Washing wool clothing properly – so it stays beautiful for a long time

Wool clothing can be washed, but not like regular laundry. Wool is durable, but it doesn’t like extremes. During washing, three factors come into play that can stress the wool fibres: water, temperature, and agitation. If this happens too often or too intensely, the fibre structure can suffer over time: the surface becomes dull, the fabric can become compacted, and the garment loses its beautiful shape more quickly.

Why less washing is more when it comes to wool

Wool contains natural wool fat (lanolin), which repels dirt and neutralizes odours. Often, fresh air is enough for the fibres to regenerate. That’s why at ENGEL, the rule is: Wash as rarely as possible, as gently as necessary.

How to wash wool clothing properly – step by step

• Wool cycle or hand wash. Do not use a standard delicate or gentle cycle, as this usually causes more agitation than a special wool cycle.
• Fill the drum only loosely so that the woollen garments can move freely in the water.
• For hand washing: do not rub, do not wring. Gently swishing and lightly squeezing is sufficient.
• Use awool detergent with a pH value below 7; do not use fabric softener.
• Wash on the “cold” setting or at a maximum of 30°C on the wool cycle.
• Important: Use the same temperature for both the wash and rinse cycles to prevent temperature shock. Consistent temperatures are crucial, as significant temperature differences can cause the fibres to become felted and lead to shrinkage.
• Spin at a low speed. Our recommendation: no more than 400 RPM.
• Then gently squeeze out excess water with a towel, carefully reshape, and dry flat (do not tumble dry or place on a radiator)

These steps generally apply to virgin wool, wool/silk, wool fleece, and boiled wool. With boiled wool, however, “less is more” is particularly important.

Proper care for boiled wool – what you should keep in mind

Boiled wool is a fabric for the outdoors: firmer, more robust, and often wind- and water-repellent. That is exactly why the following applies here in particular: It’s better to air it out and gently brush it rather than wash it.

This is because washing can cause boiled wool to compact further (“re-boil”). This can make it stiffer and alter the size. If cleaning is necessary, it should therefore be done very gently—with as little movement as possible and without strong friction.