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Wool Care
Warning - I'm getting on a soapbox here. (Ouch! Baaa-aad pun. (Sorry...)) |
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| Wool is a wonderful fiber and makes an equally wonderful fabric. It sews, drapes, and molds to shape so beautifully. It breathes, keeping the body comfortable in pretty much any weather. Because of that breathability, it can, when using the lighter weights, actually be cooler than some cottons and certainly cooler than poly-cotton blends. It can also absorb up to about one-third its weight in moisture and still keep you warm! Definitely something to think about in the Pacific Northwet. A big problem that most people have with it, though, is knowing how to take care of it. First off, most dirt will just brush out of wool fabrics. If it's a spill, shake it off and then sponge up what remains. If it's ordinary mud (like at the hem), let it dry completely, then flake and brush it off. Usually, it's that easy.... Although pre-shrinking is recommended to help prevent accidental shrinkage, be aware that water-washing will raise the nap at least a little on any wool and thus change or even obliterate the original texture/pattern. Many wools will also continue to shrink over time if repeatedly water-washed. If you want to water-wash your wools, if you pre-shrink the fabric in warm with a cool rinse and tumble-dry on regular (do this three or four times just to be sure), then do subsequent washings in cool and dry by hanging (preferred) or using the lowest setting on your dryer, further shrinkage should be kept to a minimum. Be aware that many dryers only have about 10 degrees difference between the "high" and "low" settings. (Learned that from a dryer repairman!) Using the gentle agitation setting on your washer will help reduce texture change. Hand-washing will lessen shrinking/felting even more by helping to better govern temperature and agitation. Thermal shock (drastic and sudden changes in temperature) is basically the worst culprit for problems with wool while the combination of heat, moisture, soap, and agitation are the best tools for turning any wool into wool felt! Remember that when you want to make that cloak fabric even more weather-resistant and please do it before cutting. To maintain the "as new" texture and to prevent shrinkage, dry-cleaning is recommended, either commercial or the new at-home methods. Myself, I have used Dryel™ and love it! Please be aware that, as modern folks accustomed to modern laundering ethics, we actually wash outer layers far more often than our ancestors did and far more often than we need to, believe it or not. Most of the time, the layers not actually in contact with the skin would have simply been turned inside-out and aired, thus allowing moisture to evaporate. Sweat and body oils would have been "contained" by the layer closest to the skin which is why those layers were more commonly made of easily water-washable fibers (linen, cotton, etc.). If your dryer has a no-heat fluff cycle that brings in fresh air instead of re-cycling the air, that would work reasonably well, too. Even if you wear a given wool garment several times a month, if you use the above layering and airing recommendations, you'll probably find yourself wanting to dry-clean it only once or twice a year unless you have an extraordinary body odor problem. If you're concerned about woolmoths, keeping wool garments in the closet with your other clothes can actually help! The constant rummaging through discourages the moth as it looks for a quiet place to lay its eggs. (It's the larvae that munch!) Placing/hanging aromatic herbs or sachets can cover the wool scent and confuse the moth, too. Besides, it smells nice! Anything strongly-scented will work, just remember that the wool will pick up the scent so make sure it's something you like. Make your life easier with wool! PS - coupons for Dryel™ can frequently be found in papers or magazines for use at your local store and it's now also being sold through their website at www.dryel.com. |
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