Cleaning a wool coat at home: dry and wet method

You can clean a wool coat at home using a wet or dry method. The choice depends on the degree of contamination, the nature of the stains, recommendations for caring for the product from the manufacturer, the composition and color of the fabric. They try not to put outerwear made from natural materials at risk and take it to the dry cleaner, but minor stains can be easily removed on your own.

To avoid damaging the fiber structure, use a sponge or soft brush

Features of cleaning wool coats

The choice of cleaning method depends on the fabric from which the outerwear is made. The material can be 100% wool or with synthetic additives. The wet method is used extremely rarely; the effect of water on natural fibers can lead to a change in shape for the worse.

Due to compression of the structure of the material, an item can become smaller in size or, conversely, partially stretch out. The main problem area is the lower part of the product in the space between the seams. If it is heavily soiled, it is better to take the coat to a professional for dry cleaning. If this is not possible, do the work yourself, following certain rules:

1. Find the manufacturer's label on the product; it is sewn at the top in the collar area or on the side seam. The icons determine the possibility of wet cleaning, manually or in a machine, at what temperature the fabric does not deform.
2. The main places of contamination are determined, as a rule, these are the collar area, the lower part of the sleeves, areas near the pockets and fasteners.
3. The work uses a roller with a special coating, a cotton swab or disk, a foam sponge, a brush with soft bristles, or just a piece of fabric. The material should not be rough, so as not to damage the structure of the woolen item; for the same reason, it is not recommended to rub the area too hard.
4. The method of drying a woolen product depends on the nature of the cleaning: after a wet cleaning, spread it on a horizontal surface, for a dry one, hang it on a hanger.

Advice! If chemicals were used during cleaning, outerwear should be taken out into fresh air for ventilation. Wool absorbs and retains unpleasant odors for a long time.

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Drying and care rules

After wet cleaning, the wool coat needs to be dried. To do this, apply a towel to the moistened area. At the end of the procedure, the item should be hung on hangers, straightening out all the details of the clothing, and left until completely dry. If necessary (if permitted by the manufacturer), the product can be ironed from the wrong side by placing gauze.

Following the rules of caring for the item helps to extend the life of a wool coat. It is recommended to periodically (once every 1–2 weeks) clean the product from pellets and traces of dirt using a sticky roller, and promptly remove any stains that appear. It is also necessary to avoid contact with water, and if clothes are wet, they should be hung on hangers and left to dry completely.

In cases where contaminants appear that the described products cannot cope with, you need to use dry cleaning services.

How to prepare a wool coat for cleaning

Before starting the main cleaning, the woolen product is prepared:

1. Clothes are hung on hangers in a well-lit room to easily spot stains and problem areas.
2. Using a special surface cleaning roller, small particles are removed from woolen fabric: fluff, hair, crumbs, if any. This procedure can be done with a foam sponge.
3. Then clean the coat with a dry brush and repeat the same procedure, slightly moistening the pile.
4. They check pockets and remove all items. If the inside is free of stains, the product is fastened and shaken.

General rules

The first step is to assess the need and possibility of cleaning or washing, and determine the means necessary for these actions. A reliable source of information needed in this case is the product tag. The symbols placed on it by the manufacturer regulate the permissible parameters and modes of operation with the product.

Regardless of the chosen type of processing and devices for this, consumers are advised to adhere to the following general rules when processing coats:

• if it is worn rarely, then cleaning should be done after each wear;
• before and after long-term storage of the coat, the product is thoroughly processed over the entire surface;
• the product chosen for treating the coat must be tested on an inconspicuous piece of fabric, wait for the full cycle of action of the cleaning powder or liquid, and only then evaluate its effect on the material of the product;
• look through the internal and external pockets, emptying them of any objects and small items;
• shake out the product to remove large dirt and dust accumulated on the pile;
• examine the object in bright light to identify visible dirt and stains;
• remove the top layer of dust and dirt from the surface of the item with a dry brush;
• In accordance with the type of material, select the method of further processing and cleaning agents for this.

How to clean a wool coat

The information on the manufacturer's label will help you decide on the choice of cleaning products.

It is not recommended to carry out wet cleaning with a powdered synthetic detergent; the structure of the fabric becomes rigid, rinses less easily, and stains may remain on dark items. If powder is used, then only in the washing machine, selected in accordance with the color of the fabric.

Some tips for choosing a wool coat cleaner:

Remove light dirt with a soap solution. Solid or liquid toilet soap is suitable for this purpose. It is not recommended to use household products with a high concentration of alkali.

Make shavings using a knife and dissolve to a thick consistency

Preference is given to products with a softening effect; cream soap is not used for woolen items.

Cleaning of stains is carried out with starch or talcum powder; you can purchase a special stain remover for woolen fabrics. The environmentally friendly products “Sonett” and “Textile wash” have proven themselves well.

When applying the spray, foam forms on the surface; it is removed after 15 minutes.

The powder product is diluted to a paste and applied to the problem area.

White woolen items are cleaned using SMS without chlorine and alkali; the substances have a bad effect on the structure of the threads and leave a yellow tint. Products with active oxygen - Sodasan and Vanish - are suitable for such products.

Use for wet manual or machine cleaning

Whipping foam and applying to stain

On light woolen surfaces, coffee stains are easily removed by glycerin mixed with ammonia.

The substances are mixed in a ratio of 1 part ammonia and 2 parts glycerin

Cleaning food stains is carried out with a mixture of ethyl alcohol and 9% vinegar.

A mixture of alcohol and vinegar is made in equal proportions

If a stain from engine oil or soot from a car exhaust pipe is left on the surface, use aviation kerosene.

Try the substance on a small area from the wrong side so as not to spoil the entire fabric

Advice! It is recommended to immediately sprinkle a fresh stain with salt; if it does not disappear, apply chemicals.

Wet cleaning is carried out with liquid products; Laska gel is effective for light woolen products.

The product does not change color, makes wool fabric soft, does not foam much

For dark people, buy “Uplon”.

After cleaning, things do not lose their color, the product is easy to rinse

How to clean a wool coat at home

The degree and nature of contamination is determined, and small areas are cleaned using the dry method. If the product is in poor condition on the inside and outside, and there is a machine washable sign on the label, wash it yourself. If the wet method is prohibited, outerwear must be dry cleaned.

How to dry clean a wool coat

Before work, the woolen product is placed on a horizontal surface, the area to be cleaned is smoothed well so that there are no wrinkles. Further:

1. Light dirt is moistened with a soap solution and left for 30 minutes. Lightly rub the stain with a sponge soaked in the same product and wash off the residue.
2. Starch or talc is applied to the stain, left for a day, and the residue is removed with a dry brush.
3. Cleaning of inorganic stains is carried out as follows: a cotton swab or foam rubber is soaked in a mixture of glycerin and ammonia, rubbed over the area, and washed off with water.
4. Food residues from the surface are removed with vinegar and alcohol, the mixture is applied to the stain, left for 20 minutes, the swab is soaked in the substance and rubbed until the stain disappears, then washed off.

Vinegar leaves a persistent odor; it can be replaced with citric acid.

How to clean a wool coat at home using the wet method

The work is carried out manually or in a machine. Depends on how feasible this method is in general. Cleaning a wool coat at home using water is a risky undertaking and can completely ruin the product.

Machine cleaning:

1. The woolen product is fastened, turned inside out, and placed in a special bag.
2. They present the “Wool” program.
3. Turn off spinning and drying.

Manual wet cleaning is carried out in water + 300C for no longer than 20 minutes. Rinse several times at the same temperature. Only gels are used in the work. The woolen coat should not be twisted; it should be slightly wrung out and the water should be allowed to drain. Wrap in a terry towel to remove any remaining moisture.

Removing stains

Got a stain? Once removed, the entire item may need to be washed. How to remove traces depends on the “nature of their origin.”

To know for sure the reaction of the fabric to the solvent, you must conduct a test: apply the product to an inconspicuous place (on the inside, on the inside of a collar or sleeve, if the model allows) and wait a couple of minutes. This test should be carried out even with seemingly safe salt: such things are mostly painted and it is not clear how the paint will behave.

How to dry clean a wool coat

Step by step process:

1. The product is sent to the sewing workshop, where buttons and accessories are removed.
2. Use a special product to pinpoint the spots.
3. Do a general cleaning before processing.
4. If difficult stains are detected, the coat is given to a stain remover, who uses chemicals to remove the stains.
5. The coat is treated with amplifiers that destroy dirt.
6. They are placed in the drum of a special machine, where cleaning is carried out with solvents without the use of water.
7. Set the appropriate program for the product.
8. Take the already dry item out of the drum.

The process takes 45 minutes. The coat is then sent to the sewing department where the accessories are returned to it. Using steam and hot air, the product is smoothed.

Grandmother's advice

Take into account “grandmother’s” method to give a wool coat a fresh look. Open hot water in the bathroom: make a “steam room” there (let the mirror fog up). Hang the coat on hangers there for 15 minutes (at this time you can turn off the water). Then, carefully laying the fabric on your hand, use a soft clothing brush to wipe off dirt or shiny areas. Turn on the cold water (or open the bathroom door) and let it hang there for a while to cool. Then, once it’s dry, you can steam it with an iron through gauze (if you need to iron it).

These simple tips will help you avoid dry cleaning!

Material updated 07/24/2017