The Golden Rules for Washing Wool

  • Never use hot water — heat causes wool fibres to shrink and felt permanently
  • Never wring or twist — this distorts the shape and can damage fibres
  • Never hang wet wool to dry — the weight of water stretches it out of shape
  • Always lay flat to dry — on a clean dry towel, in the original shape
  • Handle gently — agitation causes felting (irreversible matting of fibres)

Method 1: Hand Washing (Safest)

  1. 1

    Fill a basin with cool water and wool wash

    Use cool or lukewarm water (below 30°C). Add a small amount of wool wash (Woolite, Eucalan or similar) or a tiny amount of mild baby shampoo. Swirl to mix — do not create lots of suds.

  2. 2

    Submerge and gently squeeze

    Turn the sweater inside out. Submerge in the water and gently squeeze the soapy water through the fabric. Do not rub, scrub or twist. Let it soak for 10 minutes.

  3. 3

    Rinse gently

    Drain and refill with cool clean water. Gently squeeze clean water through the sweater until no soap remains. If suds keep appearing, rinse again — soap residue left in wool makes it itchy and attracts moths.

  4. 4

    Press water out — do not wring

    Lift the sweater out of the water supporting its full weight. Gently press it against the side of the basin to remove water. Never hold it by one end — the weight will stretch it.

  5. 5

    Roll in a towel

    Lay the sweater flat on a clean dry towel. Roll the towel and sweater together and gently press to absorb excess water. Unroll and reshape the sweater to its original dimensions.

  6. 6

    Lay flat to dry

    Lay the sweater on a fresh dry towel or a flat drying rack in its original shape. Keep out of direct sunlight (fades colour) and away from direct heat. Flip once during drying. Takes 12–24 hours.

Method 2: Machine Washing

Only if the care label says machine washable. Place inside a mesh laundry bag. Select the wool or delicate cycle (cold water, slow spin). Use wool-specific detergent. Lay flat to dry — never put wool in the dryer.

My wool sweater shrunk — can I fix it?Sometimes. Soak in cool water with a tablespoon of hair conditioner for 30 minutes. Gently stretch the sweater back to its original shape while wet. Lay flat to dry. This works by relaxing the wool fibres and allows some recovery — not always perfect but often helps significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Less often than you think — wool is naturally antimicrobial and odour-resistant. Air it out after wearing (hang outside or near an open window for a few hours) and spot clean any marks. Wash the whole garment every 3–5 wears, or when visibly dirty or odorous. Over-washing wool causes premature wear.
Wash before storing — moths are attracted to body oils and food residue, not clean wool. Store in sealed containers or zip-lock bags. Add cedar balls or lavender sachets (natural moth deterrents). Check and air stored wool every few months.