How to Care for Merino Wool: Some Essential Care Tips

Unlike other wool types available in the market, merino wool doesn’t need extra care to live longer and healthier. However, there are still some care tips that you need to follow if you want your newly bought merino wool garments to be with you for long. So, how to care for merino wool? Here’s everything you need to know. 

Washing Instructions for Merino Wool:

The best thing about merino wool garments is that you can wash them both in the machine and with your hands. However, there are certain care tips that you need to follow to maintain their health and longevity. 

Machine Wash Instructions:

Pro Tip: Remember that the merino wool fibers are delicate to handle hot water. They lose their functionality ultimately, and thus you must ensure that the water you are using for the wash is warm/cool and not extreme.  

1. Turn your merino wool garments inside out and put them into the machine. 
2. Machine-wash your garments in warm or cool water, not in hot water. 
3. Use mild soap while washing them in the machine. 

Note: While washing in the machine, ensure to avoid using bleach or fabric softener as both destroy the wool fibers. These softeners and bleaches coat the fibers and thus reduce their natural ability to regulate body temperature and manage moisture. 

Hand Wash Instructions:

While washing your merino wool garments with your hands, here are the steps that you need to follow; 

1. Get for your merino wool garment with a lukewarm water 
2. Mix this water with soap or add a few drops of mild detergent. Avoid using bleach or fabric softener. 
3. Soak your garments in this while agitating the water. 
4. Rinse your merino garment with lukewarm water. 
5. Press out excess water from the garments. 

Pro Tip: If you’ve got stains on your merino wool garment and are worried about removing stains from the garments. Take a soft cloth and lean the stain from it. Ensure to dab the stain with mild detergent and not stretch or rub it. 

How to Dry Your Merino Wool Garments? 

If you want to extend the life of your merino wool garments, we recommend you air-dry them instead of tumble-drying. 

The best way to dry your merino garments is to lay them flat; hanging them wet may distort the shape of your garments. This process may take a little longer, but it’s the best way to keep your garments live longer and in their original shape forever. 

Alternatively, you can also hand your garments to dry over a chair. 

Note: If you prefer a dryer for drying most of your garments and want to dry your merino garments in a dryer as well, ensure to tumble-dry on a low setting. However, do not do this until you check the care label on your garments, as there are a lot of merino garments that shouldn’t be dried in a dryer. 

How to Iron Your Merino Garments? Instructions to Follow:

Taking care of your merino wool garments not only includes washing and drying but also includes proper ironing and some things to avoid while ironing. 

Here are 4 easy steps that you need to follow while ironing your merino garments. 

1. Set the iron on a wool, medium, or two-dot heat setting. Ensure not to set it too hot as it will distort the wool fibers. It may lead to discoloration and, in the worst case, to scorch marks. 
2. While ironing, lay your garment flat and reshape gently by hand. 
3. You can also use the steaming function of your iron to remove the crease and help your garment retain its original shape. You can also spray your garments with water before applying the iron. 
4. After ironing, lay your garment flat on a smooth, hard surface for 5 minutes or so. 
5. This will prevent further creasing on your garments. 

Things to Avoid While Ironing Merino Garments:

• Avoid Pressure: While ironing your merino garments, avoid applying heavy pressure as it will make the garment’s surface turn shiny. 
• Avoid Leaving Iron for Long on Garment: Avoid leaving iron to stand on the garment for long as it can lead to scorching. 
• Do Not Use Spray-on: It is not recommended to use spray-on starch or softeners, or conditioners as all of these can lead to the appearance of deposits on your wool garments. 
• Do Not Oppose the Label: If the label advises you not to iron your wool garments, ensure to avoid ironing them. If the label says “Do not iron,” make sure you do not do it. 

Storage Instructions for Merino Garments:

Storing your merino garments properly is extremely important to increase their longevity. You can not just put them into your cupboard directly and consider them stored properly. It would help if you considered some things while storing your merino garments. 

If you want to store your garments for the long term, ensure that you put them in a zip-lock bag or an airtight container. Also, make sure that your garments are cleaned and completely dried before you put them into the container. This will keep your garments stored safely for the long term when they are not in use. 

Additionally, there is a possibility that your garments get ruined or damaged by the moth’s attack. So, to keep your garments safer from moths, keep your container or bag in a cedar chest/ block as moths do not like cedar. Also, you can use some wool-specific detergents that contain moth-repellent ingredients. 

Note: Moths are not the only threat to the safety of your wool garments; some beetles and mice are also. So, we suggest you choose your store location with great care, considering all the possible threats to your garments. 

Some Other Instructions:

While you’ve learned some basic instructions for washing, drying, and ironing your merino wool products, there are some other instructions that you need to follow. These general instructions will help you keep your woolen garments safer for longer. 

Pilling Prevention:

Pilling can make your garments look rougher and clumsier to touch. Pills are made when the shorter fibers make their way to the fabric’s surface and form pesky clumps. 

You can prevent pilling by washing your merino wool garments with a coarser fabric, like jeans. With time, the fabric will improve as the shorter fibers will be removed before they ever find their way towards the surface. 

Note: While washing your merino product with jeans, ensure that the zip of your jeans is closed. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Conclusion:

So, merino wool garments are best for you to wear in each environment type. But, how long it will live and provide you benefits depends entirely on how well you take care of your garments. The better you care for them, the more you’ll get benefits for a longer time.