Winter is a favorite season for fashion enthusiasts, with their “fancy” outfits, and a wool coat is a must-have item in most of those sets. However, washing wool coats can be extremely difficult due to the unique fabric of this type of coat. So today, let’s learn how to properly wash this type of coat at home without having to go to the dry cleaners.
1 Steps to Properly Wash a Wool Coat
Remove Dust and Dirt
The first thing to do is to check if your wool coat is dusty or dirty. If so, use a soft-bristled brush to gently remove the dust and dirt. For more stubborn stains, you can use a mild detergent or stain remover.
Performing this step carefully will greatly improve the washing process of your beloved wool coat.
Inspect Your Coat
Before putting your coat in the washing machine, thoroughly check the pockets to ensure that items such as keys, coins, or phones are removed. Otherwise, these items can damage your beloved coat as well as the washing machine.
Add Detergent to the Washing Machine
To achieve the best results when washing a wool coat, it is recommended to use specialized detergents designed for coats. If you cannot find any specialized detergents, you may still use mild and safe alternatives to avoid damaging the fabric and fibers of the coat.
However, it is important to note that you should not add fabric softener when washing a wool coat, as it can damage the fabric and reduce the effectiveness of the washing process.
Adding detergent to the washing machine
Wash the Coat
This is the main and most important step of the wool coat washing process. For coats with down filling or thin fabric, such as wool coats, it is recommended to wash in the machine using a cool setting, around 30 degrees Celsius, with a low spin speed.
However, to achieve the best results and prolong the life of your wool coat, it is advisable to hand wash the coat. Specifically, you can soak the coat in a mild detergent for about an hour and then gently rub the fabric to remove dirt. Rinse the coat a few times to remove any detergent residue and gently squeeze out the excess water to finish the hand-washing process.
Dry Your Coat
There are several ways to dry your wool coat, and the simplest method is to air-dry it naturally. Note that when taking the coat out of the washing machine, do not wring it out as it will still be very wet, and doing so may damage the fabric.
Additionally, to make the fibers softer, you can use a clothes dryer at a low temperature. During the drying process, it is recommended to pause a few times and thoroughly shake the coat to prevent clumping and ensure even drying.
Another method to dry a wool coat is to use the heat from an air conditioner. Once the coat is dry, give it a good shake to loosen the fibers and speed up the drying process.
Drying your coat
2 Common Questions About Washing Wool Coats
Will This Washing Method Damage Any Special Coat Features?
This is a common concern for many people when washing wool coats. For some wool coats with water-repellent properties, the water-repellent coating may deteriorate over time. Therefore, it is essential to read the care instructions carefully to choose the most suitable washing method and prolong the life of your coat.
Is It Better to Air-Dry My Coat Naturally?
This may be true as air-drying is a quick, easy, and less labor-intensive method. However, when air-drying a wool coat naturally, there is a risk of the coat developing a musty odor as it takes a long time to dry completely.
Therefore, in certain specific cases, using a dryer or air conditioner heat may still be a more suitable option.
Is it better to air-dry my coat naturally?
Should I Get My Wool Coat Dry Cleaned Instead?
Most dry cleaning services use steam cleaning methods, which may not be suitable for wool coats as the chemicals used can damage the water-repellent coating. Therefore, washing your wool coat at home is still the safest option.
Common questions about washing wool coats
This article provides a guide on how to wash a wool coat at home without having to go to the dry cleaners. Hopefully, with this guide, you can save on dry cleaning costs and learn how to properly clean your beloved coat. Good luck!