Wool cleaning and washing

[Recurve-4-life]

I read an article that recommended a person could do the following listed below without harming the wool clothing:

1)Soak wool clothes in washing machine with soap(no agitation)

2) Drain water re-fill and soak out the soap then drain. (no agitation)

3) Then spin cycle to remove remaining moisture from garments. (never agitating clothing)

I know the agitation cleaning cycle is what really does damage to wool fabrics with the constant direction change pulling the weave apart so that is why the above doesn't use that cycle setting.  

Has anyone used this process for cleaning their wool clothing (KOM OR GRAYWOLF) if so what water temp did you use.  I have heard cold water temperature is best?  Any input appreciated.

[NoCams]

We are blessed with one of the newer washers that is horizontal, has no agitator and has a hand wash cycle. Check with Jeff @ GWW, he might say they would be okay. If not then yes, I heard the same thing, room temp water, hand wash, then block the wool out on a board to dry. I also think we tend to overwash wool. You can let mud dry, then simply brush it off.

We have the Ullfrotte' wool longjohns and they say you can wash and dry like normal clothes but we use the hand wash cycle and ultra delicate cool dry cycle in the dryer just in case. It is true too what they say about wool's natural ability to not pick up odors. Cannot believe how clean even wool socks smell after you know you sweated in them. Wool for us from now on !!!


nocams

[Blackhawk]

I handwash with woolite, rinse thoroughly, then lay flat to dry.  Occasionally during the drying process, I hand stretch the garment to shape.  I have only done this with GW and Sleeping Indian.  My best stuff is Filson, and I dryclean them.

[Howard S.]

I have a set of GrayWolf and once a year I wash them in the machine on the hand wash cycle.  I spin them out twice before blocking them to dry.  I've been doing this for the last 5 years with no ill effects.

Howard

[Recurve-4-life]

Sounds great, I like the wool but I don't want to hand wash it each year.  Any other comments much appreciated.

[Bob B.]

I use wool ALL the time!!  I log in it, plow in it, hunt in it etc.  I figure wool is basically hair, so I wash mine in the wash machine on the delicate cycle with shampoo.  Hey I even wash wool blankets in it the same way to tighten the weave from many seasons of sleeping on the ground in the timber.  When they are washed and all the cycles are done, I lay out the clothes on a drying rack or on the floor over a towel or two and let them dry.  The wool softens up, but does not shrink or lose aby durability.  It works wonderful.  However, if not on the delicate cylce, you will likely have a problem.

Good luck,

Bob.

[fowlarcher]

I use this,   http://sudzndudz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=194    ,unscented, for all my wool clothing.

It replaces the lanolin that the wool had before it was processed into cloth. Lanolin coats the wool fibers (hairs) and keeps them moist and pliable. It also has antibacterial properties, which is why wool clothing doesn't stink after you sweat in them.

I use this soap/water in a 5 gal. bucket with a splash of white vinegar (wool likes to be slightly acidic). Mostly just soaking for hours turning once in a while, minimal agitation. Then rinse the clothes and lay flat to dry.

[2treks]

I have washed my wool by hand for years, using all types of soaps. Now I use the "sent free" stuff for "HUNTERS" (i think it works). I have just strated using the spin cycle to get the water out. I will pull it back to shape and then I hang outside to dry. once or twice a year. I also agree that wool can go longer in between washes. I hang outside and let the clean air do the scrubbing. I use this on ALL of my wool stuff, my own making or "store bought".
   As a side note, recurve4life, the agitation works the fibers together tighter, not pulling apart. Wool will shrink more in one direction, that is why you find so many sweaters at yard sales with short torsos and long arms, or vice versa.
   Chuck

[rbbhunt]

I've used "Sportwash" for years with my wool.  It's safe for wool, un-scented and UV free.  I use the washing machine on delicate cycle.

[2treks]

Thats the one I use rbbhunt. works great

[Recurve-4-life]

Thanks for the clarification about the agitation portion of the washing machine.  So if I want to reduce the risk of shrinking do not agitate.  

Another question for those of you who have used graywolf wool, how much have your garments shrunk after washing and reshaping (a lot, very little, or none)??

(Trying to figure out how much larger to order some clothes and accomodate for a little shrinkage)???

Also will wool continute to shrink each time it is washed if not reshaped or does it hit a point where it won't shrink any further?????

[amar911]

Sport-Wash is definitely the one to use. Woolite is not. You can get Sport-Wash at Wal-Mart or order it over the internet. It is actually less expensive per washing than most other detergents, has no UV brighteners that some animals can see, is hypo-allergenic, leaves no residues, and cleans better than the other detergents. I use it on all my laundry, not just my hunting clothes, because of contact skin rashes that I get from some additives in common detergents. Sport-Wash is also the best on Gore-Tex or other similar membranes because it leaves no residues. It also leaves no smell. Here is the internet link for more information.  http://www.atsko.com/products/laundry-care/sport-wash-residue-free-detergent.html  I have no connection with the company whatsoever, but I have been very pleased with the detergent. This is the same company that makes Sno-Seal that people have been using on their wet weather leather products for decades. I am not familiar with Sudzndudz. It may have some advantages for wool with the lanolin, but I don't know what else it has in it that could be undesirable.

Allan