After years of scouring the local charity shops for merino wool garments I have now quite a large collection. I currently use Nikwax woolwash but would appreciate other suggestions as this Nikwax stuff is just far too expensive for the small amount you get. Ideally I would like something you can buy in bulk.
Cheap but good wool washing?
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I think Toddy ( our fab Mod and textiles expert ! ) favours hair conditioner.
Try a search ( top right of the screen ) I have to go out now or I would look for you!
My best.
chris.
Try a search ( top right of the screen ) I have to go out now or I would look for you!
My best.
chris.
Wool is hair.......shampoos clean hair and leave it undamaged.
Fabric conditioner is fine as an extra waterproof/softener, but the stuff meant for baby's woollen outer nappies is brilliant.
For merino underwear the shampoo on it's own is great, though ecover (and it's supermarket variants) woolwashes are very good too and they aren't that expensive for a 750ml bottle.
It's the washing that's the danger, not the water or the detergent. Too much heat and agitation/ pressure and the wool will felt. Most modern woollens are 'new wool', which is a process that removes some of the wool scales and prevents felting, rather than simply first use wool.
atb,
M
Fabric conditioner is fine as an extra waterproof/softener, but the stuff meant for baby's woollen outer nappies is brilliant.
For merino underwear the shampoo on it's own is great, though ecover (and it's supermarket variants) woolwashes are very good too and they aren't that expensive for a 750ml bottle.
It's the washing that's the danger, not the water or the detergent. Too much heat and agitation/ pressure and the wool will felt. Most modern woollens are 'new wool', which is a process that removes some of the wool scales and prevents felting, rather than simply first use wool.
atb,
M
How did your mom and gran survive without Nikwax lol.
Low temperature wash is the secret, short cycle; I do the same with down and had no problems. I use soap flakes, about £1.50 a box in Wilkinsons, lasts lots of wool washes.
Low temperature wash is the secret, short cycle; I do the same with down and had no problems. I use soap flakes, about £1.50 a box in Wilkinsons, lasts lots of wool washes.
most detergents (inc shampoo) are too caustic for wool - specialist ones re more or less ph 7 - they strip the oils out and leave it brittle. They do this to hair as a well, but as hair is still conencted to teh animal the oils are repalced - tis why a lot of people need conditioner.
Don't use fabricsoftners as tehy leave a residue that reduces the wicking of the fibres - -remeber wool actually wicks in the proper sense of the word. Moisture is absorbed not adsorded by wool ie soaked up within the body of the fibre itself. Fabric softens and extras oils inhibit this by coating the surface with gunk.
Ecocover delicates isthe wqy to go.
Don't use fabricsoftners as tehy leave a residue that reduces the wicking of the fibres - -remeber wool actually wicks in the proper sense of the word. Moisture is absorbed not adsorded by wool ie soaked up within the body of the fibre itself. Fabric softens and extras oils inhibit this by coating the surface with gunk.
Ecocover delicates isthe wqy to go.
There's another thread on here somewhere asking pretty much the same question where I posted the wife's secret wool washing recipe.
I think it's just three ingredients, soap flakes, meths and eucalyptus oil, but I don't know the quantities off-hand and she's boarding a 'plane right now so I can't ask her.
If nobody comes up with a link by tomorrow I'll dig it out. Have to dash now to meet her at the airport.
I think it's just three ingredients, soap flakes, meths and eucalyptus oil, but I don't know the quantities off-hand and she's boarding a 'plane right now so I can't ask her.
If nobody comes up with a link by tomorrow I'll dig it out. Have to dash now to meet her at the airport.
EdS I've used shampoo on woollens for thirty+ years and some of those original jumpers are still used. Heavy arans and the like, and they still look good
The thing is that the shampoo is really only cleaning off the surface dirt. Well, it's really the water that does it, the shampoo is just a hair and skin safe detergent, unlikely to cause any grief to the vast majority of people, but the water needs a little help to wet the fibres.
Conditioner is mostly a very mild wax, it protects, and it helps replace a little of the natural oils without leaving the garment smelling like a sheep
It's intended for clothing.............like our woollens That it also helps to restore a little extra showerproofing is another bonus.
Incidentally skin and hair are naturally acidic, soap and many detergents are alkaline, but shampoo is pretty much made slightly acidic so that the hair cuticle is kept smooth. Wool and leather survive in acidic conditions but alkaline ones degrade them both.
Cheap generic supermarket normal use shampoo, 69p for 500ml last time I looked
http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/shampoo.html
cheers,
Toddy
The thing is that the shampoo is really only cleaning off the surface dirt. Well, it's really the water that does it, the shampoo is just a hair and skin safe detergent, unlikely to cause any grief to the vast majority of people, but the water needs a little help to wet the fibres.
Conditioner is mostly a very mild wax, it protects, and it helps replace a little of the natural oils without leaving the garment smelling like a sheep
It's intended for clothing.............like our woollens
That it also helps to restore a little extra showerproofing is another bonus.Incidentally skin and hair are naturally acidic, soap and many detergents are alkaline, but shampoo is pretty much made slightly acidic so that the hair cuticle is kept smooth. Wool and leather survive in acidic conditions but alkaline ones degrade them both.
Cheap generic supermarket normal use shampoo, 69p for 500ml last time I looked
http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/shampoo.html
cheers,
Toddy
wow, never thought I'd have to delve in to the subject of textiles and garment care beyond soap/washing machine, but it's one of those things that is definately worth learning about for the sake of prolonging the life of these expensive wool garments that we bushcrafters love so much.
So Toddy I don't have to buy this £30 5 litre can of Nikwax wool wash and instead buy a few bottles of TESCO brand shampoo?!?! And I hear you about washing wool as infrequently as possible... something I always adhere to, and searching other wool threads I love your suggestion of using a thin linen/silk/cotton undershirt to stop the the common side effect of wearing woolen baselayers - sweating! This would not only serve to enhance personal comfort, but also negate the need to wash the wool frequently - genius!
And how do I go about washing the wool garments with the shampoo, exactly??
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and saving me £30 odd quid!
edit: just read your shampoo link and the ingrediants look horrendous. Does this not mess up the wool?
So Toddy I don't have to buy this £30 5 litre can of Nikwax wool wash and instead buy a few bottles of TESCO brand shampoo?!?! And I hear you about washing wool as infrequently as possible... something I always adhere to, and searching other wool threads I love your suggestion of using a thin linen/silk/cotton undershirt to stop the the common side effect of wearing woolen baselayers - sweating! This would not only serve to enhance personal comfort, but also negate the need to wash the wool frequently - genius!
And how do I go about washing the wool garments with the shampoo, exactly??
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and saving me £30 odd quid!
edit: just read your shampoo link and the ingrediants look horrendous. Does this not mess up the wool?
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Yep I use soap flakes and hand wash my base layer at about 30*C (HH Warm Freeze 1/2 Lifa 1/2 Merino Wool) works a treat.
this stuff is pure soap - not much different from nikwax but a lot cheaper
http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/liquid-soap-for-laundry.html
http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/liquid-soap-for-laundry.html
Waitrose have the liquid soapflakes http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10309-10001-82431-DP+Liquid+soapflakes+gentle+clean.html - a lot easier than dissolving the flakes I bought from Boots a while back.
You really don't need the water very soapy at all. In the past a good soak was the most common way of pre cleaning, and wool's no different now than then. Just be gentle with it.
Soap is alkaline, and that's not really ideal for wool, which is why I said to use the shampoo or the Ecover stuff.
Not even enough to make a lather is a good guideline to quantity and let the garment sit in the water overnight......those £5 garden trug buckets are brilliant for it, but the bath is very good and has the advantage of letting you move things gently in the water to dislodge any dirt, and allowing things to drain without wringing out 
Rinse well, add lanolin treatment or conditioner as chosen, drain again and squeeze 'very' gently.
Then lay out on the biggest towel you can find, roll it up with the garment supported by the towel and you can wring/squeeze well.
The towel (because it's cotton, and cotton is 'thirsty') will soak up a tremendous amount of water from the woollens, and the woollens can then be laid out to shape and left to dry. When almost dry a coat hanger inside and put it outside to air and finish off.
No harm, no foul, just cared for and will last for years
Modern machine washable merino is brilliant, but it doesn't seem to last anywhere near as long.
As for modern ingredients messing up the wool......no, they don't. The chemicals used to prepare the wool in the first place, and those used in the knitting, weaving and dyeing processes are far, far harsher.
cheers,
Toddy
Soap is alkaline, and that's not really ideal for wool, which is why I said to use the shampoo or the Ecover stuff.
Not even enough to make a lather is a good guideline to quantity and let the garment sit in the water overnight......those £5 garden trug buckets are brilliant for it
, but the bath is very good and has the advantage of letting you move things gently in the water to dislodge any dirt, and allowing things to drain without wringing out Rinse well, add lanolin treatment or conditioner as chosen, drain again and squeeze 'very' gently.
Then lay out on the biggest towel you can find, roll it up with the garment supported by the towel and you can wring/squeeze well.
The towel (because it's cotton, and cotton is 'thirsty') will soak up a tremendous amount of water from the woollens, and the woollens can then be laid out to shape and left to dry. When almost dry a coat hanger inside and put it outside to air and finish off.
No harm, no foul, just cared for and will last for years
Modern machine washable merino is brilliant, but it doesn't seem to last anywhere near as long.
As for modern ingredients messing up the wool......no, they don't. The chemicals used to prepare the wool in the first place, and those used in the knitting, weaving and dyeing processes are far, far harsher.
cheers,
Toddy
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I cn second the harsh nature of the chemicals used in the initial scouring of woolen fleece - I used to visit some treatment plants in the past. Stuff is incredibly caustic (or is that acidic?). (Which is also where I discovered that lanolin is a natural attractant to death/deaf adders - bet that's one snake fact a sertain herpetologist on these boards wasn't aware of!)
Chocolate fish recommend wool wash liquid and using the wool cycle on the washing machine over hand washing.Their reasoning seems to be that modern machines get the water temperature right and don't agitate the clothes too much.
I have always found careful hand washing with a little ecover does the job.
I have always found careful hand washing with a little ecover does the job.
