Instructions for How to Wash Grease Wool with Laundry Detergent and Ammonia
The following are instructions for the use of laundry detergent (such as Tide) and ammonia for cleaning grease wool. (If you have Merino wool ask for other instructions.)
It is important NOT to agitate or abruptly change the temperature of wet wool. If either occurs, the wool will become FELTED (matted) and will be impossible to process further.
FIRST WASH
To wash 7 pounds of wool (regular sized washer), or 10 pounds (extra large capacity washer) fill your washing machine with HOT water and dissolve 3 (or 4) times the amount of detergent you would usually use and one cup of ammonia. If you have really hard water, you may need to use more detergent. Turn the machine OFF and place the wool in the washer. Submerge it, and allow to soak for 30 minutes (longer doesn't hurt if water doesn't cool down). Turn washer to SPIN and spin water from wool.
SECOND WASH (AND THIRD WASH IF NECESSARY)
Remove wool from washer and refill, dissolving the same amount of detergent as in step 1 but adding NO ammonia. Submerge the wool for 30 minutes before repeating the SPIN cycle. For breeds with heavy grease such as Rambouillet or Corriedale, it is recommended that you repeat this washing step another time.
RINSING the WOOL
After the last wash, don't remove the wool from the machine. Refill the washer with HOT water, being careful to shut the machine off when it is full and before agitation starts. After 20 minutes, spin the water out and repeat the cycle for one more rinse or until the rinse water is no longer cloudy. Two rinses are usually enough.
DRYING WOOL
Dry the wool on racks or screens that allow airflow. Clean wool should feel like cotton and leave no shiny film on your fingers when the ends are rubbed between your fingers.
Instructions for Washing Finished Yarn
During the spinning process there is a light
spinning oil
applied to the wool. This helps the wool fibers to form a more even
thread and not break during the carding and spinning. To wash the oil
out of the yarn (all cone yarn contains this oil) use a laundry
detergent (Woolitetm
is not suitable). I have tried several but prefer Tidetm.
Note that the yarn must be
skeined before washing. Yarn cannot be washed while on the paper cones.
I use about 1 cup of liquid detergent (double the recommended
amount
for a load of laundry) in a large washing machine to wash 5 pounds of
skeins. Hot water (120F.) should be used. FILL
the washer, mix in the detergent, then turn the washer OFF
so it does not aggitate. Then put the
skeins of yarn into the washer and let soak for 30 minutes and turn to SPIN.
Never let the machine aggitate with the yarn in it or it will be felted
and ruined.
Rinse the yarn two times using the same temperature of water
as used
for washing. To dry the skeins, hang them over a plastic pipe about 2
inches in diameter.
3776 Forshaug Rd,
Mount Horeb WI 53572, 608-437-3762
Please direct comments or
questions to: Anne@blackberry-ridge.com
