Can You Put Wool In The Dryer - Tumble Drying Wool | The Woolmark Company (2024)

FAQs

Can You Put Wool In The Dryer - Tumble Drying Wool | The Woolmark Company? ›

It is advised to use a tumble dryer that has been approved by The Woolmark Company. Find Woolmark-approved products in your country. If your garment does not say Tumble Dry, it is best to flat dry your wool garment.

Depending on the thickness or weight of the item, wool fabrics should be either air dried or placed in the dryer on a gentle dry cycle. While heavier fabrics like coats and jackets may need the heat of a dryer, it's recommended to air dry older or delicate, lighter wool items.

Your woolen garment will shrink in the dryer, because it makes it subject heat and friction. Even when you use the low-heat level, the machine does use friction to dry your wool, which can cause pilling and felting. Airdrying wool garments is much better for them, since it prevents shrinking.

But not all of them should go into the dryer—you'll want to check the garment care label and "ok tumble" symbol first. In general, natural fibers like wool and cotton tend to shrink when exposed to heat. This can make a garment uncomfortably tight or even unusable if it's shrunken too much.

Can Merino wool go in the dryer? Technically, yes. But you'll want to always air-dry your Merino wool socks and apparel to keep your gear in good shape. The dryer could damage the natural performance fibers of Merino wool, or shrink your clothing and socks.

Wool fiber swells when it becomes wet and then contracts when it dries. This is what causes wool to shrink when you wash it in hot water. So If you don't want it to shrink, just avoid washing it in really hot water. Handwashing in cool or slightly warm water is always recommended for wool garments.

To soften wool, simply soak it in a mix of cold water and 2 tbsp (30 mL) of vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinse it and massage hair conditioner into it for another 30 minutes. Rinse and air dry, then pop it in a bag in the freezer overnight for comfy wool!

Certain wool garments can safely be dried in a tumble dryer without the item shrinking. Woolmark-approved garments that have a care claim that states 'tumble dry' can be tumble dried on a low heat setting or a setting for wool or delicates.

Do wool dryer balls work... Yes! Wool dryer balls can help cut down on drying time and energy costs, allowing you to save money while still getting perfectly dried clothing.

Dry on any heat, because the tumble of the dryer will cause the piece to lose moisture, thus the garment fibers will contract [source: Cavanaugh]. Wool or wool blends: Wash on high heat, ideally on a short cycle. Then, put in the dryer on low heat. Repeat as needed to achieve the desired size [source: The Idle Man].

Do I really have to dry clean wool? ›

Some woolen items, like pea coats or blazers, are extremely delicate. For these items, contact with water may destroy the integrity of the garment, rending it unwearable. It's a good idea to take wool sweaters to the dry cleaners to remove stains, maintain their color, and retain the fabric's quality.

To carefully flat dry wool clothing it is recommended it is placed on a pale coloured or white towel, and one which is free from lint. Special garment drying mesh screens are also available, which are designed to fit over the bathtub. These tend to speed up the drying process.

Cool or cold water is always preferred since it will be more gentle. For wool, the maximum temperature to wash it is generally 104°F (40°C), so always make sure to wash your wool items at a lower temperature to prevent any damage.

DRY INSTRUCTIONS:

Place it on a towel and rub it into shape and remove folds by hand. Dry the sweater flat over a drying rack. Or lay it on a sweater dryer with a mesh surface to avoid the lines of your drying rack. ° Avoid direct heat or sunlight.

You can actually wear Merino wool for multiple days without needing to wash it. That's because odor-causing bacteria can't reproduce or grow on Merino wool fibers, so stink won't stick to it. In fact, most times you'll just need to air out your Woolf Merino after use and they'll be as good as new by morning.

If you don't see washing instructions, look instead at the material the clothing is made from – leather, suede, beaded or sequined items, silk, acetate, velvet, wool and taffeta should be dry cleaned.

To dry wool blankets, it is best to hang them flat over a clothes line outside to support the weight of the wet blanket.

Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).

It's simple, wool can stretch.