The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

greenbee

Jem - the 10% Alpaca is what means you shouldn't wash the coats. It isn't wool, and Alpaca fibre generally felts if washed. Don't risk it.

If the coats are currently clean, air them well and then deal with any minor spills or dirt by spot cleaning as they happen. If you don't think they are clean, get them dry cleaned and consider it part of the purchase price, then try to keep them aired and clean.

I know that if I look after my wool coat it doesn't need cleaning often.

silvasava

Jem - a tip given to me by one of the ladies in our local CS was to use wet wipes. They are brilliant for spot cleaning clothes. I have a lovely Thai silk jacket bought in a CS & I have always rubbed the neck area with a wet wipe after wearing it & its fine.
If they need 'freshening' I have sometimes hung clothes outside overnight (not in the weather though!) on a coathanger & it seems to do the job. Please DONT wash them - they will be ruined.

[Deleted User]

handwashing works for wool and alpaca if it is not at all agitated, ie soak in wool wash in a lukewarm bath, then drain the water and gently lift while clean water at exactly the same temperature goes into the bath. Immerse without moving the water and do this twice more. Then gently raise and drape outside to drip, obviously it won`t dry in this weather and will weigh a tonne. I wash sheeps fleece like this but I tear it apart and wash in mesh bags that I spin in a one way spin dryer and only in summer. Washing a wool/alpaca coat will be impossible so well worth the dry cleaning cost

fuddle

You know how tight I am but I appreciate wool fibres too much to risk shrinking and felting. I think you have found an amazing bargain there Jem, a piece that will last and last if looked after properly

Off to read in more detail about Alpaca fibres Greenbee, as I am looking into starting felting as a hobby and learning how to use felting as a wool repair. Thanks

Got visions of Lyn gathering Alpaca fibres from fences when she's on her walk. :rotfl: Please don't :eek: :rotfl: Alpacas are adorable, enjoy! When are you likely to be going?

stiltwalker

Fuddle chick - you're not tight, you're prudent!
Got to say I'd be dry cleaning not attempting to wash, you got a good bargain there and I'd be loathe to risk spoiling it for the sake of a few more quid on a dry clean.


Well just when we thought we'd seen the last of those pesky spots - poor DS come out in a full second crop of spots (right at the end of the 2 weeks that the NHS guy said was possible, if rare). Poor little love is now covered head to foot, even his bits have not escaped, he's got them in his hair, eyebrows and ears. He's very fed up and sorry for himself - yesterday I even ended up with him draped in my arms like some (very -he's taller than half of this year's reception class already) overgrown baby all snuggled in to me.


It's not just him fed up - I'm pretty fed up myself - we've had spots in the house now since 8th December with the children taking turn and turn about.


On a more cheerful note - after the cinema success of Sunday, I have booked tickets to take DD to the singalong version in half term, the one with the characters dressed up and prop bags provided! Was very impressed with the service from the theatre as booked a wheelchair space for DD and got a free carer seat. Not told DD yet, will wait til the tickets arrive - she is going to be a very excited little lady.


Hope everyone else is ok - hugs all round - Hx

[Deleted User]

Morning all, I did just have that aberrant thought that if there chanced to be any spare alpaca wool going and they were likely to be in moult I'd take a bag? FUDS we're going to wait for the warmer weather in the hope of a nicer walk so most likely May or June time, I'm ridiculously excited by the prospect of getting up close and personal with what amounts to a teddy bear cloud on stick legs though, I will most certainly get lots of photos of our charges though and let you all see who they are.

Jolly cold here today and He Who Knows is just coming down with our communal head cold so I'm making a big pan of leek and potato soup to cheer him up and I'm going to make a cheese and onion quiche for supper as we've got lots of tail ends of cheese left in the fridge from christmas so more room if I use them up. Thought we'd a problem with Docky this morning, he came back from his walk with the eye on his tumour side swollen up and closed and thought Oh oh it's grown but then He Who Knows told me he'd had a thump from a couple of other dogs he was playing with, not one of the three of them was watching where the other two were and they all managed to head but each other at speed, numpties, so he's got a black eye, or he would have if he wasn't already a black dog. It's gone down lots now but I'll bet he's sore, little boys eh?

camelot1001

Mrs LW - I am excited for your Alpaca walk, it sounds amazing.
Oh no stiltwalker, how many spots can a household take! Your poor children (and you), I hope they are better soon.
Monnogran - Enjoy seeing your family, better late than never!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas, I had a lovely relaxing time with friends and family, even had a walk in the nice crisp, new snow on the Yorkshire Moors.

DD has gone to The Netherlands, my flight is later this afternoon so I will meet her there. DS2 has gone to Iceland for a holiday (DD and I are staying at his flat!). My suitcase is filled with things for him, some Christmas presents, some clothes and lots of toiletries as they are very expensive there. In my rucksack I have an XBox and some books. Gosh, I will have some muscles by the time I get there. Hope DD has a G&T ready!

If I don't get back on, have a lovely New Year, may you all enjoy good health. XX

Knit_Witch

nuttyp - just hoping things are going as well as they can and I hope you are getting some help

ivyleaf

Camelot, how lovely! Hope you have a great time with DS. Safe journey x

As for Master stiltwalker and Docky - oh dear :-( I hope both are better soon.

Stilty I remember having chickenpox twice (not in a double attack as your poor littlies have, though), my Dad had to carry me to the toilet during the second attack because the spots on the soles of my feet made it painful to walk. I was about six; I don't know how i managed during the day while Dad was at work, I suppose I must have used a potty!

Thinking of you nuttyp x


ETA Just re-read your post Camelot and realised DS won't be there! Hope he enjoys Iceland.

savingqueen

get well wishes to the poorlies especially Master Stiltwalker. DS10 had a classmate at school with chickenpox just before the end of term (he missed all the fun stuff poor lad) and his mum said he had had it several times before :eek:.
We made it to the cinema and it was great. Felt freezing in the car on the way home so have my trusty oversized dressing gown over my clothes and DH made me a cuppa (again!!!!) so nice and warm now. Neither of us feel like cooking much so we are raiding the freezer for odds and ends and making do. I have a gammon defrosting to be cooked tomorrow when hopefully normal domestic service will resume, can't wait to get on with things again. Need to do a meal plan to cover 3rd Jan onwards.
Its a 5 week month pay wise for both Jan and Feb and both MOT and car insurance due amongst other things so will need to be canny with the money! One good thing is I managed to pay the last instalment off DS10's school residential before they broke up, payment not due til March so that will help the budget.


Camelot - if you are reading, have a fantastic time!