Washing Wool for Hand Spinning

How to wash raw wool before you use it for hand spinning. You really don't "wash" the fiber but soak it in hot soapy water, then spin out the water, and rinse it over and over by soaking it in clean water until all the soap is removed. No rubbing, ringing or scrubbing. I demonstrate with a fleece that has been washed, but is still gummy, but the process is essentially the same for a raw fleece, alpaca, mohair or other protein fibers that need to be cleaned before spinning.

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[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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???

[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. :)

[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.

[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?

[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