Hand-Washing Wool Clothes
Fill a basin with enough water and dissolve detergent in it. Note that when washing wool clothes, you should use cold water, not hot water. Be sure to read the instructions printed on the garment tag (if any) as many high-end clothing items can only be dry-cleaned.
Gently submerge the clothes into the basin. Soak the clothes in soapy water for about 5-10 minutes. Gently squeeze to remove stubborn stains on the clothes.
When draining the water, you can use a handheld showerhead to rinse the clothes to remove all dirt and soap, or you can lift the clothes up and down in clean water until no more bubbles appear. Do not scrub or rub vigorously to avoid wrinkles, fraying, and loss of shape.
Hang the clothes on hangers to let them air dry. Place the clothes in a cool, well-ventilated area. Avoid drying the clothes in high-temperature or intense sunlight as this can damage them.
Machine-Washing Wool Clothes
You can also wash wool clothes in a washing machine to save time and effort. When washing, choose mild and safe detergents to avoid damaging the fabric. Button up, zip up, and turn the clothes inside out before placing them in a large laundry bag.
Place the clothes in the washing machine and select the cold water setting and the lowest spin speed to avoid damaging the clothes.
However, the most effective and the best way to wash wool clothes while ensuring their durability is still to hand wash them.
Dry-Cleaning Wool Clothes at Home
Dry-cleaning is a method that helps maintain the shape of the clothes very well. You can dry-clean wool clothes at home without taking them to a professional dry cleaner.
First, remove any dust or dirt from the clothes. Then, take a large bath towel, dampen it, and cover the wool clothes with it. Next, use an iron to press the towel on top of the clothes. By doing this, the dust will stick to the damp towel with the steam.
Repeat this process 2-3 times, ironing and changing the towel to achieve the best cleaning results. By doing so, the clothes will be much cleaner without directly using water.
Note that with this method, stubborn stains may be difficult to completely remove.
Drying Wool Jackets
You can hang wool jackets in a well-ventilated area to let them air dry naturally.
In addition, to speed up the drying process, you can also use a clothes dryer on a low heat setting. During the drying process, pause the dryer a few times to flip the jacket.