Alicia64 Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 If found the prettiest Pendleton 100 % wool scarf at Good Will yesterday. It's in beautiful condition, but I still want to clean it before I use it. It says to dry clean on the label. Is that the only way to clean 100 % wool? Thanks! Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanabug Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I would think you could hand wash it in cold water and lay flat to dry. I've had wool sweaters that could be handwashed. Lana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I wash all my wool. The only stuff that gets dry-cleaned are things that are lined (like suits). Either hand-wash or use the wool cycle if your washer has one and hang to dry (I don't mess with laying flat and haven't ruined anything yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Agitation can cause felting of wool. You can buy wool washes (Eucalan is the brand I use) that allow you to soak (without agitation) your woolen items. The instructions say rinsing is not necessary, but for something from a thrift store, I'd probably rinse! Then spread on a towel and press the water out, and lay flat to dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 You don't need to buy a specific cleaner like Eucalan even. Just use a bit of dish detergant, squeeze, gently with your hands, rinse, do the towel thing Sun said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 As others have said, gently hand wash. Minimal agitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 We have wool scarves and sweaters. I wash them in woolite on the gentle cycle and let them dry flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 We live in a frigid climate and have a lot of wool. Unless it was something very expensive and irreplaceable, I usually wash wool items myself. Just a gentle washing in cold water and then laying it flat to dry. Some things, I've even learned I can actually wash in the washing machine (on the gentle cycle), but other things I hand wash in the sink. For some reason, my black wool items never look as nice when I wash them myself, so those things I usually send to the cleaners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks everyone! Duh. I just realized that the washer has a "wool setting." I've never had one before so didn't think to check it. I guess I'll try that and then let it lie flat! Thanks again! Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I usually add Eucalan or other items that contain lanolin on my items that are 100% wool unless the wool is merino. Since the scarf is likely merino wool I would wash it with a small amount of dish soap. Handwashing is best for wool care, dry cleaning uses harsh chemicals that can damage the fibers over time. Merino is particularly soft and a dry cleaner would ruin that. A neutral ph cleanser (dish soap) works well. I usually clean mine in the sink (I don't have a wool cycle :() and then squish the water out a bit (wringing is bad) and then I roll it up in a towel and step on the towel. This gets a lot of the water out, then I let it dry flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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