How to Wash Wool

Wool is an extremely delicate material that is prone to shrinking, but that does not mean that you cannot wash your wool items from time to time.^{[1]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Green Cleaning ExpertExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Hand wash your garment by soaking it soapy water, then rinsing and air drying it. You can also machine wash your garment on the wool or delicates setting, then air dry your wool garment. After drying, you may have to gently stretch your wool garment back to its original size to combat shrinkage.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Hand Washing Wool

Fill up a clean bucket or tub with lukewarm water, then add a mild liquid detergent formulated for delicate fabrics and materials. Check the label for instructions on how much detergent to add, or add about ½ cup (118.29 ml).^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Add the wool piece. Place the wool garment into the bucket of soapy water and dunk it to completely wet it. Then use your hands to gently swish the wool item around in the water for about a minute.^{[3]XResearch source}
- This gentle swishing mimics the motion of a washing machine and allows the soap to pass through the wool and remove dirt or impurities.
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^{[4]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Green Cleaning ExpertExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} After about a minute of swishing the wool item around in the water, let the garment sit and soak in the water for about ten minutes.^{[5]XResearch source}
After ten minutes, take the wool garment out of the water. Roll the wool item from one corner to another into a ball and squeeze the balled garment to press out excess water, then place the garment aside.^{[6]XResearch source}
Empty the bucket or tub entirely of the soapy water. Then fill the tub back up with clean, tepid water so that you can rinse the wool again.^{[7]XResearch source}
Place the wool garment back in the tub of clean water, then swish it around just as you did before. Swishing the garment will wash the remaining soap out of the wool.^{[8]XResearch source}
The one wash in clean water should have removed all of the laundry soap. However, if the water is extremely soapy and it seems like there is still soap ingrained in the wool, pour the water out, fill it back up with clean water, and repeat the process of swishing the garment around in the clean water.^{[9]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Machine Washing Wool

1
Read the care label. Machine washing a wool garment has a greater probability of shrinking the item, so it’s important to check the wool item’s care label before machine washing.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If the label says hand wash, it’s best to hand wash your sweater rather than machine wash. Only machine wash the garment if it is recommended on the tag.
Put the wool item in a mesh delicates bag to protect the wool material from snagging inside the machine. Though it isn’t absolutely necessary to use a mesh bag, it can protect the delicate fibers of the wool item from damage.^{[11]XResearch source}
3
Set the machine to the wool setting. Most washing machines have a wool setting that is set up specifically to wash wool garments. If your machine doesn’t have a wool setting, set the washing machine to coldest setting, which will protect the wool from shrinking.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Some machines have a hand washing setting, which you can also use as it is quite gentle.
Add a laundry detergent formulated for wools or delicates, using its label to approximate how much you will need.^{[13]XResearch source}
After you turn on the wash settings and have added the soap, place the wool item in the machine. Close the machine and wash the garment until the cycle is over.^{[14]XResearch source}
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Drying and Stretching the Wool Garment

1
Soak up water with a towel. Lay a clean, dry towel out on a counter or other flat surface, then lay the wool garment on top of the towel. Roll the towel from one corner to the other with the wool item inside.^{[15]XResearch source}
- The clean towel will help to absorb the excess water from the wool so that it will take a shorter time to air dry.
When the towel is rolled completely, gently squeeze the roll from one end to another. Don’t twist or wring the rolled towel, as this can damage the fibers of the wool.^{[16]XResearch source}
3
Lay the wool garment out to air dry.^{[17]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
Green Cleaning ExpertExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Unroll the towel and take out the wool item. Lay out another clean towel, then place the wool garment on top of the clean towel to air dry. To speed up the process of drying, place a fan or dehumidifier in front of the drying wool.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Do not hang up the wool garment on a hanger to dry, as this can cause the item to stretch and become misshapen.
4
Stretch the wool if it has shrunk. Exposure to water sometimes has the effect of shrinking a wool garment. If your garment looks smaller than it was before washing, stretch it while it is still damp, starting by stretching it from top to bottom, then working up the garment while you stretch it side to side. Also stretch the sleeves if your garment is a shirt or sweater.
- You can also stretch the garment and pin it in place to the towel with sewing pins so that it dries stretched out, but this should be a last resort since it sometimes warps the pinned areas.^{[19]XResearch source}
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Can I shrink my wool clothes in the wash to make them fit better?
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Expert Answer
Wool is one of the easiest fabrics to shrink. To shrink a wool item, wash it in hot water and then dry it. How much the item shrinks depends on the type of wool, however, so there is no surefire way to guess how much a wool item will shrink. Some can go from XL to infant size, while others can go from XL to Medium. Wool is highly unpredictable.
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What do I do if my wool sweater shrunk in the washing machine?
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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Staff Answer
It can be difficult to fix but try this: Fill a tub with lukewarm water, adding ⅓ cup of either delicate wool wash or baby shampoo. Push the shrunken sweater under the water to cover it and let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the water, squeeze the sweater gently (no rinsing), then lay it on a clean towel. Roll or bundle the towel up to remove more water and leave a damp sweater. Gently stretch the damp sweater into shape again; the fibers will be more malleable while damp. Let dry on a sweater rack. If this fails, donate it to someone smaller than you, possibly a child or use it for animal bedding, felting projects, a cushion cover or other repurposed hacks.
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Where can I purchase wool sweater laundry stretcher type frames to insure lack of shrinking?
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Staff Answer
Wool sweater drying racks can be obtained from a variety of places, such as laundry storage suppliers; craft stores that also carry soft furnishings like Jo-Ann stores; large stores like Target or Walmart; storage stores; stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. You can also buy them online from auction and trading sites or directly from relevant stores.
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Tips

Never place wool it the dryer, as it will shrink dramatically.
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Try hand washing your wool garment before machine washing.
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