Enzymes and Chlorine Bleach will eat the wool. I believe someone posted that plain ammonia should be used instead of Detergent.

So, since STPP has neither, it should be ok? Also, is it safe (and useful) to use vinegar in the the final rinse--again specifically for woollens?

Thanks again!

In my opinion, I think it'd be completely safe, as it wouldn't dissolve the wool. But I don't want to give a 100% answer, because I've never tried.

I know very little about washing wool...I can't see where phosphates would hurt...as for detergent its best to use a very gentle detergent with no enzymes..wool is a protein and enzymes eat protein. Another biggie with wool is movement... in the machine movement should be very minimal. ..the less movement the better, actually a soak for 10 minutes is much better. Believe it or not but movement is a big culpret in wool shrinking, that and water temp..wool does not like nor is it forgiving of temperature changes..so rinse water should be as close to wash temp as possible. .between 80 &85 is a good wool temp for wash and rinse. years ago hand dish soap was the most recommended to wash wool..I don't know about todays dish soap though. wool fibers open easily to release grime..you probly don't need STPP if it was me..I'd do a short 5 minute gentle wash and low spin and I'd use a wool detergent.

Sorry ...all this and you only ask about phosphates LOL

No, thanks for the info MamaP and L-Mitch! I have a Miele W1213 w/a specific Wool cycle. I'll be using Woolite (and when that finally runs out, switch to Perwool). Any ideas about the vinegar?

I'm not sure about vinegar on wool..but remember rinse temp same as wash temp..lol

I always rinse my wool and silk with vinegar. Wool and silk are naturally acidic, like our own hair. As long as you use a more gentle cycle that uses a bit more water; detergent, stpp, ammonia are all safe and work well. I feel like the vinegar helps to neutralize any alkininity left over from the wash part of the cycle.

Thanks hOlivia. I think I'm set. Time to wash!

I'm actually wondering what to use for tragic (hi Mama!) wool loads... My husband is in the Guard and wears wool socks with his combat boots. I swear he is the cleanest and non-smelliest person I have ever encountered, except for those wool socks. I usually soak them overnight in Vaska, then launder with pink Perwoll and do a full softener compartment of vinegar, but often end up having to rewash. Even borax doesn't seem to help. Would STPP do the trick?

@recordaras - wool socks are usually blends with a very small % of wool, so absolute shrinkage is less of a problem. Sounds like odor is the problem, and there is no easy way to gingerly remove it. I don,t consider socks fine garments, and quite replaceable pretty Inexpensively. I would wash them in warm water and use a more conventional detergent, and see how they come it. Otherwise consider switching to a cotton or nylon sock that can be more aggressively cleaned.

I use Unicorn Fibre Wash for my wool. I have also used regular detergent, but my wool is all interlock and already felted.

Thanks, RPS - these are actually heavy duty hiking socks that are about 70% merino wool. Anything other than wool is really not an option when you are doing physical stuff all day and then sleeping in a snow cave in VT at night, since cotton and synthetics will get damp and start driving heat away from the body.

The socks are also around $25/pair, which is why I would prefer to get as much wear as possible out of them.

Daras...tough one, wool socks are supposed to repel sweat which causes odors...have you tried a detergent for woolens? Maybe Woolite..I'd try a different woolen detergent and soak in cool to tepid water for 10 minutes, drain and repeat, make sure you turn them inside out. Than soak in same temp for rinse water. Dont wring them instead roll them in a towel to get some excess water out...have you been machine drying? anyway..try several cool soaks 5 to10 minutes only..add water than detergent than mix it with your hands ..than submerge the socks into the water gently..don't add action once they are in the water, let soak. Try this soak twice and see what happens.

- Please do not wash wool in ammonia. The pH is too alkaline for wool. One wash might not kill the it, but please don't do it again if you value the garment.

- Vinegar rinse is good for wool, because wool (and silk, another protein-based fiber) has a more acidic pH than cotton. Vinegar can be used instead of fabric softener.

- I wash our wool-blend socks (smart wool and rei) in any detergent that does not have enzymes. They come out fine. Over time, the enzyme protease will eat up the wool fiber, again because wool is a protein fiber and protease eats proteins.

- Hubby wears tropical weight wool blend trousers that are washable. I wash them in Charlies Soap. All Free&Clear Small & Mighty has no enzymes (last time I looked) is also safe, but it has optical brighteners so I avoid for hubby's navy trousers.

- Wool can be washed in shampoo, again because our hair is protein(animal)-based. Johnson's baby shampoo is the mildest without all the other additives but probably anything will do. Be warned that shampoo is not an 'he' friendly composition and can suds up like mad, depending on which cycle you use.

Lol..I was just going to say no ammonia..years ago ammonia was thought to make wool fluffy..and it does, by breaking the fibers LOL.. Johnsons Baby Shampoo was what my mother swore by for wool. Any very gentle shampoo without conditioner will work. Wool socks should be turned inside out. I would try the baby shampoo

I would not use the baby shampoo in a HE machine. Try the soak

Here is anotherer piece caring for Merino Wool. Good solid information.

http://www.woolmark.com/globalassets/knowledge/training-manuals/english/caring_for_your_merino_wool_sweater_manual_english.pdf/

I either use a little baby shampoo, or All free and clear liquid for washing cashmere and wool. Wool cycle on the Miele, dry flat. I have used white vinegar in the final rinse before, but after a while I failed to see the point. I have had the same sweaters for years and years with no issues.

Thanks, Mama! I have used both Perwoll and The Laundress wool wash, all with similar results. The reason I soak in Vaska is because I have to use up my Vaska stash, and on top of that I really, really don't like the scent of the pink Perwoll, and after a soak+wash in that it seems to linger forever...

I typically soak overnight in a dishpan and then run through the Wool cycle in the washer. I've even used warm water for the soak to see if that would make a difference, but I don't believe it has.

I have been running them through the Woolens cycle in the dryer, that's a very short (10-15 minute) warm tumble to get rid of any stuck on dog hair/lint, but I see your point - it might be better to not heat them up at all to avoid "baking in" any residual smell.

One thing I haven't tried is a vinegar soak - I wonder if I should start doing that instead of the Vaska...

Vinegar I haven't had luck with at all. Wont remove odors or soften for me. Personally I would try the baby shampoo soak than rinse before you put them in the washer..people have sworn by this for years. You can probably get a tiny bottle to try for about a buck in the trial size section.

Just don't use one of those shampoos that promise extra body. Some of us (raises hand) are fluffy enough and don't need our sweaters to be adding to the fluff effect.

LOL

LMAO....raises my hand too

Sorry about the late reply, I'm trying to get over the flu, but not succeeding very well :(

My grandmother used ammonia for her wool, and I have used it on really dirty wool loads throughout the years. Not regularly, but once in a while. I havent seen any damage, but this could be from not using it regularly. If ammonia is diluted in water doesn't that drive the pH down? Also, should wool wash water be slippery, like other loads?

Ammonia is potent and can be used on wool as a diluted spotting agent for protein based stains, provided it's flushed throughly from the garment prior to cleaning. It should NEVER be used to wash wool. Lol I strip floors with ammonia, so why anyone would use it on wool as a detergent is beyond me. It will ruin it sooner rather than later. It's the wrong product for the job.

Yep...people think it makes the wool fluffy...and it does...because it breaks the fibers so the broken fibers are whst mskes it appear fluffy.

I use shampoo and rinse with a little conditioner and rinse pretty well after that. I wash wool sweaters, socks and blankets that way. I have washed cashmere that way and it all comes out great and very easy to block in the case of sweaters. I use a lot of various fibers and somewhere along the line a spinner told me to do that and it has worked very well.

Thanks for the info MamaPink and Rpsinfoman.

And I wholeheartedly apologize clean laundry lover for giving you bad info.

I asked earlier, but maybe no one caught it. Should wash water for wool feel slippery to ones fingers?

Harlow

I would say, yes, but just barely. You want to make sure it is rinsed out well, so barely slippery water would mean that you have enough detergent, but not too much detergent. Does that make sense? lol.

I like the smell of Perwoll but a little goes a long way. It seems to smell of cedar and I don't know what else.