by Donna Hicks

Created on: February 22, 2011   Last Updated: August 06, 2011

Knowing how to hand wash a wool sweater properly extends the life of your favorite wool sweater and keeps it looking nice. A few simple tips on the proper hand washing of wool sweaters are all that is needed.

Check Fiber Content and Water Temperature

Sweaters made of 100% wool are most likely to shrink when washed. Sweaters made of 50% or higher wool content are also at significant risk of shrinking when washed, but not as much as a 100% wool sweater. Sweaters made of a “wool blend,” which often includes wool and acrylic or acetate are less likely to shrink than sweaters with a higher wool content. 

When attempting to hand wash a sweater with any wool content, the most important thing to remember is to avoid washing it in hot water. Even a sweater made of a wool blend that contains high acrylic content cannot be washed in hot water. According to the Woolcrafting article, "Want to Wash Wool Clothing? What You Must Know," acrylic loses its’ “memory” when exposed to heat. Washing a wool blend sweater in hot water will result in a saggy, baggy sweater. A sweater with any amount of wool in the fabric content may be hand washed in lukewarm water only.

Detergent

The only detergent that should be used to hand wash a wool sweater is a detergent specially formulated to be safe for wool fabrics. Harsh, regular detergents can damage and even ruin your wool sweater. There are detergents that are specially made for wool, so do not risk ruining your wool sweater by using regular detergent, which is too harsh for delicate wool sweaters. If you have none of the detergent specially made for wool, it is safe to use mild dishwashing liquid. Do not overdo it on the detergent; a few drops are sufficient. After adding the detergent, swirl it around in the basin or tub to mix the detergent into the water. To neutralize perspiration odor, you can add white vinegar, but use no more than ¾ cup.

Hand Wash the Wool Sweater

Martha Stewart says in "How to Hand-Wash a Sweater," that, “If you think caring for cashmere, or merino or angora is best left to professionals, someone has been pulling the wool over your eyes.” So relax; it is safe to hand wash your wool sweater.

After mixing the mild detergent in the water, add the sweater. Put the sweater into the water and gently push the sweater down. You may safely soak the sweater for a short period of time if you wish, but not longer than 10 minutes. Once the sweater is immersed in the water, swish very gently. Do not scrub, rub, wring or twist the sweater! When finished, lift the sweater out of the water. You may ball the sweater up, according to Martha Stewart, and gently squeeze excess water from the sweater, taking care not to wring or stretch the sweater. The next step is rinsing.

Rinsing the Wool Sweater

When rinsing, handle your wool sweater with the same gentle care as when washing. Empty the wash water from the basin or tub. Refill with water at the same temperature. Gently place the sweater in the clean water. Swish very gently to rinse. Remove the sweater, following the same steps as you did when finished washing. Repeat the rinsing process until the basin water is clear, with no remaining detergent.

Roll and Dry

Place a white towel on a flat surface. Immediately place the wool sweater on top of the towel, making sure it is flat. Roll the towel and sweater gently, pressing and squeezing while rolling. This will remove excess moisture. Next, unroll the towel and sweater. Remove the sweater and lay it on a flat surface, out of direct sunlight. Reshape the sweater. When dry, it will look as beautiful as it always has!

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