How to wash wool correctly - Part 2
So what is fatally damaging to wool and similar materials? Two main things besides poorly chosen detergent: friction and thermal shock.
Friction is pretty much a no-brainer, never over-wash wool or wring it heavily when washing by hand, always choose a gentle programme (hand wash) when washing in the washing machine and don't spin on high speed, just let the water run off and then drain the clothes. Failure to do this can cause the woollen product to become felted and shrink.
Temperature shock occurs if, for example, you wash your clothes in a different temperature of water and rinse them in a different temperature. This is prevented by strictly keeping the same water setting - lukewarm - for washing and soaking when washing by hand. When washing in the washing machine, we recommend turning the temperature off on the gentle programme so that the machine washes and rinses in the same - cold - water. If your washing machine does not allow this setting, hand wash instead. The above procedure will prevent your laundry from shrinking to doll size.
We'll save the next important point - choosing a detergent - for the next installment.
