1) I
begin by dividing my fleece into roughly 1-pound piles and putting
it into mesh laundry bags I got at Walmart. (Nothing's too good
for MY wool!)
2) Next I set two plastic bins in my
bathtub, side by side. I fill each with the hottest water I
can get out of the tap. I stir a couple tablespoons of Orvis
soap into each bin (more or less, depending on how greasy my fleece
is) without making too many suds. Today, I put soap in both
bins because I have two laundry bags of fleece to wash.
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3) I gently push each
laundry bag down into the hot soapy water of its own bin. The
water immediately goes BLACK! This may be gross, but it's
normal. I let the wool soak in the soapy water for 20-30
minutes, enough time for it to fully absorb the water and "wet
out." |
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4) Here's where you're
glad you have the mesh bags: Lift the bags out of the water and let
most of the nasty water drip back into the bin. I usually have
a basin or small plastic trash can available to slip under the
dripping bag and walk to the laundry room to my waiting washing
machine. I set the bag down into the washer. (Repeat
with the second bag of fleece, and put on opposite side of the
washer to keep it balanced.)
5) Set the washer
to "SPIN" only--don't let any water spray on your fleece,
to avoid any chance of accidental felting.
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6) While the fleece is
spinning around at high speed in your washer, go back and dump the
black water out of your bins. Rinse the bins and refill with
hot water and soap, as before.
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7) Put the bags
o' fleece gently back into their soapy-water bins and soak for
another 20 minutes or so. The water is not quite so black this
time! Yay! |
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8) Repeat steps 4 and 5.
NOTE: Most often, I wash
Jacob fleeces, which are open and have a minimum of lanolin.
When I wash mohair, which is usually dirtier and greasier, I may
have to put the wool through more soap soakings. It is also
helpful sometimes to flick open the locks to help release the dirt
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9) This time, fill
the bins with hot water, but omit the soap. This is the rinse
round. The water is almost clear this time! Some people
with hard water also add vinegar to the rinse to re-adjust the
pH. If you're concerned about that, add a couple glugs of
vinegar to ease your mind.
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10)
One more time through the spin cycle!
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11) Now I
lay the fleece out gently on a couple of sweater dryers-- mesh panels stretched
over a frame, that sit about 6 inches above my floor. (Any
kind of screen with air circulation around it will work fine--avoid
putting the wool out in direct sunlight.) I'll let it sit here
in my air-conditioned living room overnight, then I'll turn the wool
over to dry well on the other side.
12) When it feels bone dry to
the touch, it's ready for a final going-over, a handful at a time,
to remove bits of hay, grass, burrs, etc. I prefer to do this
AFTER washing, since much may come out on its own in the wash, and I
find junk easier to get out once the lanolin is removed--it acts
like glue! A flick carder or combs can also help remove
unwanted debris.
13) Finally, on to
carding. I either do this myself on hand cards or my drum
carder, or ship the fleece off to my favorite processor. Click
here for a list of great processors! |
