What detergent do you use for your wool...?
 

I emptied a bottle of woollite last night, and it won't be long before I need to wash more woolen goodness. Can anyone recommend something that's good for merino and cashmere? I use the cold/gentle cycle, and air dry stuff on a towel. It's pretty hard on some of my cashmere.

What works for you?

Don't have any cashmere, but I just use a very small amount of allergen-free All that we get at the local Costco. Works fine so far.

I've washed my merino wool hats and socks in regular laundry detergent for years, with no apparent problems.

I use ALL Free & Clear detergent, because I have allergies and dislike added fragrances.

I use pepperment Dr. Bronners. Works great and I've been using it for years on my pendleton flannels.

Straight Dr. Bronners for my wool sweaters. Wool socks get washed with my regular "laundry detergent" which is a mix of water, Dr. B's, and borax.

How much Dr Bronners do you guys use? My GF uses it ( I think even the peppermint one ) for other stuff, including her CX bike. Apparently it's great for getting mud and grime out of bar tape. So, this is a lucky coincidence.

I'm usually only washing two or three sweaters so I just use a squirt or two. Dr B's website recommends 1/4 - 1/3 for a regular load.

Same here: regular detergent, I just use less of it, and I even wash them in a washing machine (cold wash) and tumble dry on low heat. No problems: no shrinkage, still maintains its odor-free characteristics. The only thing I do is to put my sweaters in net bags so they don't get stretched during wash and spin.

Adam

Woolite also, but I handwash.

Either Woolite or that Kookaburra detergent that Rivendell sells. I kind of like the tea tree stuff in the K, but when it runs out, I'll just stick with Woolite.

My wife's allergic to tea tree oil, so that's just for my stuff.

Dr B's soap is good for wool or any baby shampoo for your hair is good for wool.Believe it or not,Woolite is actually too high of a pH for wool really.

Make sure you use a detergent,not soap.You can use hot water on wool if you like,it won't hurt it.Agitation with soapy water is what makes it shrink or full,not the water temp.

Try taking an old wool sweater or sock and getting it wet,then rub a bar of soap on it and see what happens.It will shrink before your very eyes.

how about Camp Suds?
 

I don't have Dr. Bronners, but I do have Camp Suds. Can I use it as an alternative? Also, I tend to wear fewer but better quality wool than cotton wear. So I think I would rather just hand wash my clothes. How often is reasonable to wash wool? I think once every two weeks or 8 to 10 uses seems good. My GF gets grossed out by the idea of washing clothes so infrequently, but wool really doesn't retain smell.

Cashmere goes into our fancy-smancy front-loading washer on the delicate cycle. My wife has more cashmere sweaters than socks. We dilute regular solid 7th Generation laundry detergent in water (about two scoops per quart of water) and use that. For my merino stuff, it usually goes into the shower with me for a hand-washing with just enough Dr. B's to make some suds. I dry them all either on a line or on a hanger hung on the shower curtain rod.

I don't have any cashmere stuff myself, but my wife does. We wash her cashmere sweaters in the washing machine on cold with regular detergent. Same goes for my wool socks. Air dry. Never had any problems.

Tide, no scent, whiteners or anything. I think it's called Ultra Free or something like that.

Seems if you just stay away from dyes or scents you'll be alright. At least my clothes seem to be holding up.

I always use shampoo and hand wash in the tub.
Actually "foot" wash is more correct. I fill the tube with just enough water and a little shampoo and sort of pretend I'm making wine the old school way.

ClifftonGK had said that Woolite wasn't the best for wool, but I can't remember what he recommended. Doc B seems to be pretty popular/common, though.

Does all of this apply to cashmere? Does coming from a goat instead of a sheep make a meaningful difference?

I'm surprised you treat your merino more delicately than your cashmere! But if your wife ever wants to clear up some space, I'd be happy to help by taking some fabric off her hands... :) :thumb: ;)

I've tried everything -- even straight Simple Green -- on my white bar tape. How does she do this?

Woolite is terrible stuff, really quite harsh. Human hair shampoo will do in a pinch, but the very best stuff for washing wool/silk/cashmere/etc is Eucalan. You don't rinse it out.
http://www.eucalan.com/

Stay away from cold specific detergents, they contain enzymes to "activate" the soap and those same enzymes can destroy your fine wool's properties.

I never get my wool clothes washed. I only wear wool as a second layer. Hardly has a smell to it.

I use whatever was on sale the last time I bought detergent.

She'll never part with any of it. In fact, she has her parents scouring the flea markets in the Bay Area for more.:eek: By the way, I think our washing machine is actually more delicate than my paws. The only reason I wash the merino in the shower is because I only have a bit and I usually want to wear it again sooner rather than later.

Woolite for all my cycling clothes including wool.