Wash up? Should I be washing my merino wool?
Why is a special wool detergent essential for your wool sweater? Find out how enzymes in regular detergent damage wool fibers and how wool detergent with lanolin protects your sweater.
Give your favourite wool sweater the care it deserves! Regular laundry detergent can damage the delicate wool fibers with its harsh enzymes. A special pH-neutral wool detergent with lanolin protects the fabric and keeps your knitwear wonderfully soft and in shape.
- Laundry Detergent
- Special liquid wool detergent (pH-neutral & enzyme-free)
- Key component
- Lanolin (restores the wool's natural protective layer)
- To Avoid
- Regular laundry detergent with enzymes, bleach, and fabric softener
- Washing Instructions
- Wool cycle (max 30°C), max 600 RPM, dry flat
FACTS ABOUT WOOL DETERGENTS
Woolfans, what’s up? You probably remember what we wrote earlier about “not” washing (merino) wool. Forgotten? Or are you new here? Then readthis first. Not right now, because you’re busy/impatient/lazy? We’ve got you covered—the moral of this story stands perfectly well on its own.
GOODBYE, STUFFINESS
You don’t need to wash wool to keep it fresh. Really??? Yes, you read that right. The “open” structure of a single wool fiber and the crinkled texture of a large cluster of wool fibers (which is essentially what a knitted item is) release odours and “small” dirt just as easily as you get them in. Hanging the wool out in the open air—or in a steamy bathroom—is often enough. Bye-bye, wet dog. Adieu, sweat.
GREAT!
Wool owes its self-cleaning properties to lanolin, the layer of fat that coats each fiber. Lanolin inhibits absorbency: moisture and dirt remain on the surface of the wool fiber and aren’t absorbed into it. The proteins in the fat also break down bacteria, neutralizing odours. This is truly what makes wool unique. Great stuff!
Oops
That’s all well and good, but sometimes a wash is simply unavoidable. Stains can be particularly noticeable on light-coloured wool items. After all, you can’t get a blob of pasta sauce out with just a good shake, and even the bravest of proteins are powerless against a baby’s spit. Oops. So, time for a wash. But what happens when you wash fabric? Dirt and grease (and fat!) are dissolved and rinsed away. Great for most fabrics, but a disaster for wool. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way! A special wool detergent keeps the lanolin layer on your woolen item intact. In fact, sometimes it even contains lanolin and replenishes the protective layer where needed. Brilliant!
PLEIN PUBLIQUE & EUCALAN
Of course we have just the right miracle wool detergent for you. Hey, you’re either a wool expert or you’re not. EUCALAN is a lanolin-based wool detergent. You don’t even need to rinse it out—this way, your beloved wool garment gets the most out of this nourishing treatment. The unscented version cleans perfectly and, as an added bonus, reduces static on your garment—the scented version is enriched with eucalyptus and lavender for a subtle fragrance with moth-repelling properties. Mothing to see here, moth ;-).
You’ll find EUCALAN in the shop under the heading “accessories & other’. There, you can also read more about the superpowers of this must-have wool care product.
P.S.: Of course, you should still follow the standard instructions for washing wool. So read the care label, and be sure to check out our earlier detailed blog post on the 10 don’ts before you put your wool item in the wash.
Love, Nicole & Ilse
FAQ
Why can't you use regular laundry detergent on a wool sweater?
Regular laundry detergent contains enzymes (proteases) that break down proteins. Because wool is made of natural protein fibers, regular laundry detergent directly damages the structure of the wool, resulting in wear and tear and holes.
What does lanolin do in a wool detergent?
Lanolin is the natural wool grease that protects sheep from rain and cold. Wool detergent enriched with lanolin nourishes the wool fibers during washing, keeping the sweater soft, breathable, and stain-resistant.
Can you use fabric softener when washing wool?
No, never use fabric softener on wool. Fabric softener coats the wool fibers with a chemical layer, causing them to lose their natural elasticity and their ability to breathe and regulate moisture.
