Although woollen clothing is self-cleaning and low-maintenance, that doesn't mean you can keep wearing it continuously. When you wear wool, the fibres are under pressure. The longer they remain under pressure, the faster they wear out. So give your woollen jumper enough rest too.
1. Check for damage
The first thing you do is inspect your woollen clothing for moth holes. The sooner you discover it, the more you limit damage to your wardrobe. There are cedar wood blocks or lavender sachets that keep harmful insects away. You can also use these when storing your summer clothing.
2. Wash only when necessary
Wool fibres are naturally coated with lanolin. This layer of grease prevents bacteria, fungi and dirt from adhering. This makes woollen clothing self-cleaning. So there's no need to wash your woollen jumpers as often as your underwear.
3. Let in as much air as possible
Wool doesn't retain odours; they just 'stick' to the surface. As a result, airing is usually enough. You can hang them outside overnight or in the mist, for example. Another option is to hang your woollen jumper in the bathroom when you take a shower. The steam causes odours to drift away. Does it still smell musty? Then you can use a textile spray if needed.
4. Read the care label carefully
This is a good tip for washing clothing in general. The manufacturer's washing instructions ensure that the quality of your woollen clothes is preserved for as long as possible. If you can't figure it out, you can always consult a professional dry cleaner.
5. Hand-wash as much as possible
Whether you have a lambswool jumper or a merino wool jumper, it's best to wash it by hand in lukewarm water. Leave the garment submerged for 5 to 10 minutes and then gently shake it out. Are you using a wool detergent? Gently massage the suds through the fabric and definitely don't wring it out! Also use lukewarm water to rinse out the suds. Then let it air dry flat on top of a towel on a flat surface or drying rack.
6. Wash carefully in the washing machine
If you don't feel like or have time for a hand wash, a washing machine is fine. Just make sure there's no soap left over from previous washes. Read the manual beforehand for the correct settings, or select the wool wash programme. As a guideline, never wash hotter than 30 °C and 600 spins. Wash wool with wool to prevent damage and use a laundry bag if needed.
7. Dry wool outside the tumble dryer
Never use a tumble dryer under any circumstances! The hot air causes wool to shrink. Various home remedies are doing the rounds for stretching a woollen jumper back out, such as hair conditioner in the water during hand washing, but there are no guarantees.
8. Fold your wool garments
It's tempting to hang up as much as possible to save space, but this is disastrous for knitted garments. It causes the natural stretch to disappear and makes them sag. So folding your woollen clothing is always preferable.
9. Use a fabric shaver to remove pilling
Don't remove fluff by hand. This only causes more fibres to be pulled loose. Use a special wool comb or a fabric shaver for this. Of course, prevention is always better than cure.
10. Keep switching it up with different pieces
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Pascal is an expert copywriter with a passion for menswear. With his sharp writing, he shares practical advice on how to breathe new life into your wardrobe and how to live in style with confidence.
