We remove the prickliness of wool: how and what to wash it with, freeze the product, and dry it properly.
With the arrival of cold weather, woolen items are probably the most beloved in the wardrobe of all our compatriots. Indeed, a good woolen item is thin, light, and at the same time very warm. Only fleece items can compete with them, but due to the specific visual appearance, fleece is used for sewing sports lines, which is not suitable for everyone.
In this article we will tell you how to care for woolen items so that when worn they do not cause discomfort or tingling (a natural characteristic of wool, even merino).
What can you do to prevent woolen items from itching?
You bought something made of 100% wool, and everything would be fine if it weren’t for this unpleasant tingling sensation. Have you really been sold a low-quality item? Not at all, because the natural characteristic of wool is a slight tingling sensation that is felt by human skin, especially children's skin. This happens because the wool resembles human hair, which has been split and formed a “fluff”; it is these fluffy ends that irritate.
Scientists have proven that if both parents are not allergic, then items made from natural wool can be purchased without any problems for the child from the first days. But what if she annoys even adults? There are several washing secrets for this.
Option #1
To wash woolen items, purchase a detergent labeled “for washing woolen items” or “for wool.” Both gels and powders are sold, but as practice shows, gels work better and soften the wool without damaging its structure. In addition, many housewives complain that when washing woolen items delicately, streaks remain from the powder.
The most popular and proven wool washing products remain Laska Wool and Lenor. But other specialized tools are not very different. Pay attention to the smell, because wool perfectly absorbs aromas, and they will not disappear when dried like cotton or synthetics.
Weasel for fur
Before washing, be sure to check the tags, and even if you have a new machine, but the wool item says “hand wash only,” there is no need to take risks, and besides, washing such things is not at all difficult:
- Pour water at 37-40 °C into a basin, dissolve the detergent;
- We lower the woolen item so that it is completely in the solution;
- Leave for an hour so that all the dirt comes out into the water on its own;
- Lightly wipe the dirty areas after an hour and rinse with plenty of water;
- It is not recommended to wring out the wool; it is best to throw it on a net, and after the water has drained from it, spread it on an easily absorbable cloth until completely dry.
Also, don’t forget about the conditioner; both specialized for woolen items and regular conditioners are suitable. It is worth adding that the effect of the conditioner is cumulative and after each use the item becomes softer and softer.
Option No. 2
Do you urgently need to wash a woolen item, and don’t have time to look for special equipment? What you have on hand at home may well be useful, but these are still one-time solutions and next time you can make your work easier by purchasing the necessary gel and conditioner.
Hair care = coat care
So let's get started:
- Pour warm water and add a teaspoon of citric acid to the basin of water, leave for 10 minutes;
- If necessary, add hot water so that the water in the basin is warm and the citric acid is completely dissolved. Place the item and leave it for 15 minutes;
- Now drain the water and rinse in one water;
- We soap the item with regular shampoo that we have at home. Leave for 5-10 minutes;
- We rinse out the shampoo, apply a thin layer of hair conditioner on both sides, yes, just like you wash your hair. Leave it to work for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly;
- We throw the item onto the net and then lay it out to dry on the fabric in a horizontal position.
Option #3
It is not separate, but rather auxiliary. Get yourself, if you don’t already have a steamer at home, or a steam cleaner, or an iron with a good steam function. In general, any technique that produces a good stream of steam. After the item is completely dry, steam it, but remember, touching the wool with an iron or hot surface is strictly prohibited.
A steamer is an indispensable assistant in caring for woolen items.
And another option for steaming, if the item “didn’t give up” earlier - dilute a pinch of citric acid per liter of water and wet the fabric. Place the fabric on a woolen product and steam it with this solution. After this, the thing will probably become soft and “obedient”.
Option No. 4
The folk method that our great-grandmothers used. Pour 1.5-2 tablespoons of mustard powder into a basin of water with hot water and let it dissolve. Bring to a warm state and lower the item. Wait a few hours and rinse.
Dry mustard as a wool softener
It was believed that mustard and dirt would absorb, remove the smell and make the wool softer. But we would recommend using mustard instead of conditioner, because it cannot cope with the persistent smell of sweat, and we live in an age when this smell is unacceptable in everyday life, but is the most common reason for washing woolen items.
Shampoo and hair conditioner
To make clothes softer, it is not necessary to purchase special products for woolen items. You can use shampoo or hair conditioner (preferably both), which we use to wash our hair. It is advisable that they be for dry and split ends, then the effect will be stronger. Shampoo for long-haired animals is also good for softening.
Shampoo and conditioner, or maybe 2 in 1, act like powder. They are able to soften the hair, making it a single whole, and thanks to the fragrances, your clothes will not only be more pleasant to the body, but will also smell delicious.
To soften wool items, wash them in cool water and shampoo. Squeeze a little and apply the balm evenly on both sides. Leave the item for 5 minutes, then rinse off the balm and send the clothes to dry.
To prevent a woolen item from changing shape and stretching, it must be dried only in a horizontal position.
How to make a woolen sweater, jacket, dress soft and not scratchy?
Another option goes well with clothes. To do this you will need vinegar and regular salt without additives. So: add 5 tablespoons of salt to 5 liters of warm water and dissolve completely. Add 5 tablespoons of vinegar or citric acid solution (a teaspoon per liter of water) and dip the item after washing in regular powder. Leave for 2-3 hours and then rinse.
If it is not summer and the item is not allowed to dry in a well-ventilated area, the smell of vinegar will remain in the item until the next wash.
Glycerin will help remove the prickly fur.
In this case, there is another way:
- 1 liter of water;
- 1 teaspoon glycerin.
Soak for no more than 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
Glycerin is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but if it’s not available since our grandmothers’ stockpiles, it’s easier to buy special supplies.
Mustard powder
This method, which makes it possible to make things less prickly, was used by our grandmothers long before the invention of special powders. Mustard softens the fibers, and the material becomes noticeably softer and more pleasant to the touch.
Using mustard powder to soften wool is very simple. Add 2 tbsp. l. mustard into a bowl of warm water and place the woolen product there. Leave it in the solution for an hour, then rinse thoroughly. Drain the mustard solution and rinse the clothes thoroughly. Squeeze lightly and set aside to dry.
The down scarf is itching: what to do, how to fix it?
A down scarf is a very delicate thing and requires proper care. Depending on the color, thickness and even type of wool yarn, you should wash and dry it in different ways. Read more about caring for woolen scarves, including the famous Orenburg scarf, in our article at the link.
The down scarf is itching: what to do, how to fix it?
The main rules for maintaining the softness of the product
In order to avoid unpleasant sensations while wearing a sweater, it is recommended to follow the following simple rules that will help maintain the softness of the pile:
- When cleaning these products, it is advisable to always use conditioner designed for washing wool items;
- try to avoid washing at high temperatures and at high spin speeds of the washing machine;
- the dryer also contributes to the loss of softness and elasticity of the material , so it is recommended to use such a machine only in cases of extreme necessity;
- drying near radiators, near heating devices or direct sunlight can make the item hard and prickly;
- too frequent washing, especially by machine , negatively affects the condition of the material and its softness;
- Use soft water to wash this item;
- When purchasing a product made from thick and bulky yarn, it is advisable to try it on , making sure that the material will be pleasant to the body and will not cause itching or irritation.
Sheep wool, in turn, is the most “biting” material, which may not be too soft to the body.
Can a scratchy sweater be softened in the freezer?
Those who studied physics well at school know that water expands at subzero temperatures and contracts at positive temperatures. Thanks to this feature, many centuries ago, women discovered that it is best to wash down and wool items in winter, as they become softer, more delicate and do not itch at all, as if they were washed in the warm season.
Can a scratchy sweater be softened in the freezer?
So, detailed instructions on how to make any woolen or downy item soft using frost or a freezer:
- We wash and rinse using any of the methods described above;
- We throw it onto the net and let the water drain, but the fabric itself should remain damp;
- Place the item in a bag and place it in the freezer or in the cold for several hours;
- Take it out and let it defrost completely, shake it and lay it out on a horizontal surface to dry. Shake during drying to help fluff up the fabric.
Steaming wool
Another way to make wool “thorn” soft is to steam it. To do this you will need: an iron or steam generator, a cloth (the size of the item being processed or larger) and citric acid. Lemon tends to soften things, and steam only enhances the effect.
To prevent wool items from itching:
- Place the clothes on the ironing board.
- Set the iron to the “wool” setting, if there is one, or just to a high temperature, but not maximum.
- Prepare a lemon solution (1 pinch per 1 liter of water).
- Dip the cloth into the solution.
- Place the damp cloth on the woolen product.
Now everything is ready, you can start the steaming process. Gently, without pressing too hard, go over the entire fabric. If you press hard, the item may stretch out, so everything needs to be done gently and with light movements. Having finished on one side, wet the fabric again and begin working on the second side of the product. When using a steam generator, the process of preparing clothes and steaming them does not change.
Bandage
How to make a knitted item soft? A knitted scratchy sweater can be tied up:
- Start unraveling it, moving from the neck.
- Once all the threads have been unraveled, they may take on a wavy appearance. To solve this problem and straighten them, steam them. This can be done with an iron, a special device - a steamer, or you can simply hold it over boiling water.
- After this, arm yourself with a crochet hook, as well as cotton or silk threads, and begin bandaging.
