Care for Your Wool Garments

Yes, many wool garments can be washed in a washing machine. It depends on how the wool has been treated and how the garment is made. Some garments are designed to withstand machine washing without felting.

However, it is always important to follow the care instructions on the garment. Woolpower garments, for example, can be washed at 60°C, while many other wool garments are recommended to be washed at lower temperatures.

Always use a detergent designed for wool and avoid fabric softener, as it can affect the natural properties of wool.

It is best to use a detergent specifically designed for wool. Regular detergents often contain enzymes that break down proteins, which can affect the wool fibre. A wool detergent is therefore gentler on the material and helps preserve its natural properties.

When wool is exposed to heat, the scales on the wool fibres expand. If the garment is also agitated in hot water, these scales can hook into each other. This causes the wool to felt, meaning the fibres lock together and the fabric becomes thicker and harder. When wool felts, it can shrink by 25–30 percent.

Many people have experienced this after putting a favourite wool sweater in the washing machine or tumble dryer. Once wool has felted, it unfortunately cannot be returned to its original state.

Wool has a natural self-cleaning effect. The fibre contains the protein keratin, which helps break down odour-causing bacteria from the skin and prevents new bacteria from forming.

The structure of the wool fibre also contributes to this effect. Dirt and odour particles tend to stay on the surface of the fibre and can often be removed simply by airing the garment. At the same time, wool can absorb moisture without feeling wet, which helps the garment stay fresh for longer.

Inside the fibre are cells that absorb different amounts of moisture. When they swell, they move slightly against each other, creating a small amount of friction. This movement contributes to wool’s mechanical self-cleaning effect.

Because of this, wool garments can often be worn several times between washes. In many cases, airing the garment is enough.

When discussing wool fibres and which types are suitable for base layers, one of the most important factors is the fibre thickness, measured in microns. This indicates how fine or thin the wool fibre is.

A typical human hair is about 60 microns thick, while fine wool fibres usually range between 14 and 23 microns. The finer the fibre, the softer the material feels against the skin.

For garments worn close to the body, such as base layers, thinner fibres are preferred. If the fibres are too coarse, the garment may feel itchy.

If you need to wash wool garments by hand, shampoo can work well because it has a suitable pH level for wool.

Use lukewarm water and gently move the garment so the water penetrates the fabric. Carefully press out the water without wringing the garment. Lay it flat on a towel to dry.