How to Wash a Wool Sweater

Most wool garments, which are very sensitive to chemicals and heat, require dry cleaning - check the label to be sure. If your sweater is machine-washable, do so in the delicate cycle using cool or cold water. However, if your sweater can stand to be hand-washed, follow these easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wool Detergents
• Men's Wool Sweaters
• Women's Wool Sweaters
• Hammocks
• Towels
• Towels
• At-home Dry-cleaning Kits
• Notebook Papers
• Pens
• Towels
• Pens

1. Lay sweater flat on a sheet of clean paper.

2. Draw outline of sweater on the paper.

3. Hand-wash sweater gently using cool water and a wool detergent, being careful not to rub the product in.

4. Rinse with fresh water until it runs clear.

5. Squeeze out excess water, then roll sweater in a towel to absorb moisture.

6. Lay sweater on the paper again, and gently stretch it to fit the previously drawn outline. Pat sweater into the desired shape with a towel.

7. Dry flat by spreading the sweater out, preferably on a hammock, in cool air and out of the sun.

Tips & Warnings

• A variety of products are available to care for wool, including some that allow you to care for "dry-clean only" products at home.
• Soften sweaters by adding a capful of cream hair conditioner when rinsing.
• To speed up the flat-drying process, purchase a screen that is designed to fit over the bathtub. Turn the garment over from time to time while it is drying.
• Using such products as ammonia, enzyme digestants, alcohol, harsh alkaline cleaners and chlorine bleach can damage wool garments.

[artganic]

on 10/27/2009 People should care more for their clothes. :)

on 9/2/2006 I'm a knitter and a wool wearer. I use just a little baby shampoo to wash my sweaters. It rinses easily and doesn't burn my eyes! The garments come out clean, and the colors remain as vibrant as they were before washing.

on 2/10/2006 Try to use only pure soap, like Ivory, or just use a bar of pure soap. Never agitate - just soak for the most part and don't wring. Another odd hint is that I seldom eat in my wool sweaters, thus eliminating the chance of food on them which causes moth holes. I store them in cedar wood which also repels moths. I usually wear something like silk under them, thus saving them from frequent washings.