Wellness for winter wool

Spring in the air? Summer fever? Then you’ll soon notice that your favourite winterwear is slowly finding a new spot in your closet. On the back of the rack, instead of at the front. At the bottom of the shelf, instead of on top. Because no matter how well you organize your wardrobe, and no matter how many favourite pieces you can keep wearing: unfortunately, not everything is 100% all-season proof. So, we lovingly say goodbye to the thick turtleneck, the XL couch potato sweater, and our knitted lounge pants: Enjoy your summer break! But of course, we can't put them away without giving them a dose of TLC. So that when the autumn cold returns, we can take them out of the closet looking as good as ever. Voilà:

Wellness for winter wool, a useful step-by-step plan.

HOW TO STORE YOUR WINTER CLOTHING SMART & SAFE

1. Do a stain check.

Every stain, no matter how superficial, will settle over time. The older it gets, the more stubborn it becomes. They're just like people ;-). Moreover, moths are crazy about protein-containing stains (egg, dairy, blood), and naturally, we want to keep those voracious flutterers out of the closet. If you find a stain, you will need to remove it. Stains in woolen clothing that do not necessarily need to be washed (we will come back to this later) can also be removed by hanging only the piece with the stain in lukewarm soapy water with wool detergent and rinsing the stain away. Do not wring or rub; let the wool detergent do the work.

2. Get nosey.

Do you smell something? Count on it that summer break won't improve the odour. Non-wool clothing can be washed (by hand or machine) to get the smell out. You know the drill – follow the instructions on the care label. But for wool clothing the rule is: don't wash your wool if you can help it. Wool is naturally antibacterial and dirt-repellent. The layer of lanolin around the wool fibers repels surface dirt and prevents odours from penetrating deep into the material. Instead, hang your (merino) wool clothing outside for an hour and the odours will disappear like snow for the sun. Afterward, hang your wool inside to air out for a while, which allows any moisture from outside to evaporate.

3. Only wash wool when you really can't help it.

Made a big mess and/or cooked something exotic? Happens to the best of us ; ) No problem, wash smart and use this step-by-step plan.

Machine wash:

• • Use the wool wash program
  • Wash at a max temperature of 30 °C
  • Make sure the spinning speed does not surpass the 600 rpm (Check your wool wash program and set this manually if necessary.)
  • Use a special wool laundry detergent
  • Do NOT use fabric softener, as this leaves behind a sticky layer that is loved by moths.
  • NEVER put wool in the dryer, just let it air dry old-school.
  • Allow your wool to dry while laying down flat. This way, your garment will retain its original shape.

Hand wash:

• • In a bowl or sink with lukewarm water, at max 30 °C
  • Do not soak, do not rub, do not squeeze. Just move gently back and forth so that the water rinses through.
  • Rinse with clean water, again lukewarm. A transition from warm to cold can cause felting.
  • Do not wring the water out! Gently press it instead, rolled up in a towel if necessary.
  • Allow your wool to dry while laying down flat, preferably on a mesh rack. Optionally, place a towel underneath, preferably a white one to prevent colour bleeding. (Think: the effect of a stray red sock in the white laundry...)

4. Make sure there are no moths (or larvae) inside. 

Hang your woolen clothing overnight over a few sheets of white paper. Do you find tiny pellets or threads? That's bad news. Put your garment in the freezer for 4 days and the culprits will bite the dust (instead of your sweater).

5. Store your winter clothing lying down flat.

This prevents distortion and sagging. If you are stacking, place the heavy clothing at the bottom. If necessary, place sheets of tissue paper between your (silk) blouses.

6. Where to store?

• In a closet? (Lucky you, where do you get all that space from…) Wipe the shelf/drawer down with a cloth dampened with water and a splash of cleaning vinegar to keep away the moths.
• In a box? Plastic is handy, especially if it is transparent. Cardboard boxes are less suitable; cardboard absorbs moisture, which means trouble for your wool.
• In a fabric cover or bag? Great idea, wool especially loves being able to breathe.

So, feeling good about your storage policy? Great. Good clothes deserve good care. You want them to last as long as possible, don't you? When you take them out of the storage, fresh as can be, you'll enjoy them just as intensely as before the summer break.

Speaking of… With the new season just around the corner, you are undoubtedly taking a critical look at last year's summer clothes. Are you missing something, or is your spring wardrobe ready for a breath of fresh air? Chop chop, hurry to the Plein Publique shop. Amazing new summer items are rolling in as we speak.