Allow 24 hours before
wearing a wool garment again. The
natural resiliency of wool fabric will
allow wrinkles to fall out and the
original shape to bounce back.
Soil and dust can be removed from
wool fabric by brushing lengthwise with
a garment brush. Wool garments with
heavily napped surfaces should be
brushed regularly. Finer wool fabric
should be restored using a damp cloth
instead of a brush.
If a wool garment gets damp, hang it
out of direct sunlight. Be sure to brush
it after it is dry.
If a label says "Dry Clean Only" take
the garment to a professional dry
cleaner for the best results. You may
choose to hand wash the garment instead.
However, the garment probably hasn't
been treated for washability. Washing
may result in some shrinkage, loss of
color, and/or the fabric may lose some
of its softness.
Removing Stains from Wool Fabric
Try to treat stains immediately
to prevent them from setting into
the fabric.
With a clean white cloth, blot
to remove as much of the stain as
possible. Do NOT rub.
Take garments with stubborn
stains to the dry cleaner as soon as
possible. This includes stains
caused by paint, dyes, nail polish,
etc.
Have a bottle of stain or spot
removal solution on hand for oil
based stains such as oil, make-up,
or chocolate. Make sure that the
product you use is safe for wool
fabric. Test the solution on an
inconspicuous area before using on
the stain.
Be sure to remove stains before
pressing. Heat can cause stains to
set in wool fabric.
Hand Washing Wool Fabric
Clean wool fabric using a mild
detergent in lukewarm water. Never
use hot water! Do NOT use bleach.
bleach dissolves wool fabric.
Completely cover the garment in
water and soak for 3 to 5 minutes.
Gently squeeze to allow water to
penetrate the fabric. Do NOT wring
the garment.
Rinse thoroughly with cool water
to remove all traces of soap.
Squeeze gently to remove excess
water. Do NOT wring the garment.
To dry, lay the garment on a
flat surface, reshaping if necessary
and allow to dry away from direct
sunlight and heat. Do NOT hang to
dry. This will cause the wool fabric
to stretch from the weight of the
water that has soaked into the
fibers.
Never put wool clothing in the
dryer! The combination of heat,
friction and pressure will cause
shrinkage.
Ironing Wool Fabric
Set iron for WOOL setting.
Add water to the iron. Always
use steam heat when pressing. Never
iron wool fabric dry.
Squeeze gently to remove excess
water. Do NOT wring the garment.
Press garment on the inside of
the garment to avoid surface shine.
Use a pressing cloth when top
pressing. A clean white handkerchief
or cotton cloth may also be used.
When pressing napped fabrics,
place a piece of the same fabric or
a thick terry cloth towel on the
ironing board to prevent crushing.
If napped wool fabric is
slightly scorched when pressing, rub
lightly with an emery board. A
diluted solution of hydrogen
peroxide may be used for a more
severe scorch. Be sure to test on a
hidden area first.
Shine created by pressing may be
reduced by sponging white vinegar on
surface of wool garment. Rinse
thoroughly.
Some recommended notions for
someone with a lot of wool to press
are a steam iron, a tailor's ham for
pressing curved areas such as
collars and lapels, a seam roll for
pressing seams open without making a
visible seam edge, a point presser
for hard-to-reach places, and a
press cloth.
Wool Fabric, Clothing, and Blanket
Storage
To prevent the invasion of the
clothes moth, brush wool with a
fabric brush before storing.
Clean the garment or blanket.
Food stains and body oils attract
moths. Dry cleaning or laundering
kills moth eggs and larvae.
Store cleaned wool fabric in
airtight bags or containers with
tight-fitting lids. When folding,
add white tissue paper between folds
to prevent wrinkling.
Add mothballs to the container. Do NOT put them directly on the
fabric. Hang them in small loosely
woven cloth bags near the fabric.
Clothing will need to be aired out
after removing from storage to
remove the mothball odor.