You’ve finally found a wool sweater you love — soft, warm, perfect. Then wash day arrives and suddenly it feels like a high-stakes situation. Here’s the honest guide from people who make wool sweaters by hand: what actually works, and what to avoid.
Hand washing: the safest method
Our recommendation to every customer is the same: wash by hand. The reason is simple — we don’t know your washing machine, its settings, or how it handles delicate knitwear. Hand washing puts you in full control, and there’s very little that can go wrong.
According to The Woolmark Company — the global authority on wool — the steps are straightforward:
- Turn the sweater inside out
- Fill a clean basin with lukewarm water — approximately 30°C
- Add a small amount of mild, wool-safe detergent (most supermarkets carry these — look for labels that say “for delicates” or “for wool”)
- Let the sweater soak for about 10 minutes
- Rinse first in lukewarm water, then in cold water
- Do not wring. Gently press out the water — or roll the sweater inside a dry towel and squeeze
One extra tip from Woolmark: avoid leaving wet wool sitting for long, especially coloured pieces — treat them promptly and keep dark and light colours separate during washing.
Machine washing: possible, but proceed carefully
If you’d like to try the washing machine, we suggest testing first on an older sweater you’re not precious about. That way you’ll know exactly how your machine handles wool before risking a favourite piece.
If you decide to go ahead, Woolmark recommends the following:
- Use the wool or delicate cycle — if your machine doesn’t have a wool setting, use the cold water or delicates cycle
- Set the temperature to 30°C maximum
- Set spin speed to the lowest available — 500 rpm or less
- Turn the sweater inside out, or place it in a mesh laundry bag
- Use a wool-safe detergent — never use bleach (neither chlorine nor oxygen-based)
- Don’t overfill the drum — the drum should be no more than one-third full
A note on fabric softener: Woolmark advises keeping it to a minimum. Excessive softener can actually cause more pilling over time, because it loosens fibres and allows them to migrate to the surface of the knit.
Drying: this is where most damage happens
Whether you hand-wash or machine-wash, drying is where sweaters most often get ruined. The rule is consistent across every source:
Dry flat. Never on a hanger or a clothesline.
Hanging wet knitwear causes it to stretch from the weight of the water — it grows longer and loses its shape permanently. The same applies to drying over a radiator: the heat is uneven and can affect both colour and fibre structure.
Instead: lay the sweater flat on a clean, pale towel, gently reshape it by hand to its original dimensions, and leave it to air dry away from direct sunlight.
How often should you wash a wool sweater?
Less often than you might think. Wool is naturally odour-resistant and resilient — airing a sweater for a few hours after wearing is often enough to freshen it up. Washing too frequently puts unnecessary stress on the fibres and shortens the life of the garment.
For long-term storage, make sure the sweater is clean before packing it away (food stains and body oils attract moths), and store in an airtight bag or container.
Looking for a wool sweater built to last? Browse our handcrafted merino wool sweaters — each piece made to be worn and loved for years.