How To Wash Wool Neck Warmers

HAND WASHING

Can you hand wash your neck warmer? Absolutely. Before dry cleaners, people hand-washed their wool items, and if you’d like to save money, you might want to try hand-washing your wool neck wrap at home. It’s straightforward and takes little time and very little money.  

You’ll need the neck warmer or another small wool item to wash, a clean white towel (your fluffiest and largest), and a few drops of gentle detergent.

Follow these steps.

  1. Fill a clean sink with roughly 2-3 inches of COOL water.
  2. Add several drops of mild detergent. (I use mild hand soap or dish soap, etc. Anything I would use on my face or hands I use to wash wool.) Only two or three drops are necessary. Use your hand to make an agitating action to create bubbles.
  3. Place the wool neck warmer in the COOL water. Push down until it is thoroughly saturated.
  4. Let soak for ten minutes. 
  5. After ten minutes, drain the sink. (You may notice some color in the water; this is normal and happens with vibrant colors such as red. Don’t panic.)
  6. Now gently squeeze the water from the neck warmer. Don’t wring. Don’t twist. Push down again and again until most of the water is removed.
  7. Fill the sink again with COOL water to roughly the same level as before and let the neck warmer sit for another 5 minutes.
  8. Drain the sink and gently squeeze out the excess water. Don’t wring. Don’t twist.
  9. Place the he neck warmer tartan side up on a clean towel pat flat and allow to dry. DO NOT PLACE IN HEATED DRYER.

 

Machine Washing

Can you machine wash your neck warmer? Yes, carefully. Always wash with COLD water, delicate cycle, with the item securely placed inside a delicates net washing bag. Be sure to take precautions when washing small wool items in the machine. NEVER use hot or warm water, ALWAYS use a delicate cycle, ALWAYS use a delicates net washing bag, and ALWAYS wash items alone.

Follow these steps.

  1. Place the neck warmer securely inside a delicates laundry bag. This prevents the item from being twisted and mangled in the machine.
  2. Add a drop of laundry detergent, or forgo the soap; water is a superb cleansing agent.
  3. Start the washing machine with COOL water and a delicate cycle.
  4. After washing, lay the neck warmer on a clean white towel, pat flat with the tartan side up, and let dry.

At some point, washing wool items at home has become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, wool has been labeled as a delicate fabric. Granted, like all clothing, if you wash them incorrectly, you can ruin them. But, with some thought and care washing items at home is a lovely luxury. Home washing may also preserve the quality of the wool fabric, helping to keep them looking new longer. It's also cost-effective, convenient and helps reduce waste and conserve resources associated with dry cleaning.