What product for washing wollens

kah22

It's about time I washed a large number of woollen jerseys I have. I know it's a gentle wash and dry flat but  I don't know which cleaner to use,  What product would you recommend ?

Kevin

Brie

I was raised using Woolite which was always used for hand washing jumpers.  But there's no reason it can't be used in the machine as well - certainly makes life a bit easier giving it the swish about and a light spin.  I always tend to put a like (or lighter) coloured towel in with it.  

Ecover does good products too but I've never used their wool wash version.  Lakeland does one that is lavender scented which should be nice so you don't end up smelling like a damp dog.  

christineperseus

Stergene or Dreft

Emmia

I use woolite or the persil wool detergent whichever is cheaper when I buy a new one. I use the machine though, wool programme and cold (indicated by the ** symbol on the temperature setting) and usually pop each jumper inside a delicates bag. I've never had a "damp dog odour problem" with either persil or woolite 

The persil version comes with (or came) with an in-machine  dosing ball which I also use with the woolite - I don't measure especially just slosh some in.

The_Money_Saver_2

Can vouch for either the Lakeland one or Ecover  The Ecover one is accredited by Woolmark, or was last time I bought it. 

maddiemay

I have lots of wool and cashmere garments accumulated over many years, for a long time I have not used any product, I just treat marks with a touch of pure liquid soap and put through the cold rinse and spin cycle in wash bags, thin jumpers 2 per bag and thicker ones on their own.  The killer for wool is a combination of heat and agitation.
ETA I would add that I always wear a camisole or blouse etc next to skin.

PipneyJane

I use W8rose’s own brand Cashmere & Wool Wash in the washing machine, using cold water, the Wool Wash cycle and the slower spin option.  (I machine wash everything.)

One thing I will NEVER DO AGAIN is use Eucalan no rinse wool wash.  Once upon a time, I handwashed two jumpers in it.  The next time they needed washing, they went in the machine with a stack of my hand knitted socks, on the wool wash.  The first jumper was knitted from Blue-faced Leicester wool; it shrank to half its original size.  (This was the second jumper I’d knitted from that yarn and the only variable between them is that I’d washed it in Eucalan, which I never did with the other one.  The first jumper has never shrunk, despite being washed dozens of times in the washing machine.)

The second jumper was made from Alpaca.  It shrank by about 10% and also shed handfuls of fibre.  Fortunately, it’s still wearable BUT I have to hand wash it every time, so it rarely gets worn.

- Pip (knitter)




ETA:  It goes without saying, don’t put your woollens in the dryer.

oystercatcher

I always use own brand delicates liquid from Sains/Morries. Short cool wash in the machine