Wool - How To Wash Wool. With 9 Tips for Removing Stains
Have you ever changed your mind about buying a Woolen garment because you thought of the washing process? Some garments have to be professionally dry cleaned, but for garments that can be washed at home, it is not difficult if you take care.
I would never machine or hand wash a heavy wool coat, it would have to be dry cleaned.
Wool is naturally stain-resistant, odour resistant, fire retardant, and crease-resistant. Many Wool garments can be machine or hand washed with care. If your Woolmark approved garment care label says that you can machine wash your piece of Wool clothing, it means it can be safely machine washed multiple times without shrinkage.
I would advise a cold wash or a wash cycle for delicates, using a neutral mild detergent that is Woolmark recommended. It is recommended that Woollen garments be dried flat. If the Woolmark care label says hand wash, turn the garment inside out, then use a gentle hand wash detergent in lukewarm water approx 30degrees C, soak for 10 minutes. Do not rub, pull or wring out. Rinse first in clean lukewarm water and then in cold water. Press excess water out and carefully pull the item into shape. Dry flat.
Accidental stains can be spot cleaned.
9 Tips for Removing Stains
If the stain is greasy use a hot iron over several layers of tissue to soak up the excess oil/grease.
Egg or milk stains. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of tepid water and dab the stain with the solution. If the stain persists add a teaspoon of biological detergent to a cup of warm water and dab the solution to the stain. Wait 15 minutes, rinse well with clean water.
Red wine, fruit or fruit juice. Rinse as much of the drink as possible with clean water, then apply a diluted solution of Woolmark approved detergent in tepid water. If the stain persists, mix 3 parts surgical spirit plus 1 part cold water and dab the stain with the mixture. Blot the excess liquid. Rinse well then wash with a Woolmark detergent.
White coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate, chocolate stains. Dab gently around the edge of the stain with a lint-free cloth soaked in a diluted solution of Woolmark approved detergent in tepid water. If an oily stain persists after drying, dab gently from the edge of the stain with a cloth soaked with white spirit. Press gently with an absorbent cloth to soak up the excess solvent then allow it to dry.
Black coffee stains If possible rinse immediately under cold running water to dilute the coffee. If the stain has dried make a mix of ½ teaspoon of baking soda with 1 cup of tepid water. Soak a lint-free cloth in the solution and dab in the stained area. Press gently with an absorbent cloth. If the stain persists apply a solution of 3 parts surgical spirit plus 1 part cold water. Press gently with an absorbent cloth. Rinse well then wash with a Woolmark approved detergent.
Alcoholic drink stains. Dab gently with an absorbent lint-free cloth to remove as much excess liquid as possible. Sponge the area sparingly with a mixture of warm water and surgical spirit in equal parts. Rinse well then wash using a Woolmark detergent.
Lipstick, makeup, shoe polish stains. Gently dab from the edge of the stain with a cloth soaked with white spirit or spot cleaning spray. Press gently with an absorbent cloth to soak up excess solvent then allow to dry. Wash using a Woolmark detergent.
Bloodstains. Remove excess blood immediately with an absorbent cloth. Gently dab the area using undiluted white vinegar then cold water. Wash with Woolmark detergent.
Grass stains. Carefully apply some mild tablet soap to the stained area. Dab gently with a lint-free cloth soaked in surgical spirit. Wash using Woolmark detergent.