Washing Wool for Hand Spinning

[Coldwaterlabs]

Would really like to see her wash it instead of warsh it though.

[RallyJudge]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with that type of fleece so can't give a definite answer but some ideas to consider. I use Dawn or other liquid dishwasher soap (LOTS of it) to wash grease fleece so doubt that is the ptoblem. The fleece may not have been the softest. I overwashed one of my early fleeces and it got dry and brittle - now I wash but try not to remove all the lanolin, just about 90%. I rewash the finished skein. Detergent, dry power not liquid soap, has chemicals that can affect fleece

[happyknitta]

hi...i'm washing and poreparing Norfolk Horn fleece......its got a 5" draw,i've washed it with dish detergent.....is it normal for it to be a little rough??or have i done something wrong???

[Spin2Weave]

Glad this helped. It's very basic - but most things require basics. Trash, also called VM or Vegetable Matter, will never wash out of fleece. Always work with clean (VM free) fleece. Good luck and happy spinning. Hope you're staying warm, seems like the whole US is frozen - and we're w/o heat here.

[lemonsongii]

Oh my gosh thank you so much. This was exactly what I was looking for. I needed the very basic, how to go from nasty fleece to something you can use video! :) I really appreciate how descriptive you were and how you had visuals to go with everything. :)

[sashm55]

I just received some Rambouillet wool free, but it's very very dirty but could not refuse free wool. I'm worried about using my only washing machine to wash the wool in. Does it leave a residue in the machine?

[RallyJudge]

@sashm55 Really dirty or greasy fleece will leave some film in the washer - several rinses are absolutely necessary, more stuff comes out with rinsing than with the first spin after washing. When you're finished, fill the washer for a large load and hottest water possible with plenty of dish (liquid) soap and run it through with a rinse. That's always taken care of it for me. I also wipe around the drum of the wsher with paper towels before this final cleaning wash. I only have one washer.

[bellbeeB]

"Warsh"? :) In any case, thanx for showing me how to prep my fleece. I would have been lost without this video.

[Halalsilks]

thanks so much I have to wash some fine llama and want to do it right.

bless you,

grace

[Spin2Weave]

I have a friend with an AFrican Grey - she talks a lot too. Sorry, I have no clue about using a front loader. I know you must be able to fill the tub and stop the cycle to let the fiber soak, then "spin only". It isn't the best to let water run directly on the fiber while the washer fills, and I don't see any way around that with front loader. Sorry I can't be more help.

[ReneeNoelle73]

Will this work in a front loader washing machine?

[Spin2Weave]

Yes, really dirty fleece does leave some of the grime in the washer. When I remove fleece before rinsing I wipe out the washer, then rinse, and before filling a 2nd time wipe again if needed. I always run one cycle on low water just to rinse things out if needed. Some fleeces are much "dustier" than others and these are worst offenders. Ordered fleeces from Faulkland Islands once and they had almost an oily substance coating them and took extra washing, rinsing and wiping. But beautiful.

[knittips]

so does the wool leave any kind of residue in the washing machine? Would I need to run another wash empty to clean out the washing machine?

[Spin2Weave]

Haven't seen those videos. Think the cooking is to get the water HOT, the short crimpy fine fleece (especially Merino etc) are extra greasy. Lingere bag should let more water in. I've done fleece I wanted to comb in bags in the washer (soak, spin,rinse etc) to keep the lock structure totally straight. the very few fine fleeces I've done (or pounds, not whole fleece) I've combed.

[greymeadowfarm]

I'm trying to let go of the idea that to process my own fiber I NEED to do a fine wool. But cooking it on the stove via yarnharlot's tutorial on her blog helped. Though I think I'll switch from pillowcase burrito to lingerie bags to see if that speeds things up. Also I did wring water out via spin cycle after many many rinses. It is an all day stay at home project for sure! But I can't wait to spin it to see if it was worth it! I've never spun "in the lock" before either. So much to learn!

[Spin2Weave]

Continues from below. Many times ANY fleece will do well with one "hotest you can get" wash - but then need even 4 rinses. I like to prewash - soak in hot water for about 10 min and spin, then add soap the next time, then rinse 3-4X. DO NOT aggitate and don't let water pour in on fleece. Fine fleeces are a whole different animal, to drool over but take a lot of special care. I like to comb them after washing - and again I admit I'm NOT good at any fine fleece stuff.

[Spin2Weave]

Super fine wools are my downfall, altho must admit to drooling over them to the utmost. I highly recommend Anne Field's spinning Super fine Wools, or Fine wools, or Merino or something like that. May be out of print but shoul be able to get it inter library loan. She is a wealth of info. Scour each lock - - I've tried it and the washing went fine, I just fell down on the slow and steady spinning - -

Sorry I can't help. \

Also may take more than one soap - and LOTS of rinsing. three time

[greymeadowfarm]

Great tutorial. I do most fleeces the same way (though I do add vinegar to the next to last rinse) but any tips for "fine" or high lanolin fleeces? I have a cormo I'm having a hard time getting scoured WHILE keeping the locks in as much alignment as possible. My hot water heater doesn't seem to get hot enough so now I'm almost cooking it on the stove but at this rate, a whole fleece (almost 6 lbs) is going to take forever!

[Spin2Weave]

Be sure that you rinse the fleece very well - sometimes it takes 3-4 times (could be more). If the fleece is really really dirty you can "rinse" it in very hot water - let it soak about 10 min - before you spin it dry and then wash using LOTS of soap. That helps get the first coat of dust etc removed. If I have a ram fleece that has a ram odor there are special deodorizers you can buy to add to the last rinse and they really help. Try a cleaning supply store to find one.

[Spin2Weave]

My washer is in the garage so I'm spared any smell. Actually the grease fleece has a unique "sheepie" smell and washing gets rid of that so it improves the odor factor. Same with any dog hair that I process. I do wash small amounts of fiber in a bowl in the kitchen sink and any smell doesn't bother me. (I think dying with natural plants smells a lot more.)

[dave71us]

Very nice demonstration. I have a question..does this process make your house smell like dirty fleece?

[janeway4eva]

I wish we had washing machines like this in England we used to have them but they stopped manufacturing them in the 70's my grandma had one with an electric wringer on the top

[ADHUK]

Hi Ruthann,

Thanks very much for these video instructions. I don't have a top loader washing machine, but watching you made me think that I could do the same thing with my little spin dryer! I tried it and it worked a treat! I have to fill it with a hose from the sink, and can only fill the tub half full, but I managed a large handfull.

[Spin2Weave]

Glad you got it to work for you.

[tenderlovingwork]

I'm surprised to see you're not putting the fleece in a net bag or lingerie bag, etc. The loose hairs -- and some will loosen -- get caught in the drain pipe trap and then you'll need to unplug that. Which can be done, but it requires opening up the guts of the washing machine. You're probably better off putting the fleece in a "container." Just my experience.

[Tesseract84]

Great video, very helpful!