Washing and Caring for Wool Garments

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated July 18, 2022)

Wool sweaters are perfect for those nippy fall days and snowy winters so you want to get the best use out of them as possible. Like everything else you wear, your wool garments will get dirty and you'll need to wash them, but I'm sure some of you have had problems with washing woolen items. Lucky for you, there are a few tips that if followed will leave you with clean woolen clothes that will maintain their shape, size, and quality.

Much of caring for wool garments happens before you even touch the washer. Keep your sweaters clean in between washes by lightly brushing out the dirt from the garment after every wear. By not letting the dirt settle in you'll not have to wash the sweater as often as you might have to otherwise. Also, if you can, try and hang up your wool clothes spaced a bit apart and not next to other wool. You can refresh your wool before wearing by putting it in a steamy bathroom (which also works great when you're traveling).

To preserve the shape of your clothes, refrain from wearing your woolen garments 24 hours after you last wore it. Wool is a remarkable fabric in that it's excellent in maintaining its shape, even after multiple wearings. Help that quality along by leaving the sweater time to regain it's former shape.

When actually washing wool, don't wash too often. If you take care of those items every time you wear them, then only washing them periodically won't be a big deal. Washing too frequently can wear out the fabric and shorten the life of a good, quality wool sweater. If you wash with care and wash sparingly the integrity of the wool will be maintained.

Whenever you wash, wash the item delicately (whether by hand or machine) and never rub it. When spot cleaning, test whatever method you're using on a small section where no one can see so you avoid potential clothes ruin. You should never put your wool garments in the dryer because that will probably result in shrinking and maybe other damage. Allow your wools to air dry, preferably on a flat surface.

It's definitely not difficult to maintain and wash your wool clothes; the trick lies in simply caring for it when you're not washing it and when you do wash it, wash with care. Wool is an excellent fabric and one that can last you a long time if you take good care of it. Good luck with all your wool maintaining and washing endeavors!

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Cleaning an LCD Screen

LCD screens are great, providing crystal-clear images and outstanding performance. If the screen gets dirty, you need to ...

Discover More

Banana Chip Bars

If you're looking for an easy and delicious dessert bar, then banana chip bars are the way to go. They are simple, ...

Discover More

Pruning Cabbage

Cabbage is one of the most common vegetables grown in home gardens, and as such, one of those plants that people run into ...

Discover More

Remove Stubborn Stains Quickly Get everything looking clean again: Walls, floors, baseboards, counters, blinds, appliances, and more. Micro-scrubbers easily reach into surface grooves, lifting dirt away. This low-cost 8-pack is great for stubborn stains and touble areas. Check out Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 8-Pack today!

More Cleaning Tips

Removing Ink Stains from Silk Clothing

It happens. Pens leak and ink spills. Anyone who has ever opened a backpack or briefcase to find a broken or leaky pen ...

Discover More

Getting Cough Syrup Out of Clothes

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to get cough syrup stains out of clothes? Whether it's from your child ...

Discover More

Removing Stains from Children's Clothing

Children are without a doubt one of the great joys in this world. They seem to have this innate ability to create ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.