With colder weather, in addition to hot drinks and enjoying the warm, there is also layered clothing, so we take our wool sweaters and pullovers out of the closet.
WHAT IS WOOL?
Wool is a natural material used to make clothes since ancient times, some data go back as far as 6000 years. There are several types of wool, and they differ in what animals and breeds they are made of. Thus we distinguish, for example, merino wool and cashmere, which is obtained from goat hair.
The challenge arises when such materials need to be washed. It has happened to all of us at least once that our favorite sweater in the wash has narrowed or was no longer soft, and somehow it got frizzy.
With proper washing and adequate care of these natural materials, we can avoid such surprises.
WOOL PROCESSING BEFORE PURCHASE
It is important to know that a big factor in the maintenance of wool is the processing of wool before our purchase of clothing, but also the fact that not every wool can be washed.
DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER
Unlike blankets that are washed in a lot of water, it is important for wool to be in a minimal amount of water, with very little or even no softener. As for the centrifuge and temperature, we set the washing machine to a low speed and to the lowest temperature, up to 20 degrees celsius.
SPECIALTY DETERGENTS
For washing wool, we choose detergents that say that they are for delicate fabrics, wool or for wool and silk. It is also important to follow the instructions on the declaration: if it says that it is exclusively for dry cleaning, ie chemical, then take it to the chemical.
HAND-WASHING AND ADJUSTING THE WASHING CYCLE
Some dare to wash these pieces of clothing “by hand”. This is definitely a better choice if you can’t adjust the washing machine to min. no. revolutions (600 or less) and to a wool program that has all heaters off.