Wool lined dress - hand wash? Opinions?

[yarrow]

I have to go to a funeral tomorrow and I picked up a black dress at a consignment shop. It's a black wool lined dress. However, it feels a little itchy and has a slight perfumey smell that I can't identify. I was going to have it dry-cleaned but they couldn't turn it around in time. Would you hand-wash a wool lined dress? Or will I ruin it? It looks like this except it's 100% wool.

 

http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi29208&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80018&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008

[Lawana]

Yes, I would probably try. The thing is with wool, you need to avoid heat and agitation together. Wash in cool or cold water with minimal agitation, drip dry or dry flat. Do not dry in the dryer.

 

Also, don't expect washing to get rid of the itchy feeling. That is just the nature of wool. If you are sensitive to the feeling, I would hesitate to wear it if it were going to be warm outside.

[yarrow]

Thanks. I'll try hand-washing it. I'm wondering why the itch. The dress is lined so my skin isn't actually touching the wool. I'm hoping that washing it will eliminate that problem.

[MercyA]

If it were me, I'd wash it in cold in my washing machine, using the "handwash" setting. I do have a front-loader with no agitator, though, so it is extra gentle. I'd then hang it to dry.

 

I don't wear wool, but I think it can be itchy even if it is lined.

 

Good luck!

[zoobie]

I'd Febreeze it and wear a slip. Wool takes a while to dry and, well, I'm lazy. Trying to iron lined garments makes me crazy. Wool always makes me itch. My skin is crawling just thinking about wearing wool.