Question for you wool-wearers

[1kwikstik]

I picked up a nice tightly woven wool pullover sweater at a local thrift store. I've never hunted in wool before, but couldn't turn it down for the price. It's even kinda-sorta camo colored, green with black speckles.
  Anyway, I was wondering how you de-scent your wool. All my other camo gets thrown in the washer(no soap) and rinsed with baking soda, then hung outside to dry. Do you just spray down with scent killer, or just not worry about it? I kinda plan on using it as a mid-layer more than anything. Thanks!

[Friends call me Pac]

My wife washes my wool sweaters in the washing machine with cold water and gentle cycle then hangs them to dry.  So far so good.

[reddogge]

I don't worry about it.  I'd rather smell than ruin a good wool garment.

[Bob B.]

Well, basically, I was my wool in the washer on gentle cycle, with unscentd shampoo, I figured wool is basically hair, and shampoo is gentle.  So wash warm or cold, whatever, jsut gentle cycle, and dry  flat on a towl on the floor or line dry.  Ileave on line under my porch for the rest of the season.  I may use scent killer if I have a worry, but really just leave on porch and all is good.

Bob.

[Orion]

Wool doesn't retain human odors like a lot of other materials.  I hand wash mine every couple of years in cold water.  Block to dry.  In short, unless it's picked up some odors from being in storage, in the store, etc., you probably won't have to do anything to it for a couple of years.

[Steve Clandinin]

Same as Pac,but I'm real cautious about Wahing wool.Keep the wind right and don't worry about it.

[DennyK]

1kwiwstik, I wash my wool in cold water and baking soda and line dry. Just to be on the safe side-does your sweater have any washing instructions on the inside of the label? Some wool requires dry cleaning and machine washing probablty won't work out too good.

[Coonbait]

I don't understand why you would ruin your wool if you washed it in a washer on gentle cycle in cold water. If it starts pooring out should I run to the car so my wool doesn't shrink or fall apart. And wool definately absorbs oders wonderfully. Ask any canine trapper whats top on his list to hold scent down a dirt hole set.
GLENN

[1kwikstik]

Thanks guys. I knew wool would shrink in the washer, actually, this sweater is labeled XL, but when I pulled it off the rack, I could tell it had already been shrunk some. More like a medium, which is what I wear. Maybe that's why the weave seems to be so tight?

[DennyK]

Coonbait, I do not know the answer to your question. My wool King of the Mountain wool machine washable. The couple Pendleton shirts are dry clean only. The weave is alot different between the 2 garments-maybe that has something to do with it?

[Wapiti Chaser]

hang it out and let mother nature wash and dry it

[OkKeith]

Hey Brian,

I have several wool sweaters that I hand wash in luke warm water using unscented hunting clothes soap. I make sure I rinse the sweaters really good. Then I roll them up tight in a dry towel to get most of the water out. Finally, I drape them over a drying rack to finish-up.

I keep all my hunting clothes in big plastic tubs with a tight lid (I got them at Wal-Mart) along with a couple of the little scent wafers. I prefer the soil flavor. They prevent other odors and give all my clothes a cover scent.

This works good for me.

OkKeith

[Tree Rat]

As stated wool doesn't hold odor.

Two things ruin wool when cleaning it. Excess agitation and thermal shock. Hot to cold, cold to hot. Use lukewarm/room temp water, wash by hand or gentle cycle, block dry and your wool will last.

[Kris]

Hand wash gently in Woolite, cool water, then layout on towels, then to cloths rack supported at several points.  It might shrink a bit, it will then morph to your own unique shape.

Kris

[2treks]

I  will fill my wash tub with warm water and some soap for hunters laundry(sports wash). I will soak and gently scrub the garment with my hands. After I feel it is clean I will rinse well and spin out the water in my washing machine. Then I will re-shape by hand(stretch) and hang outside to dry. Hot water,soap and agitation are what will shrink your wool. Good luck and enjoy your new sweater, it sounds just right for bow hunting. I will bet you will find some more bargins soon. Wool is made for hunting.
Chuck

[DennyK]

Chuck, So the Pendleton shirts I have that I believe are made from wool whipcord are OK to hand wash, stretch and hang dry?

[njloco]

I just mentioned this on another post, Ozone generators will get rid of any smell. Ozone will also kill everything like bacteria, including us if it is strong enough. In other words you don't have to wash it.

[Tsalagi]

Stick some lumps of dry pinyon sap in the pockets.

[Izzy]

I wash my Filson vests, LL Bean merino longjohns, LL Bean shirt jack and wool pants and various sweaters in the washing mashine on cold and hang them from the rafter to dry.They dry very fast and no noticeable shrinkage as far as I can see. As mentioned it doesnt pick up or retain odors like cotton or synthetics do so you dont have to wash it after every use.

[2treks]

Denny,I have never washed that type of shirt. I have washed every piece of wool that I own with no bad results. I have one sweater and one hat that I cannot use anylonger because I put them in the washing machine and forgot about them. They are quite small now. After that mishap, I started with the hand washing and have had no problems. SO, My thoughts are that you will be fine to wash you wipcord shirt by hand.