Taking care of your wool

We all have that favourite piece of clothing that we wear for years and then miss when it gets ruined or damaged. If your favourite garment is made from beautiful, natural wool, then take care. Wool doesn’t have to be difficult to look after. Following some simple guidelines will ensure your woollen garments last a long time and continue to look beautiful. 

How to care for your woollen garments

• Turn garments inside out for washing and separate dark and pale colours. Woven garments can be treated with a soft garment brush lengthwise after wearing to remove surface soil that might become stains later on.

• Remove cigarette or food odours by laying garments flat on a bed or towel for an hour. Woven garments can be hung in fresh air on a shaped or padded coat hanger.

• Since food stains and body oils attract moths, wool garments should be clean before packing away in airtight bags or containers. Ideally use a Woolmark-endorsed moth repellent, but do not place directly on the garment. When in regular use, knitted garments should be gently folded and stored in drawers.

• When taking a shower, refresh your wool garments by hanging in a steamy bathroom. Moisture from the steam will remove wrinkles.

• If wool gets wet, dry the garment at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat. Always use steam when pressing wool and set your iron on the wool setting. Make sure all stains are removed before ironing and always use a lint-free cloth and dab gently.

How to remove stains from your woollen garments

• To remove a stain caused by alcoholic drinks, dab gently to remove excess liquid and sponge with a mixture of warm water and surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol in equal parts.

• To remove black coffee, mix alcohol and white vinegar in equal parts, soak a cloth in the solution and lightly dab before pressing with an absorbent cloth.

• For blood stains, remove excess, then gently dab using undiluted white vinegar followed by cold water. If a greasy mark forms, scrape the surface of the stain with a spoon or knife, then soak a cloth in proprietary grease remover or white spirit and dab.

• For chocolate, white coffee or tea, dab around the edge of the stain with a cloth soaked in white spirit before following instructions for black coffee.

• For egg or milk, dab with a cloth soaked in white spirit. Repeat with a cloth soaked in diluted white vinegar.

• Dab with a mixture of surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol and water (3:1 ratio) to remove fruit, fruit juice or red wine. Apply mild soap or dab with a cloth soaked in surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol to remove grass stains.

• In the case of ink or ballpoint pen marks, dab with a cloth soaked in white spirit. Repeat with a cloth soaked in diluted white vinegar or surgical spirit or rubbing alcohol.

• For lipstick, make-up, or shoe polish, rub with a cloth soaked in turpentine or spot cleaning spray and rinse with mild soapy water.