes and perfumes, so all you're left with is the smell of clean wool.

[@philippascotland9901]

Excellent.. how my mum taught me when I was a kid. She also used bars of soap. This only works for knitted garments . If a garment is tailored and made from woven cloth it will destroy it. A coat or jacket has all sorts of inner layers of different fabrics , padding in the shoulders etc and the water will have an adverse effect as all the different fabrics move differently when wet. It's a dry cleaning job!

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Exactly, never wring wool, never use hot water. I have made felt before, maybe I should do a video on making it. Thanks for the comment.

[@222Mission]

Only suggestion I can think of is drying on a window screen . Lived 8 yrs in Canada and dried many a sweater on a screen laid over two chair backs . But great info here . Thanks much .

[@zainw2314]

You've saved me £15 on Dry Cleaning my Wool Jacket. Thanks.

[@catlyana13]

I followed the steps you demonstrated in the video, and it worked like a charm for my wool scarf and gloves! Thank you very much!

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@joypunsalan8027]

catlyana13 Hi! may I ask if you've tried this cleaning method on an aritzia wool scarf that says dry clean only? :)

[@mozart4128]

if i leave the woolen cloth for one night in water. is it harmful for that cloth?. My question from Vienna,Austria.

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

I wouldn't leave it overnight. It may greatly reduce the color. It could also shrink or expand the wool depending on the temperature of the water. Thanks for watching!

[@earthling1984]

Very nice! Only problem is how long it takes to clean a piece of clothing. But some nice tips here! For my wool I am usually lazy and just put it in the washer with only other wools on delicate cycle and good wool detergent. I don't dry my wool, I just hang straight out of the washer. The washer spins, so they aren't dripping when taken out. Just hang and they are dry in about an hour or two.

[@earthling1984]

I haven't noticed any shoulder marks yet from hanging, but thanks for that tip at the end! I will have to keep an eye out for this and change my method if any stretching occurs.

[@gracieharvey1150]

+Earthling1984 I saw u

[@busancun]

Nice video. At last I find one with the same idea as I do. I have been using shampoo to clean my garments of delicate fabric since I was unable to find any detergents for wool here in North America.

[@anndennis7163]

I use dawn dish washing soap, it works nicely.

[@johnlord8337]

Defintely dry out wool products flat. If you hang dry them, the wool weight will hang and stretch out. You'll have a sweater dress if you do it too much!

[@Diabolik771]

I love wool in the winter. Forget that cotten crap!

[@tabletoptt]

Best Wool washing video ive seen. Thank you for the video and help!

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheRedCoke]

This is exactly how I wash everything including my expensive T shirts. All heavy garments should be laid flat and always wash separately in-case of color transfer. You can also put jeans in the freezer to kill bacteria, it's not recommended to wash raw denim but personally I still do anyway

[@designstyletherapy1832]

Yes it works. I've been using the same technique for my silk and cashmere clothing for year.

[@davidbowie2046]

whats a great video,very therapeutic too :) really never thought about using shampoo and conditioner,a great idea.thanks :)

[@HughRiddle]

Beautifully made video giving very clear instruction with interesting ideas such as using shampoo and conditioner. Many thanks, EWS.

[@toedancer1148]

Great info, knew about the shampoo, but never thought of using conditioner.

[@janelee9376]

I've ruined so many wool sweaters by washing in a washing machine though I used cold water gentle cycle. Now I think it's because of the mechanic agitations which were not gentle enough like hand wash.

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Try hand washing!! thanks for watching!

[@jefflebowski918]

Good video, shampoo makes sense because wool is hair. l never use laundry detergent on wool because the enzymes will destroy the fabric.

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

I've tried that myself and end up with a stretched and contorted sweater, even on the gentle cycle that is recommended for wool and delicates. No way I would trust a $250 boreal shirt to the washing machine.

[@MrJagajg]

Great video. Really explained well.

[@o00oZu1o00o]

I give it 8 rinses and I put a lot more water. Thanks for the conditioner tip, I will try

[@MrRustyBob]

I guess you'd treat a wool blanket the same way. Maybe in the tub since it's quite a bit larger than a sweater. Ordered a Hungarian officers blanket made of (as far as I know) 100% wool. Blanket has stains. A bit more than "slightly" stained. Don't know what the stain is. Some of the stain is brown. I shudder to think what that may be. But most of the stained part looks of charcoal. I'd like to clean this blanket using your method. The color of this blanket is a light cream color. After cleaning, I'd like to dye it a dark color. Any suggestions on doing that ? Something to hide any future stain, or a stubborn stain that refuses to wash out. And of course, being a military blanket, it has a strong "moth ball" scent. I hope after hand washing, that'll all be gone.

[@A10TOES]

I have an expensive wool blanket; I wash it in my front loader washer on cold water and dry it in my front loader dryer on casual....if it has shrunk I never noticed it. This blanket is very thick & heavy. Theres no way I cld wash it by hand; My military blanket is washed the same way. I always use Gain liquid & Downy Infusion. Never no problems.

[@LillyWinkle]

I would advise against using conditioner because like fabric softener, it interferes with the moisture wicking properties of the wool.

[@havemofun]

Just what I needed to learn. Thanks!

[@westvirginiasurvival]

Neat.Thanks for the tip Darrin.

[@savgal1211]

Just got a wonderful "Pioneer Drying Rack" from the Homestead Store dott kom, I use Charlies Soap ( order online, MILD an dno fragrances). I have 2 Hudson Bay Co. 4 point EXPENSIVE wool blankets!! I hand washed in tub, with very little soap ( Charlies), You never want to wring wool, and rinse Gently, with no water beating down on the wool, that is how you get felt!!

[@athiraees]

Thanks man, you really showed some useful tips.

[@JakisDziad]

smell like a camp fire, and you want to get ride of it? oh man, I would like to have camp fire perfumes :D

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Yes

[@bibleprophecy1st]

You don't need to use soap to wash wool. It's better if you don't because it removes the natural oils in the wool. If you do use soap it's best to use a odorless soap especially if you plan on using it in the woods for hunting or just camping. Also use very little soap. If anyone has problems with the smell in your wool clothing or blankets hang it outside for a week or two but not in direct sunlight, just so the wind blows through the material. You can also cover the smell with a smudge of smoke by burning a plaesant smelling wood from a camp fire up wind of you hanging garment.

[@RaymondVanJC]

if you don't use woolite, what are you supposed to use?

[@bibleprophecy1st]

I use "scent a way" and only use about a tea spoon per two gallons of water.

[@lucienl9465]

hey, do you know what happen if i don't dry out my wool sweater with a towel and let it completely air dry after rinsed by hand?

[@bibleprophecy1st]

***** It will probably stretch where you have it attached to a line. That's why the company I bought my wool jacket says to lay it out flat to dry. It sounds like a good idea to get some of the water out with a towl but I would not use a towel that has been washed with perfumed detergent or dryed with softeners.

[@billyjoedenny]

excellent tip brother

[@Abe-my9wb]

Thank you for this video! Do you think this method will work with a wool hat?

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

+Abraham Nejat (Kuhbumser) It may take the shape out of the hat. Thanks for watching!

[@Abe-my9wb]

+EastWoodlandSurvival I ended up trying it. It kept the shape but feels much softer

[@KTCommander2014]

Great insight.

[@survivewithout]

is that how you would do a blanket too?

[@ritalovesthebeatles]

My sweater is 100% wool and it smells like a wet sheep. How do I get rid of that smell? Already washed it and it still smells :( Help?

[@catbugg]

Have you tried Febreeze?

[@Empress422]

ritalovesthebeatles Now I could be wrong but If you use cold water it should decrease the smell. Guess it wouldn't hurt to try and see. Hope it helps!

[@llnikkill1]

Can you do this with a pea coat

[@ryanhouk3560]

How long does wool take to dry?

[@renategyuro6991]

Wouldn't use Woolite - takes out the color. Shampoo is the best.

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@rockstarrist5746]

Has anyone tried this on a 100% virgin wool coat?

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

I have used it on 100% wool several times including 100% alpaca and muskox. Thanks for watching!

[@rockstarrist5746]

EastWoodlandSurvival Hi, I used it too. It didn't shrink, but the smell is quite bad. I was wondering if I should just put it in the washer with the delicate cycle.

[@EastWoodlandSurvival]

***** Some people put it in the washer on delicate, I have always hand washed just because I wanted to be careful with expensive wool (if you decide to try it in the washer, dry it as I mentioned in the video). Yes it will stink, smells like the animal it came from haha. Hope this helped.

[@taccora]

If you're worried about smell, have you tried SOAK. It's a no-rinse wool wash that you can find at most yarn stores or on amazon (they have the best price). You add a cap full for each gallon of water and just let your garment soak for about 15 minutes. Squeeze out excess water and air dry

[@oliverpoulsen6534]

Aint nobody got time for dat

[@peternufc1981]

Oliver Poulsen if you pay good money for items the ya would

[@karenamestoy]

Oliver Poulsen when you have something of your own you make time. 15 minute watched from start to end and I'll watch more before I attempt washing the old wool blanket with sentimental value to me. Time is relative.

[@oliverpoulsen6534]

Aint nobody got time for dat

[@pinchechowder9814]

U put this comment 2 time it's still not funny