Merino Wool Care guideline & information

Prolong the life of your clothing

Learn how to wash and care for your Merino wool socks and garments.

Knowing how to wash and care for your Merino wool garments will help ensure its maintenance, as well as reduce the environmental impact.

As you already know, Merino wool is a 100% natural fibre of animal origin, therefore its care may vary compared to plant fibres, artificial or synthetic. That being said, the high-quality Merino wool used in most outdoor garments has previous treatments that allow it to be machine washed without problem.

It is important that you check the washing instructions label of each product, because depending on the type of wool and garment, its correct maintenance may vary. Below we will give a general guide on the best practices for the care of your wool products.

Wool, in general, has natural antibacterial properties. This absence of bacteria will prevent bad odours or will, at least, delay them considerably. Less smell means that we do not have to wash our garments so often. In most cases, it is enough to air the garments for a few hours to restore their initial freshness. We only recommend washing your wool clothing after a period of continuous use or when, due to the type of activity, the garment is dirty. If you decide to wash your garments, we advise the following:

Put the garments inside out

Although some garments or manufacturers it is not necessary to wash the garments inside out, when in doubt, it is better to do it this way.

Do not bleach

Bleach destroys wool fibres.

For machine washing

Use the wool / delicate program. This program should automatically select a maximum temperature of 30ºC or cold and a short spin at low revolutions. High water temperature could shrink and damage the fibres. As far as possible, you should use detergents for delicate garments or non-aggressive. Always refer to the label for washing instructions.

Some types of garments may need to be washed exclusively by hand and with cold or warm water.

Washing the garments this way, provided it is done correctly, will guarantee the best care of the product. In any case, today, most garments allow for machine washing.

Do not use fabric softener or conditioner

Although these products are commonly used in washing, they should be avoided when washing wool and all technical clothing, in general. Softeners will add a thin film to the fibre, reducing its ability to naturally control moisture and regulate body temperature, they are also polluting products.

Drying

The best way to dry is in the open air. If possible, place the garments on a flat surface (hanging the garment wet could cause the clothing to lose its shape) and allow to air dry. Drying in the open air will help extend the life of your garments and reduce energy consumption. If for reasons of space or weather, it is necessary to use a dryer, you must check if the garment allows it and dry at the lowest temperature and for the shortest time possible.

Ironing

Wool garments can be ironed at low temperatures and inside out. However, If the garment is not 100% wool, be sure to check the ironing label in case ironing is not recommended. In general, wool produces few wrinkles and hanging them in a room with steam, like bathroom after shower, will suffice. At Skaapherder all our clothing will be made of 100% Merino wool, except for our socks which require some extra materials for support. However, our garments are primarily for use in nature and adventure, where perhaps one or two wrinkles are okay.

In summary, the use of wool and Merino wool in particular, reduces the need to wash clothes so often, unlike other fibres that quickly produce bad odours.

The more wool we wear the more we save energy and help the environment.

About the appearance of bobbles or pilling in our garments

Pilling (or bobbling) is a natural process that occurs when shorter fibres work their way to the surface. Contrary to what is usually thought, the appearance of pilling does not mean that the wool used in the garment is of inferior quality, paradoxically, it shows that the fibre is natural and has not been mixed with synthetics to reduce costs.

Pilling usually appears in the areas of greatest abrasion and at the beginning of its use. Under normal conditions, if you remove it in the first weeks of use you reduce the likelihood of it reappearing, since the loose fibres would have already been released. If these bobbles do not bother you and you prefer to leave them, in no case will it harm the structure or functionality of the garment. Both the length of the fibre, as well as the type of yarn to which the wool is subjected, will make it more or less prone to pilling.

Extra bonus tip for socks.

If you want to give your socks a little extra life, when storing we recommend simply folding them.

It is common to store the socks by rolling the top of one over the other making a sort of ball. This produces a continuous and unnecessary stretching of the elastic fibres that make up the sock, which, over time, will cause the fibres to lose their elasticity more quickly.

Storing the socks flat or just folded over one another will relax the fibres and keep the sock in its original shape for longer.