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With proper care the natural qualities of wool can be maintained for years. Follow these simple tips to insure the lasting beauty of your wool garments. |
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- Give wool clothing a 24-hour rest between wearings. Wool fibers will shed wrinkles and return to their original shape.
- Refresh wool garments quickly after wearing or unpacking by hanging them in a steamy bathroom. (Moisture from the steam will remove wrinkles). |
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- Always use steam when pressing wool.
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Set the iron on the wool setting.
- Avoid pressing wool totally dry.
- When possible, press on the reverse side of the fabric.
- When it is necessary to press on the right side of the fashion fabric, use a press cloth to avoid a shine.
- Extra scraps of wool fabric make excellent press cloths; they help to preserve the resilient texture of woolens.
- Lower and lift the iron; don’t slide it back and forth. |
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The same chemistry that makes wool fiber resilient and durable and lets it breathe and shed wrinkles also makes wool susceptible to moths and carpet beetles. These insects, if allowed to infest wool, feed in the larva stage on the keratin protein present only in animal fibers. Since the insect larvae are attracted to areas of the cloth that are soiled with food stains and body oil, clothing kept clean in storage is the most effective protection.
Additional prevention can be achieved by taking the following precautions: |
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- Have your woolens cleaned before packing them away. (Cleaning will also kill larvae).
- Brush clothing after each wearing. (This will not only revive the nap but will help rid clothing of insect infestation).
- Keep closets, dresser drawers and trunks clean.
- Pack clothes in airtight containers – well-sealed garment bags or boxes and trunks with secure lids.
- Cold storage in temperatures of 40 degrees (4° C) or lower further discourages infestation. |
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Before deciding on a cleaning method for wool clothing, look for the care instruction label. Most clothing manufacturers recommend dry cleaning although some garments can be hand-washed and some even laundered by machine.
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Garments labeled Superwash can go right from the washing machine to the dryer without the worry of felting shrinkage.
For the best results for woven washable woolens: |
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1 - Set the machine for gentle action at a short cycle.
2 - Set the water temperature at cool or lukewarm.
3 - Use a mild soap or detergent which contains no bleach.
4 - If it’s the powered variety, make sure it is completely dissolved.
5 - Wash each garment separately.
6 - Garments identified with the SUPERWASH label can be dried by machine or hung carefully on a padded hanger.
7 - Shearling bedpans may also carry the SUPERWASH certification allowing them to be washed and dried by machine.
8 - Once clean, they should be lightly brushed to restore their original appearance. |
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1 - Wash in lukewarm or cold water using a mild soap or liquid detergent (which contains no bleach) according to directions.
2 - Soak for 3-5 minutes, gently squeezing suds through without twisting or wringing the garment.
3 - Rinse twice in clean water that is the same temperature as the wash water.
4 - Gently squeeze out excess water and roll the garment in a towel and pin the garment to the pattern, smoothing to its original shape.
5 - Dry away from sunlight and direct heat. |
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If the label indicates the garment should be dry-cleaned only, take it to a reliable dry cleaner. Identify any spots or stains for special treatment.
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Although wool does not absorb liquids directly, it readily absorbs moisture in vapor form. In fact wool will absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture. Because of this ability to absorb moisture, wool does not build up static electricity which attracts lint and dirt from the air. When wool is soiled, it is important to remove stains promptly. |
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