Please note: the following recommendations apply to Morehouse Merino Wool. For Merino yarns from other yarn companies, please refer to the manufacturers' own care labels.


Can I wash Morehouse Merino wool?

Yes, of course you can wash it. We recommend hand washing. Fill a washbasin, large enough to accommodate garment to be washed comfortably, with warm water and add mild soap (If you are using a cold water wool washing liquid, wash and rinse in cold water). Submerge garment and let it soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse clean in water that’s the same temperature as wash water.

Squeeze out as much water as possible, but do not wring or twist garment. Then roll garment in absorbent towel and lightly wring or squeeze towel to remove more water. Unwrap garment from towel and lay it flat to dry on a bed or table covered with a fresh dry towel. Shape garment to proper size and dimension. You can also use the spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water. Be careful: NO rinsing, just use the spin cycle to remove as much water as possible. Then lay garment flat to dry. Do not dry garment in dryer.

Use warm water and a mild soap. Then rinse in same temperature water. Squeeze out as much water as possible and lay flat to dry.


Won’t the wool shrink if I use warm water?

No. Shrinking only occurs if you agitate the garment and use warm or hot water to wash, then cold water to rinse. Agitation and a switch in water temperatures can cause shrinking.


What’s considered a ‘mild’ soap?

Any soap with a neutral pH. If you are using a soap specifically made for washing woolens, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Strong alkaline solutions, such as laundry detergents, will damage wool. Never use chlorine bleach on wool. At Morehouse Farm, we use Palmolive® dishwashing liquid.


Can I wash the wool in the washing machine?

Scarves, hats and mittens can be washed on ‘Knit’ or ‘Gentle’ cycle in warm water wash and warm water rinse using a mild soap (not laundry detergent). If you cannot control washing and rinsing temperatures, wash garments by hand. Do not use warm water for wash and cold water for rinse. The switch in temperatures causes woolens to felt. Sweaters and other large garments are better washed by hand. They might become stretched out in the washing machine.


Do you recommend wrapping woolens in towels to dry them?

No. You wrap the wool garment in a towel only to remove excess water, not to dry it in the towel. You should never wring out woolens. By wrapping them in a towel, then squeezing the towel, you’ll be able to remove excess water from the garment. Then lay garment flat to dry, tucking it into its proper shape. Or, you can remove excess water from garment by putting it through the spin cycle on your washing machine. Be careful: NO rinsing, just use the spin cycle to remove as much water as possible. Then lay it flat to dry. Never put woolens in dryer, unless recommended by manufacturer.


Can I dry clean things made with your wool?

Yes, you can. But we do not recommend it, because the chemical process involved in dry cleaning will ultimately harshen the soft Merino wool.


Do you recommend ironing woolens, such as scarves, after washing?

You can. Use steam when pressing wool. Set the iron on “wool” setting. Use a dampened dishtowel, spread over the woolen garment, then iron— with steam— on top of the towel. Don’t slide the iron back and forth. Lower iron, then lift and reposition iron over the damp towel.


Do I have to worry about moths?

Morehouse Merino wool contains no chemical mothproofing. It is therefore important to store woolens properly. Never store woolens for long periods of time without cleaning or washing them first. Wool-eating insects prefer dirty wool to freshly washed woolens. Also clean the storage area, such as the closet, drawers or trunks. Use airtight containers (plastic bins with lids work well) for storage. Use cedar or herbal moth repellants. A word of caution however: herbal moth repellents and cedar repel moths, they do not eliminate the pest like mothballs do. So if you have a heavy infestation of moths in your house, consider using mothballs first to rid storage areas of the pests. Then switch to a natural form of control. Pack mothballs in small plastic bags or cloth bags (don’t put them directly on woolens), then put in storage containers together with the woolens.

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