Wash woolen clothes
It is known that wool is a special product. Wool has, among other things, a self-cleaning ability.
But what about that? The wool hair of a sheep contains scales, just like human hair. This can only be seen under the microscope. The scales of the wool hairs are arranged like roof tiles. In combination with the lanolin, this provides a natural dirt and moisture resistant system.
The lanolin is produced by the sebaceous glands of the sheep and is a fatty substance. The greasy substance ensures that no dirt can penetrate the wool hair and has a moisture-resistant effect.
Due to the friction of the shingle-like scales of the wool hair, the dirt is, as it were, pushed to the surface, causing the dirt and moisture to be released again and not absorbed.
Wool keeps unpleasant odors at bay.
If you start sweating, you will quickly develop an unpleasant odor.
Strange but true: sweat itself does not stink. It gets an unpleasant smell because it comes into contact with the bacteria on our skin. The proteins that naturally occur in wool hairs break down these bacteria. This means that woolen clothing is less likely to absorb unpleasant odors.
Wool does not need to be washed often. For woolen clothing, it works very well to hang it outside for freshening.
It is best to remove stains on woolen clothing immediately with a cloth and water. If the stain is already there, you can gently massage the stain with ox gall soap. Let the soap sit for a few minutes and then gently wash it off with a cloth and some water.
Do you still want to wash woolen clothes?
Even though wool has these good properties, we can imagine that you still want to wash the garment once. It is always very important to first read the washing instructions on the label of the garment carefully.
It is best to wash wool with a wool detergent that contains lanolin, so that the special effect of wool is not lost. It is better not to use fabric softener for woolen clothing. If necessary, use a dash of natural vinegar instead of fabric softener. The vinegar gives a nice shine and ensures that the colors remain beautiful.
Texelana wool detergent is very concentrated, so you only need a small amount per wash. Suitable for both machine and hand washing. Shake briefly before use.
Tip: Texelana wool detergent can also be used very well for washing your dog due to its mild nature.
If you are going to wash your woolen clothing in the washing machine, we recommend turning the clothing inside out so that the outside is damaged as little as possible. It is also important that the drum is not too full; wool needs a lot of space. Always choose a wool wash program on your washing machine and keep the temperature low (maximum 30 degrees cold wash). Choose a maximum speed of 1000.
Drying: it is best to dry your woolen clothing lying down, flat on the floor or on a drying rack, with a towel underneath. Do not hang the garment; the wool has become heavy from the water and the clothing can stretch and become out of shape. Wool dries best outdoors.
If you put the woolen clothing back in the closet, it is best to store it lying down. We do not recommend hanging, because the wool can stretch.
Help! My sweater has shrunk...
If your sweater has shrunk slightly, it is best to put the sweater in a bucket of lukewarm water. Add 1 tablespoon of hair conditioner per liter of water. Let the sweater soak for 3 hours. Stretch the sweater every hour. Remove the sweater from the water after 3 hours. Do not wring or rinse. Now place the sweater on a thick towel on the floor and roll it up. Wait a moment until the towel has absorbed the moisture. Roll the sweater out again and carefully pull it into shape. Here too, it is best to let it dry outside.Fluff or pills
Wool can pill or pill due to use. This has nothing to do with the quality of the wool. Pilling is a natural phenomenon that is mainly caused by friction. Wool consists of many hairs with a natural frizz (curl). Friction can cause the wool to pill and felt. When felting, the hairs join together due to friction. In fact, every movement causes friction. You often find the lint/pills on the sleeves and under the armpits. New clothing may sometimes have some loose hairs left behind after the weaving and knitting process.Unfortunately, pills and lint on your beautiful (merino) woolen clothing cannot be prevented. We have some tips on how to delay this process somewhat and how to remove the lint and pills.
Tips to prevent pills and pills on merino wool:
- Always follow the washing instructions on the washing label. Please note: woolen clothing does not need to be washed often! See the information above for this.
- Use a special wool detergent. This means that the natural fat layer of wool remains intact. This keeps the fibers flexible, making them less likely to felt.
- To get as little lint as possible, it is best to wash your woolen clothing inside out, preferably in a special laundry bag. This prevents clothing from unnecessarily rubbing against other rough or sharp zippers.
Still pills and fluff? Do not pull them off by hand. You pull more fibers to the surface and they will then felt even more.
Do not wear the same (merino) woolen garment several days in a row. Wool fibers have a kind of shape memory. If you let a worn garment rest for a day, the fibers have the chance to recover
Tips to remove lint and pills from clothes:
With a wool comb. Lay your merino wool garment as flat and smooth as possible. Stretch the knitting slightly with one hand until it is completely smooth. Iron with the wool comb in one direction. Repeat this until most of the lint and pills have been removed.
Or use a lint trimmer. This is a handy device that allows you to shave lint and pills directly from the knitted fabric. Available at home goods stores.
Finally: don't be put off by the risk of pills and lint and enjoy your beautiful clothing made of (merino) wool. It is a beautiful natural product with a luxurious appearance. Merino wool is warm, comfortable, and has a long lifespan.
