What does it really take to keep your wool garments fresh and nice year after year? Wool is a 100% natural material and has many great qualities that make it useful all year round. But to avoid wear earlier than necessary, we have some tips you can follow. The good news, for both you and the environment, is that it doesn't take much.

Air or wash wool?

Wool care rule no. 1 is to air out woolen clothes after use. Airing is often more effective than washing at removing odors. Wool fibers are naturally resistant to odors and stains, which makes them easier to clean and maintain. Lay the wool garment flat on a bed or towel for about an hour. Woven items can be hung outside in the fresh air on a clothes hanger.

Tips!

If your wool garment is wrinkled after use, you can hang it in the bathroom while you shower. The moisture from the steam will smooth out the wrinkles, and the garment will look fresh again.

How to wash wool:

1. Always read the care label and follow it

Some wool garments are more delicate than others, and a thick knitted sweater can withstand more than a thin wool shirt with very fine wool and low micron count. Therefore, reading the care label on wool is very important. If it says 'hand wash', it means exactly that – the garment should be washed by hand.
If the label indicates machine wash, you can safely wash it in the machine, preferably on a wool cycle if your machine has one.
Also check what temperature the garment can tolerate.

2. Always turn the garments inside out before washing

This helps to protect the outer surface of your garments. Whether it should be washed by hand or in a machine.

3. Separate dark and light colors.

Don't wash all your wool garments together in one load – the colors might change when you take them out. As a rule, separate dark colors, light colors, and pure white garments into different washes.

Hand wash wool: Step by step

All of Aclima's clothing can withstand machine washing and a bit more rough handling than the advice below, but it never hurts to be gentle. So when you're going to wash by hand, it's smart to keep this in mind.

– Use a mild and gentle detergent specified for wool garments in clean, lukewarm water. Use plenty of water.

– Have limp hands, do not pinch, twist or rub. Move the washing water rather than the garment and let the water flow through the garment.

– Wash in lukewarm water (30-40 °C). Avoid pouring hot or cold water directly onto the garment.

– If it is necessary to lift the garment while it's wet, one should lift from the underside with both hands.

– Rinse three times in lukewarm water (20-30 °C), gently press out the water between each time.

– Finish with a spin cycle in the machine if possible.
It helps to remove more water, drying is faster and thus there is less risk of stretching the garments out of shape.

– Use a towel to press out water before it is dried flat.

Tips! Har du ikke tilgang på ullvaskemiddel kan du bruke hårsjampo som en reserve. Problemet med andre vaskemidler er at de inneholder protease (en type enzymer) og blekemidler, i tillegg til å ha en pH-verdi som verken håret ditt – eller sauens – liker. Resultatet vet du sikkert fra før: stivt, tørt, dødt og svakt hår.

Machine wash wool

All Aclima products can be machine washed. Some believe that wool must be hand washed or dry cleaned, but that is not the case. Most modern washing machines wash more gently than many would do by hand.

Remember to select the 'wool wash' program. Important – always use wool detergent when washing wool, no matter how large or small the wool content is. This also applies if you are washing other materials together with wool. Do not fill the machine completely, and finish with a spin cycle. Preferably as fast as the washing program allows.

Drying wool garments

It is recommended that wool sweaters and heavier wool garments be gently dried flat on a towel, away from direct sunlight or a heat source (such as a radiator). When laying a sweater on a towel to dry, knead it gently by hand and smooth out as many wrinkles and folds as possible. Drying on hangers can cause the garments to stretch and lose their shape. Light wool garments can be dried on a rack, and woven wool items can be dried on hangers. And remember – not in direct sunlight.

Storage of wool garments

A rule of thumb is to hang woven wool, and fold knitted wool. Woven garments should be hung on hangers, while knitted garments should be folded gently and stored flat in drawers, storage boxes, or shelves. Vacuum storage bags are not recommended, as the tight and compressed bag can cause the garments to lose their shape or create wrinkles that may be difficult to remove.

Before putting away the garments, make sure they are completely dry, as moisture can lead to mold. Also check that the garments are not dirty as this attracts moths.

Did you know?

Clean clothes are warmer than dirty ones. Dirty clothes may contain salt from sweat or seawater, which conducts heat, thus increasing heat loss.