Washing and Caring for Wool Garments

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!