How to wash products made of sheep’s wool

Many of us have probably wondered: “How do you maintain the quality of products made of sheep’s wool and, above all, keep them clean and as good as new?”

One might imagine that taking care of products made of sheep’s wool is highly demanding, as wool requires a slightly different approach than other types of fabric.  However, the reverse is true. That is why we have prepared a simple guide for you on how to care for Woolville products.

Wool is an exceptional material. Apart from other things, it has self-cleaning properties, so it will be as good as new for a long time without having to be washed often. Wool doesn’t like water, least of all hot water. It is usually enough to give wool products a good airing, though you can wash them (ideally) by hand, at a temperature of no more than 30°C. Alternatively, you can opt for dry cleaning, as almost any dry cleaner’s will accept wool items nowadays.

We do not recommend using a tumble dryer to dry jumpers or other wool products. Also, avoid drying wool products on a radiator. As with washing, the material must not come into contact with temperatures higher than 30°C.  

The ideal way of drying a wool item is to place it on a flat surface – for example, put a towel over a clothes horse, lay the sweater onto it and let it dry. This will prevent stretching and unwanted creases.

At Woolville, you can find wool dryer balls too, in a pack of 3 or 6. Using them is very simple. Place the balls in the dryer together with wet laundry and turn the dryer on. Wool absorbs moisture, your laundry will therefore dry faster. You can also add a few drops of essential oil onto the ball for a nice scent. When a drying cycle is finished, remove the ball from the dryer and leave it to dry out in fresh air. We recommend using the balls for example with regular linen, such as our cotton bed covers. Thanks to the balls, the covers will not get all tangled up and will feel lovely and soft.

The most popular item made of wool are socks. In our shop, you can find various types of Merino socks combined with other materials, such as cotton and elastane, which keeps socks soft, elastic and durable.

It also means that you can wash socks in a washing machine at 30°C. We recommend using the Lanolin laundry detergent that protects wool fibres from damage and removes dirt.

Similarly, some garments from the thermal clothing range also contain other materials besides Merino wool. This is to keep them comfortable and maintain the required elasticity, as such clothing is most often used for physical activities. Still, we recommend washing thermal clothing by hand in cool water no warmer than 30°C, ideally using a laundry detergent containing lanolin.

Our wool sweaters in Nordic style as well as in simple plain design have been growing in popularity. They can often be used instead of a jacket because some are available in a GORE-tex version, as are some wool hats by Kama. We recommend washing them by hand and laying them flat on top of a clothes horse to dry in the open air.

Merino winter sweaters can be washed in a washing machine on a delicate hand wash cycle and “Wool” setting, at a temperature no higher than 30°C. Again, we suggest using a detergent that has been developed specifically for the care of Merino products – Lanolin, which treats all fibres in depth, cleans thoroughly, ensures a longer life of the garment and, last but not least, has a lovely fragrance. 

Where vests made of sheep’s wool are concerned, follow the same procedure as for washing sweaters, although it is better to wash the item by hand rather than in a washing machine. This is the only way to have full control over the product.

If you do stain your clothes or bedding accidentally, and the stain is not large, it is best to use a mix of cold water and lanolin in a spray bottle and a cloth to wipe the stain clean.

The most common items made of wool are blankets and sheets. They are available in various versions, including some with a cotton lining which we recommend washing from time to time. Traditional blankets with wool fibre, whether single or double layered, should be washed sporadically. Airing them outside is sufficient, especially when it is foggy or frosty, or just in the shade in fresh air. Although some of our customers wash their blankets by hand at home and rinse them in water, we generally don’t recommend it. The reason is simple. Once a blanket absorbs a lot of water, it is almost impossible to lift it out of a tub. Consequently, wringing such a garment is extremely difficult and laborious. Therefore, the best way to clean a wool blanket is to take it to a dry cleaner’s where they have experience with this material and will dry clean your blanket really well. So blankets should be washed when necessary and depending on how you  feel.

Never wash blankets or other wool products in hot water and do not subject them to a long cycle in a washing machine. This would degrade the wool and result in the fibres getting matted and shrunk. Products treated in this way cannot be subject to a complaint. As sheep’s wool keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, many customers wear and use wool products all year round.

A lot of people believe that because of dust mites, quilts should be washed regularly at the highest possible temperature in the washing machine. Here at Woolville, we offer basic, traditional and premium quilts filled with Merino wool which do not harbour bacteria or dust mites.

Due to the smooth structure of the fibre, wool is almost self-cleaning and suitable for allergy sufferers as well as for people with sensitive skin. It is therefore sufficient to air our quilts regularly in fresh air. 

We recommend washing footmuffs, baby nests and other accessories for newborn babies sporadically as well. Some footmuffs are waterproof, so washing them could affect this protection. However, if you do decide to wash your footmuff, we recommend washing it by hand, in water no warmer than 30°C, using a detergent designed for wool. The same applies to braces. 

Recently, the range of shoes on offer at Woolville has begun to grow. Taking care of our shoes is easy. If you have soft-soled, all-wool slippers at home, such as our TV slippers and wool slippers, you can simply wash them by hand at a temperature of up to 30°C. Again, we recommend using Lanolin, a laundry detergent specifically designed for washing wool garments. Thanks to its content of pure lanolin, it cleans thoroughly yet gently. If you have classic leather slippers with wool lining, for example a pair of leather slippers, please do not wash them. Just mix a drop of Lanolin with lukewarm water and using a sponge, gently clean the wool lining, while the leather upper can be wiped clean with a slightly damp cloth. Then, let the slippers dry in fresh air. Where winter boots are concerned, you can use a waterproofing spray to protect the material on the outside from moisture.

We believe you will love wool as a material not only for its warmth, but also because it is easy to care for and remains clean for a long time despite less frequent washing.