PB Care
Our 5-step guide to care for your wool garments
We've all encountered issues with caring for woolen garments. And although each garment is different and needs to be treated differently, there are indeed tips that benefit every type of wool.
Blog by:
Marissa
Do you have an urgent question about a particular fabric and its properties? Marissa knows everything about fabrics and provides the best maintenance tips. Additionally, she has a talent for mixing and matching styles and materials with a contemporary nonchalance.
Decide if your wool garment really needs to be washed. Wool is mainly self-cleaning because it contains a high amount of lanolin which prevents unpleasant odors and dirt to penetrate into the fiber. Trust us: in most cases, leaving your woolen garment to air in the bathroom or outside is enough for a fresh up. You could also use a refreshing fabric spray to neutralize odors.
Always check the care label*. No wool garment is the same and the way that a garment is knitted, woven or treated makes every item unique, with equally unique washing instructions. Use a special wool detergent to strengthen the fiber, maintain the lanolin level and prolong the lifespan of your garment.
If you’ve used a wool wash program with a low spin speed, the wool garment will come out of the washing machine quite wet (and heavy). This is why wool garments need to dry flat. You can speed up the drying process by using a towel and gently roll to remove excess water – without wringing! Wool doesn’t require much ironing, but if you still want to iron then do so at a low temperature and with a lot of steam to prevent fiber damage. It’s even better to use a steam device which will also remove bad odors and bacteria.
Wool has many beautiful properties, but unfortunately pilling is also an inescapable property of wool. Luckily, pills are very easy to remove with a sweater stone, brush or wool razor. Remove pilling after every wash to make it look like new again. Read about how to get rid of pilling the easiest way here.
Never leave a wool garment to hang, but store it folded flat to retain its original shape. When storing your winter clothes for the long run, remember that wool garments are a popular breeding ground for bugs and moths. Preferably store knits in a breathable canvas bag with a zip closure and always make sure that the item is cleaned before storing to avoid being a ‘food source’ of proteins for bugs.
PB editor Marissa