Housekeeping Laundry & Linens Laundry Tips & Checklists How to Wash Wool Items So You Never Shrink Your Favorite Sweater A step-by-step guide for cleaning and maintaining wool garments. By Patricia Shannon Patricia Shannon Patricia Shannon is a freelance homes writer for Better Homes & Gardens with over a decade of editorial experience. Her areas of expertise include decorating, cleaning, and how-to content. Patricia is also a regular contributor with Southern Living and Coastal Living magazines. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on January 31, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images / Evrymmnt Project Overview Working Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 day Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $10 Wool is a natural fiber composed of keratin, a protein also found in human hair. The fleece is most often derived from sheep but can also be sourced from other animals like rabbits, goats, and alpacas. Each strand has a crimped texture that is excellent for maintaining warmth, but it can provide some challenges when laundering. Special consideration is necessary when selecting laundry detergent and determining the best washing, drying, and storage methods. However, with proper care, your wool items will remain treasured pieces in your wardrobe for years. Before Getting Started Although today's wool fabrics can be more resilient than in the past, it’s still important to give them proper care, and that starts with selecting the right detergent. Opt for a pH-neutral version that’s free of stain fighters, brighteners, and fabric softeners, as these could break down the fabric. You’ll also need to use the correct temperature settings on your washing machine, should you choose to go that route. A delicate cycle with cold water should be gentle enough to protect your wool pieces, though a wool cycle is ideal if your machine has one. How to Wash Cashmere Without Damaging the Delicate Material What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Materials Sink or tub Washing machine (optional) Drying rack (optional) Materials Equipment/Tools Wool detergent Stain treatment (optional) Instructions How to Hand-Wash Wool Pretreat Stains Examine your garment and pretreat any stains that need tending to. The 9 Best Laundry Stain Removers, Tested and Reviewed Create a Wool Wash Add wool detergent to a sink or tub filled with cold water. Use the ratios prescribed by the wool detergent manufacturer for best results. Hand-Wash the Item Place the item in the sink or tub and gently swish the fabric through the water to saturate it. Avoid rubbing or aggressively agitating the garment, as this could cause pilling. Let the item soak for 30 minutes. Rinse Run the item under cool water until suds no longer appear and all the detergent has been removed. Remove Excess Water Gently press the garment to remove excess water from the item, taking care not to wring, stretch, or crumple the material, as this could cause it to become misshapen or damaged. Air-Dry Reshape the wool items, pressing away any wrinkles on the fabric. Then, place them on a drying rack or on top of a clean towel to dry completely. Hanging wool items will result in misshapen and stretched fabric that is likely permanent, so give this step proper care and consideration. How to Wash Wool in a Washing Machine Washing wool in the washing machine is possible, although you need to take special care to ensure your item isn’t damaged in the process. Pretreat any stains prior to washing. Use a wool detergent and forgo the fabric softener, as it could cause a buildup that results in pilling. Wool should only be washed on a gentle cycle using cold water. If possible, turn the garment inside out before washing it. Remove the garment from the washing machine promptly when the cycle has finished. Air-dry it, following the same procedure as Step 6 in the hand-washing instructions. How to Spot-Treat Common Stains Before washing your garment, it’s best to pretreat any stains. Here are formulas for some of the most common stains; test these remedies on a small, inconspicuous area of the garment before applying them to a larger area. Makeup: Use white spirit to remove makeup stains by dabbing the garment with a lint-free cloth moistened with the solvent. Soak up the excess and wash as outlined in the How to Hand-Wash Wool section above. Coffee: If possible, the best course of action is to immediately run the stain under cold water to dilute the spot. Next, make a mixture of 1 cup lukewarm water and ½ teaspoon baking soda. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to apply the mixture to the stain, dabbing gently. Absorb the solution using a dry cloth. If the stain is still apparent, apply a mixture of white spirit and cold water to the stain using a clean, lint-free cloth and working from the outside in. Repeat until you’re satisfied with the result. Wash as described in the How to Hand-Wash Wool section above. Blood: Get a jump on a blood stain by working on it as soon as possible. Use a cloth or towel to absorb any excess blood, and then apply white vinegar (undiluted) to the fabric using a dabbing motion. Apply cold water and wash as outlined in the How to Hand-Wash Wool section above. Oil or Grease: If there’s excess oil or grease on the garment that has solidified, remove it by gently scraping it away with a spoon or the blunt side of a knife. Use tissues to soak up any additional oil. A hot iron run over the tissues can pull oil to the surface. Moisten a microfiber cloth with white spirit and gently apply it to the stain, working from the outside in, using a dabbing motion. Repeat until you’re satisfied with the result. Let the item air dry completely and then wash as described above. Red Wine: Rinse the garment with cool water to remove any excess wine. Create a solution of wool detergent and lukewarm water and apply it to the wine stain, working from the edges in. Blot with a dry microfiber cloth and allow the garment to dry completely. If the garment is still stained, soak a clean cloth in white spirit and apply it to the stain, again working from the outside in. Use a dry cloth to soak up excess cleaning liquid and allow the garment to dry completely. Wash as described in the How to Hand-Wash Wool section above. How to Store and Maintain Wool Garments Follow these best practices for storing and caring for your wool items, and they‘ll stay in top shape for years. Wool items should always be cleaned before storing them, as any oils or smells will attract wool-harming critters. Storage bins, vacuum-sealed bags, and cloth storage bags are all viable options, although the breathability of cloth storage bags is ideal. Use cedar balls in your chosen storage container to repel wool-munching insects like moths while maintaining a pleasant scent. Wool items should never be hung, as this can cause them to misshapen. Instead, fold all wool items for storage—whether long-term or short-term. Wrapping each item in tissue paper adds protection. Occasionally check your items for moisture and insects, as they can both wreak havoc even when the greatest preventative care is taken. Frequently Asked Questions What kind of detergent is best for wool? When determining which wool detergent is best, look for wool-specific formulas that are mild and pH-neutral. Avoid harsh chemicals, ingredients, or additives, as they can damage the fabric. How can I prevent pilling? Because pilling is caused by abrasion to the fabric, avoiding pilling is all about keeping the garments away from friction. Wash your garments and items inside out and avoid fabrics or textures that can pull at wool. It’s also best to avoid fabric softeners because they can leave behind a residue that causes pilling. What’s the best way to remove pilling? Even with the best effort, pilling might still happen. To de-pill wool, use a sharp razor to shave off the pills while holding the garment taut. Use a lint roller to grab the removed pilling. How can I prevent my wool garment from shrinking? Your best bet for preventing wool from shrinking is to avoid hot water. Even when washed with cold water, the fibers naturally tighten, which is why it’s essential to reshape and press the wool item out before it dries. What should I do if my item shrinks? Slight shrinkage of wool fabric is expected during the washing process due to the nature of the fibers. Gently pressing on the fabric during the reshaping process will help restore both the size and shape. The fibers will relax as the garment dries, and the original size should be restored. Is it safe to dry wool in the dryer? Wool items, including those that are wool blends, should only be air-dried. Even the lowest heat setting on your dryer will cause shrinking. Can I iron wool? Wool should never be ironed, which is why the process of reshaping and pressing out any wrinkles before air-drying is so important. If you wind up with tough wrinkles, use steam to smooth them out.