How to wash woolen items in a washing machine without itching

Clothes made of wool help us get through the cold season because they are warm, cozy and at the same time practical. Washing delicate wool items in a washing machine may damage them. Therefore, many people spend a lot of time washing such items by hand.

But is it necessary to take such measures in order to preserve the appearance and main properties of your favorite clothes? We will tell you how to wash woolen items in a washing machine so that they retain their original appearance as much as possible and keep you warm for many more winters.

Preparing for washing

Before you start washing wool items, prepare the item. In this case, preliminary preparation for washing clothes plays an important role.

Before washing woolen items, do not be lazy and go through the following preparation steps:

1. Read the short instructions on the labels. Remember that natural fiber products differ from each other, and therefore there is no standard rule for caring for and washing them. You will only learn how to properly wash, dry and iron each woolen item by reading the recommendations on the tag, and if they are not enough for you to get the full picture. It is important to know at least the exact composition of the product in order to take advantage of additional sources of knowledge.
2. In a room with good lighting (preferably daylight), before washing woolen clothes, examine sweaters, sweaters, hats, etc. for contamination. If you find them, treat the problem areas with ordinary peroxide (bought at the pharmacy) or kitchen vinegar. These solutions are absolutely safe for natural delicate fibers.
3. Before putting your sweater or hat in the washing machine, where you will wash it by hand, turn the item inside out and check its integrity. If you find even the smallest defects, wait a little while washing and, if possible, correct them. Then it will be easier to wash. Otherwise, after any washing, or even rinsing, if there is the slightest hole, the item may become deformed, or the size of the defect on it will increase.

Don’t forget that although all modern devices have a “Wool” mode, you can only find out whether a particular wool item can be washed in a machine after you study its composition and recommendations on the labels.

Soak

There is a category of clothing that can only be cleaned by soaking.

Before you start washing woolen items by hand, here are some guidelines:

• Organize things by color. Please note that some products may fade. If you doubt whether it is possible to soak colored woolen items with dark-dyed ones, then you can check this yourself. Place the product that is in doubt in a separate basin, fill it with warm water no higher than 30°C and add a little special detergent. If the item sheds, the water will become colored. Always soak white clothes separately.
• Fill a container with cold or lukewarm water (up to 30°C). There should be a lot of water, because the products absorb it strongly. For example, a camel wool jacket should be washed only in a large 40-liter bowl, and preferably in a half-filled bathtub (standard size). The thicker and denser the item, the more liquid it will absorb and the easier it is to wash. If there is not enough water, the clothes will not stretch properly.
• Before hand washing wool, leave the items in a solution of water and detergent. To do this, use only special gels or ordinary hair shampoo (if the clothes are not very dirty and just need to be refreshed). Do not under any circumstances use regular powder unless it clearly states that it is intended for such things.
• Here's a tip on how to properly wash wool socks. Pre-shake the items and distribute them by color, then treat the soles (the dirtiest part) with detergent and place them in a container with cold water for several hours.
• Many people are interested in the question: is it possible to wash woolen items in a washing machine after soaking? Yes. This is why there is a Wool washing mode, which, by the way, involves soaking. Therefore, if you initially planned to send your clothes to an automatic cleaning device, but there are no heavy stains on them (stains from soil, paint or corrosive odors), you can skip the soaking step. Your machine can handle this on its own.
• There is no need to soak sheep's wool before washing it. Immediately send the product to the machine, but without “Spin”.

Wool shrinkage

All of the above recommendations help maintain the original appearance of the product. But sometimes you need to wash an item - for example, a wool sweater - so that it shrinks. For this, the following technology is used:

1. Dip the sweater in soapy water heated to 50-60 degrees for 10 minutes.
2. Wash it as usual.
3. Rinse in cool water (15-20 degrees).

It is important not to allow too sudden temperature changes, otherwise the shrinkage will exceed all expectations. A woolen jacket can shrink by 3-4 sizes and turn from excessively large to small. In addition, you should remember to be careful when spinning and drying. In hot water, the pile fluffs up and becomes especially easily deformed.

Woolen items require careful handling and additional energy consumption for washing. But they reliably retain the body heat of their owner and look beautiful. Therefore, it is worth trying to remember simple rules for caring for hair. It's not difficult - there are only 5 most important points!

How to wash wool in an automatic washing machine

The easiest way to wash woolen items is with a machine. If you decide to wash wool in a washing machine, you don’t need to think about what temperature it is best to do it at. The machine will not overheat the water above the permissible norm and will not soak things for too long.

Last but not least, the benefit of washing in a machine is that it saves you time.

Let's look at the features of such washing using the example of different products made from natural yarn of animal origin:

• Many housewives are interested in whether it is possible to wash a blanket or blanket made of sheep wool in the “automatic” mode. Of course, such products require a special approach and some of them will not deteriorate only if they are washed by hand or in an institution where clothes are cleaned without washing, using special substances. But most blankets can be washed using an automatic machine. Choose from Delicates, Hand Wash or Wool, add detergent and throw the blanket in the machine. It is advisable to deactivate “Spin” or set the minimum number of revolutions.
• The process of washing a wool blanket in a washing machine is simple. Send the product to the appliance without pre-soaking, add a little gel or shampoo to the cleaning agent container and set the “Delicate Wash” program. In this mode, the temperature is low and the number of revolutions for push-ups is minimal.
• You can wash items made from sheep wool in a machine. These are relatively simple things. Place the item in the drum, add powder and program it to wash in the “Wool” mode. Before pressing “Start”, turn off “Spin”.
• Before you start washing your socks in the washing machine, sort them out. Under no circumstances should white socks be washed together with dark ones. Even if the dyed yarn does not fade, light lint may remain on black socks and vice versa. Sorting clothes by color is a standard rule for all types of fabric and for any type of washing. Add gel (for items not contaminated with shampoo) and program the unit to wash wool.
• Before you start washing your camel hair down jacket, remove any dirt from it using a stain remover, then turn it inside out and zip it up. Next, send it to the car. Remember, the jacket needs a lot of space, so don't put other clothes in the drum at the same time.

General rules

Washing wool products is a responsible process, and therefore it requires compliance with the basic axioms:

1. The main rule on how to wash woolen items so that they do not shrink is to comply with the temperature norm. Basically, such clothes are washed at a temperature not exceeding 35°C;
2. Another recommendation on how to properly wash wool is to use a suitable cleaning agent. Use only gels, special powders marked “For Wool” or shampoo.
3. For clothes made from natural fiber, there are also special rinsing agents that help preserve their appearance and basic properties.
4. Bulky items need a lot of space. For example, in order to properly wash a jacket with camel hair, there should be no other things in the machine besides it.

How to iron: wool items

This process is very simple, because you can iron wool only if it is possible to set the delicate ironing mode (or its equivalent). In addition, during ironing you should use gauze (folded in several layers) or cotton cloth. Products should be ironed only from the wrong side and only if the material is completely dry after washing.

Speaking about whether it is possible to iron wool and at what temperature, it is worth noting that the selected delicate mode on the iron already provides for setting all the necessary parameters. If there is no such mode, then ironing should be carried out at the lowest possible temperature and only using cotton cloth or gauze.

How to wash a wool coat

Needless to say, before washing a wool coat, you should study the label on it. Today, in addition to wool, other raw materials are used to make such products.

Please note that the more wool there is in the fabric, the less chance you have of maintaining the shape of your favorite coat using an automatic machine.

Do not neglect the basic principles of how to wash a coat made of wool:

• Temperature up to 30°C;
• Turn off spin;
• Use only those cleaners that are intended for woolen products;
• Program the device for “Hand Wash”.

Bosch WLK2426MOE

Almost all Bosch washing machines have a “Wool” washing program, and the WLK2426MOE is no exception. Here the wool mode is activated by turning the selector 6 positions. The following cycle parameters are automatically set:

• duration – 40 minutes;
• spin speed – 800 rpm;
• temperature – 40 degrees (you can also choose “30” or “cold”).

The drum rotates according to a special, delicate algorithm. First, water is poured into the tank, after which the items are slowly scrolled, becoming saturated with moisture. Then the movement stops, occasionally interrupting for 1-2 full revolutions. For most of the cycle, the clothes lie “quietly”, soaking and being cleaned with detergent.

The “Wool” program on Bosch offers water heating to a maximum of 40 degrees.

At about 23 minutes the drain occurs, and at 17 the first rinse starts. Then the initial rotation-stop pattern is repeated, after which the machine switches to spinning. The wrung out laundry is rinsed again, with the rinse aid or conditioner removed from the powder receptacle. Afterwards, the washing machine accelerates again and produces clean, damp clothes.

How to wash a wool blanket

Hand washing a blanket made of sheep wool is quite difficult, because the product can weigh several kilograms, and if it absorbs water, it becomes too heavy to lift. Therefore, many housewives wonder whether it is possible to wash a sheep wool blanket in a washing machine? If you follow the recommendations.

There are important points to consider:

• Your machine must be designed for at least 5 kg of laundry.
• Set the appliance to the "Delicate" program before washing your sheepskin blanket. This is very important, because it requires a low temperature and a minimum number of revolutions.
• Use only gel, shampoo or powder designed for natural fiber items.
• Before cleaning your sheep's wool blanket with a machine, do not soak it to prevent it from becoming very heavy.

Blankets made from natural sheep wool are easy and quick to wash in the washing machine. Follow the above recommendations on how to wash items so that they retain their shape and do not reload the machine.

Useful tips

There are a number of recommendations obtained as a result of the life experience of housewives on how to properly care for woolen items so that they retain their original appearance for a long time. Here are some of them:

1. Do not dry woolen items in or near the kitchen. They absorb odors well.
2. Sweat and other unpleasant odors easily disappear from wool, so it is recommended to ventilate it as often as possible in the fresh air in the yard or by hanging it on the balcony.
3. Do not use batteries or other heat sources for drying. In this case, the quality of the fabric may deteriorate greatly, and the item will become unpleasant to the touch.
4. For long-term storage, it is recommended to use vacuum bags. They will protect the item from insects and help maintain its shape until the next use.
5. In the closet where clothes made from natural fabrics are located, you need to put anti-moth products, since they love wool very much and will quickly ruin it.
6. If the item is new and has a little dirt, then if possible it is better to have it dry cleaned. This way there is a greater chance that it will retain its shape, size and color.
7. It is not recommended to use aggressive bleaches. They can thin the fibers and ruin the fabric.

Comment! Some types of woolen items are not ironed after drying. But there are those whose appearance requires ironing. To do this, turn the product inside out. You can use the steam iron setting or a damp cloth.

Drying woolen items

In order for your warm and soft clothes to be worn for a long time, maintaining their appearance and properties, it is important not only to know in what water you can wash them, but also how to dry woolen items.

Do not forget that even if you follow all the recommendations for manual or automatic cleaning, the item may become deformed if you do not apply the basic rules for drying delicate items:

• If you know how to properly hand wash woolen items and prefer this type of cleaning, do not wring out the item as hard as you can. Leave the clothes on the tray to drain. Press it lightly, but do not twist it as hard as you can (this will stretch and wrinkle it). Moisture must remain so that there are no wrinkles.
• Before drying a woolen item, regardless of which method you have previously chosen for washing, lay the item on a large towel and twirl the roller. There is no need to press or twist it.
• Clothes made from natural yarn should only be dried by laying them out on a horizontal surface. Otherwise, all efforts to preserve the shape of your favorite clothes during cleaning will be in vain. Find a flat area and place the product on it, after a while turn it over.
• After drying, shake the item slightly, this will make it softer and return to its shape faster.

Features of wool fabrics

It's good to start with the fact that wool comes in different types. These are cashmere, angora, merino, sheepskin, mohair, etc. Each fabric has its own requirements for washing and care in general. They have only one thing in common – natural structure. Wool, like hair, is covered with keratinized scales. Under the influence of water, temperature, and chemicals, these scales open and the villi become especially vulnerable. They easily compact and interlock with each other, like hooks. As a result, the woolen item may be severely deformed and it will be impossible to restore it.

The whimsicality of wool depends on its variety, the method of dressing, the presence of synthetic impurities, and the cut of the finished item. To increase wear resistance, flakes on woolen threads are often burned with hypochlorous acid and then treated with a special compound (sizing agent). Because of this, woolen fabrics acquire shine and stop shrinking when washed, but fully retain their heat-saving properties.

A few tricks

Before washing woolen items in a washing machine or by hand, learn some tricks that will help make the process easier and preserve the properties of these clothes:

• Better than washing delicate woolen items (angora, alpaca, etc.)? For them, you should not use powder that contains a lot of alkali. After drying, the product may become harsh, and you can even feel the residue of the cleaning product on your skin. Regular hair shampoo is perfect. Soak the item in it, then rinse at least 4 times.
• Even the most unpretentious product made from natural fiber will shrink if you overdo it with the water temperature. We have already mentioned how to wash woolen items by hand or in a machine to prevent them from shrinking. If the clothes are dirty, it is better to pre-treat them with peroxide, lemon powder, mustard water or vinegar, but do not clean them with high temperature.
• All types of woolen clothing can be soaked in warm water. Add a little soda (2 tablespoons) or vinegar. Ammonia also works well as a softener.

• How to remove streaks from clothes
• How to wash a jacket in a washing machine

Products used for washing wool

Considering the fact that woolen items do not tolerate external influences. They are easily damaged during the process of caring for them. To avoid troubles and prolong the life of woolen clothes, it is necessary to use special detergents. The chemical market is saturated with a variety of powders and liquids that create gentle conditions during the wool washing process.

Liquid products that are designed only for washing wool have proven themselves well. These can be gel-like substances or special shampoos.

You can also use powders consisting of small granules. It is also important to take into account the temperature conditions at which it is recommended to use liquid or dry detergents.

For example, liquid products remove dirt well at low temperatures (+30°C). For powder products it should be within +80° – 90°C.

However, in any case, when choosing a liquid or dry product, you should make sure that its composition does not contain alkali or other aggressive substances. Many people recommend using traditional methods. For example:

• stains are removed very well with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide or ammonia;
• Wool fibers can be easily cleaned using powdered chalk or mustard.

What to wash

Before you start washing your woolen clothes, you need to remove all the stains on them. The detergent used by our grandmothers helps remove stains most gently.

Dissolve equal parts of vinegar and salt in a large amount of water, adding 1 teaspoon of ammonia. Using a cloth, apply the mixture to the stain, then rinse the item and wash it. This method removes dirt well, the main thing is not to overdo it with the amount of ammonia in the solution.

It is better to wash a wool sweater using a liquid detergent. Do not use powder because the granules do not always dissolve in warm water. This leads to the formation of white spots.

Angora or mohair dresses should be washed in water with added shampoo. This will keep things fresh. To keep items soft, add table vinegar (1 tablespoon) or water softener to the water before washing. Softer water will preserve the color of the laundry.

When choosing special cleaning products in the store, before purchasing, determine whether they are suitable for delicate products.

To do this, pay attention to:

• Does the composition contain alkali, if so, then the product is not suitable.
• Products with a bleaching effect are also not allowed.
• Stain removers must be marked “suitable for delicate fabrics.”

Coat type: what does it affect?

There are several types of wool. Each of them has its own characteristics. Knowing what kind of wool was used to create the item, you can select the optimal care for the products.

It is quite possible to wash camel, merino and alpaca wool with soapy water. After this, the item is washed in warm water, up to +35ºС.

Mohair, angora and llama wool should not be soaked or rubbed too hard . Contaminants from such materials are washed off with purified gasoline. Excess is blotted with a rag, and the item itself is washed in slightly cool water.

Storage

Things knitted from wool are capricious, therefore:

• You cannot hang clothes on hangers, otherwise the fabric will be deformed and stretched;
• the same product should not be worn for several days in a row;
• remove pellets that appear on woolen fabric with a special machine;
• do not store clothes folded on top of knitted items in the closet;
• purchase an anti-moth product and put it in places where woolen products are stored.

By using simple instructions for caring and washing woolen items, you will ensure that your clothes will last longer with their softness, warmth and attractive appearance.

LG F10B8QD1

The wool mode on the LG F10B8QD1 is practically no different from the Bosch version, offering a new, improved algorithm. The program is activated by turning the selector to 3 positions, after which the standard settings light up: water temperature - up to 40 degrees, spin - 800 revolutions, and wash duration - 60 minutes. The first two indicators can be varied by reducing the heating to zero or 20, and setting the push-up intensity to 400 or turning it off altogether.

The cycle follows the usual pattern: adding water, washing, rinsing and spinning. But there are noticeable deviations from the standard process:

• water enters the drum in small portions;
• the drum often stands still, allowing things to soak and become saturated with detergent;
• drum scrolling is intermittent;
• After spinning, rinsing is repeated, taking the rinse aid out of the tray.

The new algorithm implies the most delicate handling of wool, but you should not expect high-quality washing with this mode. There are cases when some areas of loaded items remained dry before spinning. Therefore, it is worth reducing the amount of laundry you load or choosing a different program.