Wool & Linen washing instructions.
Although most tags on wool say "DRY CLEAN ONLY" that is not always the case. Taking care of wool is not Witch Doctery as some makeit out to be. Here are some things that I do to extend the life of wool.
Wool is pretty tough on it's own and requires very little maintenance, especially wool Army blankets or the sort.
Some wool is very delicate, such as Alpaca. All Alpaca needs to be dry cleaned or hand washed in my opinion.
By simply brushing your wool and hanging it in the sun and wind to air out, removes many smells.
If you have to wash your Anorak, use a front load washing machine or a top load that does not have an agitator. (That thing in the center.) Turning your wool inside out is always a good idea too. If you don't have a front load, use the laundry mat or hand wash in your bathtub or a tote.
As for detergents, I use a few different ones depending on what the wool is used for. If it's hunting wool, I use scent free hunting clothes detergent made by Dead Down Wind and White Vinegar for the rinse cycle.
If you don't mind smelling like wildflower ocean breeze and ginger, Woolite is a tried and true winner. If you want something different, I have used Sonett Olive Laundry Liquid for Wool & Silk, and Eucalan Delicate in either Lavender or Eucalyptus.
When your Anorak or whatever comes out of the water, do not twist any of the water out of it. Lay it down in the grass or on towels until most of the water is out. You do not want to hang wet wool, it could and probably will stretch.
If you have an old Hudson Bay Wool blanket, or those old point blankets and want them reconditioned back to new, I can do that for you.
Care of Linen Fabrics
Linen is very easy to take care of. I wash my garments by pretreating stains with (Shout or Spray N Wash), then wash with regular detergent (like Tide Free & Gentle), Wash in cold water on delicate cycle. When I pull it out of the washing machine, I hang it out to dry. The clothesline in the sun is best. Linen dries very quickly.
Wool is pretty tough on it's own and requires very little maintenance, especially wool Army blankets or the sort.
Some wool is very delicate, such as Alpaca. All Alpaca needs to be dry cleaned or hand washed in my opinion.
By simply brushing your wool and hanging it in the sun and wind to air out, removes many smells.
If you have to wash your Anorak, use a front load washing machine or a top load that does not have an agitator. (That thing in the center.) Turning your wool inside out is always a good idea too. If you don't have a front load, use the laundry mat or hand wash in your bathtub or a tote.
As for detergents, I use a few different ones depending on what the wool is used for. If it's hunting wool, I use scent free hunting clothes detergent made by Dead Down Wind and White Vinegar for the rinse cycle.
If you don't mind smelling like wildflower ocean breeze and ginger, Woolite is a tried and true winner. If you want something different, I have used Sonett Olive Laundry Liquid for Wool & Silk, and Eucalan Delicate in either Lavender or Eucalyptus.
When your Anorak or whatever comes out of the water, do not twist any of the water out of it. Lay it down in the grass or on towels until most of the water is out. You do not want to hang wet wool, it could and probably will stretch.
If you have an old Hudson Bay Wool blanket, or those old point blankets and want them reconditioned back to new, I can do that for you.
Care of Linen Fabrics
Linen is very easy to take care of. I wash my garments by pretreating stains with (Shout or Spray N Wash), then wash with regular detergent (like Tide Free & Gentle), Wash in cold water on delicate cycle. When I pull it out of the washing machine, I hang it out to dry. The clothesline in the sun is best. Linen dries very quickly.