How to wash wool clothing properly to avoid ruining it

Wool garments often come in the form of jumpers, hats and gloves, which are favoured in the winter months due to their complex fibre structure, which traps pockets of air.

However, it can be easy to ruin your wool clothes if you don’t wash them properly.

If you want to get the most out of your wool clothes, here are two things you should never do when washing them.

Wool clothing should not require regular washing (Image: Getty Images)

The two things to avoid when washing wool clothes

One of the crucial things to avoid when washing wool clothes is to make sure you don’t wash them at too high a heat.

Harriette Jarman at home and appliance retailer AEG, explained: “If your machine doesn’t have a wool cycle, then we recommend you turn it inside out and make sure to wash your wool on a cooler setting.

“Wool is likely to be damaged and irritated by heat, so opt for a 30°C wash.”

Michelle Feng, who is a Product Marketing Manager and Laundry Expert at Hisense, concurred with this advice.

She commented: “When washing wool and cashmere, make sure to select a gentle cycle with a low spin speed to minimise stretching and damage to the fabrics.

“You should also look to use a cool or cold water wash with temperatures at around 20°C to 30°C.”

Some washing machines do have a specific wool cycle you can make the most of, though, as this will protect delicate fibres and keep wool feeling soft.

Alongside the heat element, avoiding harsh detergent or fabric softener is also important to keep wool clothing at its best.

Jarman added: “Avoid using regular and heavy detergents, as these are designed to attack stains and dirt aggressively, which can damage and weaken the fibres leading to shrinkage.

“You should always use a gentle, wool-safe detergent which has a neutral pH, and is an enzyme free detergent, rather than a harsh bio laundry detergent.”

Meanwhile, Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at Beko, said: “One common mistake to avoid is using fabric softener, as it can cause product build-up, damage the natural fibres, and reduce wool’s natural sweat-wicking and insulating properties.”

How often should you wash wool clothing?

Wool tends to require less frequent washing thanks to its natural odour and stain-repellent properties.

Discussing the reasons for this, Emma Woodrow, a buyer at Pour Moi shared: “This is because wool is naturally rich in lanolin, a waxy substance secreted by the glands of sheep to waterproof and protect their wool, which helps to repel dirt and odours.”

In most cases, spot cleaning will do the job with a gentle handwash in the sink with a speciality wool detergent.

Emma adds: “However, if you don’t have this, a gentle hair shampoo will also work.

“Wool is an animal fibre, similar in structure to human hair, so the shampoo cleans it without any harsh enzymes found in regular washing detergents.”

How to dry wool clothing

Taking a bit of extra care when drying wool clothing is also important to maintaining its integrity.

Salah Sun said: “Instead of using a tumble dryer, as high heat can cause wool fibres to shrink or lose their shape, gently press out excess water by hand and avoid aggressive spin cycles.

“Check the care label again for drying instructions – some woollens will benefit from being reshaped and dried flat to maintain their original fit, while others can be carefully hung to dry at room temperature.”

“With the right care, your wool pieces can stay soft, comfortable and looking great for longer.”