Mohair pricks what to do. A woolen sweater, jacket, dress, down scarf is itching: what to do, how to fix it? How to remove prickly wool? What to wash, soften the wool so that it does not prick

09.11.202027.05.2017

We remove the prickliness of wool: how and what to wash it with, freeze the product, and dry it properly.

With the arrival of cold weather, woolen items are probably the most beloved in the wardrobe of all our compatriots. Indeed, a good woolen item is thin, light, and at the same time very warm. Only fleece items can compete with them, but due to the specific visual appearance fleece is used for sewing sports line, which is not suitable for everyone.

In this article we will tell you how to care for woolen items so that when worn they do not cause discomfort or tingling (a natural characteristic of wool, even merino).

What can you do to prevent woolen items from itching?

You bought something made from 100% wool, and everything would be fine if it weren’t for this unpleasant tingling sensation. Have you really been sold a low-quality item? Not at all, because the natural characteristic of wool is a slight tingling sensation that is felt by human skin, especially children's skin. This happens because the wool resembles human hair, which has been split and formed a “fluff”; it is these fluffy ends that irritate.

Scientists have proven that if both parents are not allergic, then items made from natural wool can be purchased without any problems for the child from the very first days. But what if she annoys even adults? There are several washing secrets for this.

Option #1

To wash woolen items, purchase a detergent labeled “for washing woolen items” or “for wool.” Both gels and powders are sold, but as practice shows, gels work better and soften the wool without damaging its structure. In addition, many housewives complain that during delicate washing, powder stains remain on woolen items.

The most popular and proven wool washing products remain Laska Wool and Lenor. But other specialized tools are not very different. Pay attention to the smell, because wool perfectly absorbs aromas, and they will not disappear when dried like cotton or synthetics.

Before washing, be sure to check the tags, and even if you have a new machine, but the wool item says “hand wash only,” there is no need to take risks, and besides, washing such things is not at all difficult:

Pour water at 37-40 °C into a basin, dissolve the detergent;
Omit woolen item so that it is completely in solution;
Leave for an hour so that all the dirt comes out into the water on its own;
Lightly wipe the dirty areas after an hour and rinse with plenty of water;
It is not recommended to wring out the wool; it is best to throw it on a net, and after the water has drained from it, spread it on an easily absorbable cloth until completely dry.

Also, don’t forget about the conditioner; both specialized for woolen items and regular conditioners are suitable. It is worth adding that the effect of the conditioner is cumulative and after each use the item becomes softer and softer.

Option No. 2

Do you urgently need to wash a woolen item, and don’t have time to look for special equipment? What you have on hand at home may well be useful, but these are still one-time solutions and next time you can make your work easier by purchasing the necessary gel and conditioner.

So let's get started:

Pour warm water and add a teaspoon of water to the basin citric acid, leave for 10 minutes;
If necessary, add hot water so that the water in the basin is warm and the citric acid is completely dissolved. Place the item and leave it for 15 minutes;
Now drain the water and rinse in one water;
We soap the item with regular shampoo that we have at home. Leave for 5-10 minutes;
We rinse out the shampoo, apply a thin layer of hair conditioner on both sides, yes, just like you wash your hair. Leave it to work for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly;
We throw the item onto the net and then lay it out to dry on the fabric in a horizontal position.

Option #3

It is not separate, but rather auxiliary. Get yourself, if you don’t already have a steamer at home, or a steam cleaner, or an iron with a good steam function. In general, any technique that produces a good stream of steam. After the item is completely dry, steam it, but remember, touching the wool with an iron or hot surface is strictly prohibited.

Steamer - indispensable assistant in caring for woolen items

And another option for steaming, if the item “didn’t give up” earlier - dilute a pinch of citric acid per liter of water and wet the fabric. Place the fabric on a woolen product and steam it with this solution. After this, the thing will probably become soft and “obedient”.

Option No. 4

The folk method that our great-grandmothers used. Pour 1.5-2 tablespoons of mustard powder into a basin of water with hot water and let it dissolve. Bring to a warm state and lower the item. Wait a few hours and rinse.

It was believed that mustard and dirt would absorb, remove the smell and make the wool softer. But we would recommend using mustard instead of conditioner, because it cannot cope with the persistent odor of sweat, and we live in an age when this odor is unacceptable in everyday life, but is the most common reason for washing woolen items.

How to make a woolen sweater, jacket, dress soft and not scratchy?

Another option goes well with clothes. To do this you will need vinegar and regular salt without additives. So: add 5 tablespoons of salt to 5 liters of warm water and dissolve completely. Add 5 tablespoons of vinegar or citric acid solution (a teaspoon per liter of water) and dip the item after washing in regular powder. Leave for 2-3 hours and then rinse.

If it is not summer and the item is not allowed to dry in a well-ventilated area, the smell of vinegar will remain in the item until the next wash.

In this case, there is another way:

1 liter of water;
1 teaspoon glycerin.

Soak for no more than 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly.

Glycerin is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but if it is not available since our grandmothers' stockpiles, it is easier to buy special equipment.

How to wash it and soften the wool so that it doesn’t itch?

This method is ideal for washing wool blankets and rugs. After all, sometimes it happens that you can hear them through thick home clothes. But in principle, given the composition, the product can also be tried for clothes.

So, let's take:

5 liters of warm water;
3 teaspoons of soda;
5 drops of ammonia.

Leave in the solution for at least an hour, or overnight. Rinse in 3-5 waters.

A down scarf is a very delicate thing and requires proper care. Depending on the color, thickness and even type of wool yarn, you should wash and dry in different ways. Learn more about caring for woolen scarves, including the famous Orenburg scarf, in our article on.

Those who studied physics well at school know that water expands at subzero temperatures and contracts at positive temperatures. Thanks to this feature, many centuries ago, women discovered that it is best to wash down and wool items in winter, as they become softer, more delicate and do not itch at all, as if they were washed in the warm season.

So, detailed instructions on how to make any woolen or downy item soft using frost or a freezer:

We wash and rinse using any of the methods described above;
We throw it onto the net and let the water drain, but the fabric itself should remain damp;
Place the item in a bag and place it in the freezer or in the cold for several hours;
Take it out and let it defrost completely, shake it and lay it out on a horizontal surface to dry. Shake during drying to help fluff up the fabric.

Video: How to make a scratchy sweater soft: “Easier than ever!”

When purchasing woolen items, especially 100% sheepskin, you may experience a slight tingling sensation while wearing them. Although doctors advise not to get rid of this feature in clothing, modern fashionistas are trying to soften it. After all, in cold weather it is important not only to breathe properly, but also

The prickliness occurs due to the nature of the pile. It splits like a human one, while forming short hairs that stick out in different sides. There are several ways to remove this property from warm clothes.

Special detergents

You can smooth short hairs on wool using special washing solutions. They are produced marked “for woolen fabric” and have a specific composition for caring for this type of fabric. Depending on the way things are cared for, they can be machine washed or hand washed.

Also additionally use softening rinses. The effect of such funds has a short period of time, but becomes cumulative. Therefore, every time you wash your clothes, they will become softer.

Hair products

Instead of special detergents, you can wash things with shampoos and hair conditioners. Buy only care products for dry hair and split ends for washing. Items should only be washed in cold water.

Dilute a small amount of shampoo in water, wet the clothes, then wring them out lightly. Apply the balm to the surface of the fabric and leave for 10 minutes. Then rinse well and lay to dry horizontally.

You can use shampoos to care for long hair on animals. Washing is done in the same way as in the previous version.

Using a steamer

You can soften a woolen item using a steamer or an iron with a steam function. But this must be done carefully at the minimum setting, since high temperatures can change the shape of the item.

Additionally, use a soft cloth and a weak vinegar solution. It has a property that will soften wool fibers, and steam will enhance this effect.

Lay woolen clothes on the floor or ironing board. Soak the fabric in the vinegar solution and wring it out well. Cover the item and pass steam through it. Treat woolen clothes on both sides, periodically wetting the fabric.

Mustard powder

Instead of wool detergents and shampoos, you can use mustard powder. Dilute 2 tbsp. l. in slightly warm water, dip the clothes in it, rinse well in this solution and dry as usual. Mustard will also smooth out the lint and make the item soft.

Exposure to cold

The most original way to soften wool fibers is freezing. With it, short villi simply disappear.

Place the slightly damp woolen item in a bag and place it in the freezer for a day. Or expose it to severe frost. Then remove and let the clothes defrost completely. After this, rinse the item with rinse aid or softener and dry.

These tips only apply to soft wool that doesn’t itch too much. With products made from natural wool that are knitted by hand, you will have to endure this feature of the material. Since it has a rougher processing.

If you are just going to knit or buy a sweater, then pay attention to the material of manufacture. The most prickly products are made from home-produced wool. Factory yarn is softer. When producing it, various technological methods are used to make the wool less itchy and more silky.

Taunting knitted product depends on the type of yarn. For example, a sweater made of pure mohair will mercilessly prick. This yarn is good for a cardigan or other outerwear. Ordinary sheep wool is extremely elastic and durable, and retains heat perfectly. However, she is tough and caustic. Merino sheep produce wool that is finer and softer to the touch.

Products made from llama wool and angora down, combinations of wool and acrylic, wool and viscose are quite comfortable to wear. You can buy yarn specially designed for knitting children's items - it is very pleasant on the body. Cashmere products are extremely soft and tender, but not everyone can afford this material.

When knitting a sweater, some needlewomen add additional cotton thread to the wool. As a result, the product becomes more comfortable, but also heavier. If you are allergic to wool, then choose cotton or acrylic sweaters. They are quite warm, especially if it is not very cold outside.

If you already have a scratchy sweater, wash it in a solution of a special wool powder (such as Cashmere or Weasel). When rinsing, always add any fabric softener. You can also use hair balm - it also softens the coat well. With each wash, the woolen product will become softer, then its thorniness should disappear.

Try adding a solution of vinegar and table salt to the water for rinsing a scratchy sweater, one teaspoon per 10 liters of water. Vinegar and salt can be replaced pharmaceutical glycerin– in this case, keep the sweater in the solution for about half an hour. Then be sure to thoroughly rinse the product in plenty of clean water.

Another popular way to “tame” a scratchy sweater is to place it in a clean plastic bag for a while and put it... in the freezer for 1-2 days. After this, rinse as described above. This procedure makes the coat fluffier and softer. Sometimes one such freeze is enough, but the most “stubborn” sweaters will have to be frozen several times.

If all of the above methods to make a sweater softer did not help you, try sewing a lining from a soft material or separate back inserts - for example, on the sleeves. Not every model will look good after this, and may become rough. Therefore, you have only one solution - wear a cotton T-shirt, turtleneck or shirt under your sweater.

As a rule, woolen items cause some discomfort due to their prickliness when worn. True, there is an opinion that the tingling sensation has a healing effect. But not many people want to put up with this. The “biting” property is affected by the structure of the wool thread, which, like human hair, tends to split, forming small villi along the edges of the thread, which irritate our skin.

How to get rid of the scratchiness of woolen items when worn?

Powder for woolen items

There are special powders and fabric softeners that make wool clothes soft. It is even more convenient to use the liquid version of the product - washing gel. It works better on the fabric and does not leave streaks.

Before washing a woolen product, you need to study the recommendations on the label of this product - what special softeners can be used for washing machine or hand washing, which washing method is preferred. When washed by hand, the fabric is less deformed. The effect of the product is not long-lasting, but tends to accumulate. Therefore, with each wash the item will become a little softer.

Shampoo and hair conditioner

I didn’t have any special wool washing products on hand – no problem! An ordinary shampoo and hair balm (conditioner) are quite capable of coping with the task.

Products designed for dry, long and split hair will be more effective. Excellent results are achieved by using pet shampoos for long-haired animals.

The shampoo should be diluted in water at room temperature and the woolen item should be soaked for a while. The balm can be applied directly to the item after washing, or you can also soak it in a container with a product diluted in water for 5-10 minutes.

Steaming wool

To make a woolen product softer, you can try steaming it. For this procedure, it is enough to have an iron or steam generator and lemon. Citric acid tends to soften the item, and steam only enhances the effect.

Moisten a piece of cloth with the prepared lemon solution (preferably cotton) and apply it to a woolen product. Without pressing hard on the iron, walk over the item being steamed on both sides. When using a steam generator, the process of preparing and steaming the product does not change.

Mustard powder

Mustard softens the fibers and the wool product becomes softer and more pleasant to the touch. Preparing mustard solution is very simple.

To do this, pour 2 tablespoons of mustard into a bowl of warm water and place a woolen product there. Leave in the solution for 1 hour, then rinse well. After this, you need to lightly wring it out and send it to dry.

A solution of vinegar and table salt

To prepare a vinegar-based solution, you need to mix the main ingredient with salt in equal proportions. For 5 liters of water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar and table salt is enough. Place the product in the solution and leave it in it for 30 minutes. After this, you need to rinse the woolen product well under running water, getting rid of the smell of vinegar, and place it to dry.

Glycerol

Glycerin can be purchased at the pharmacy. The solution is made in the following proportions: 1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water. It is used in exactly the same way as a vinegar solution, the only difference is that it does not smell as strong.

Baking soda and ammonia

To prepare such a solution you will need: 10 liters of water, a teaspoon of soda and 5 drops of ammonia. Mix all ingredients well. Place a woolen item in the resulting solution and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Then rinse well in cool water and send to dry. After applying this composition, the wool product receives the desired softness.

Exposure to low temperature

The most original way to make wool soft, not prickly, is by freezing. To do this, place the damp woolen product in a bag and put it in the freezer for a day. After this, take out the product, let it defrost, rinse in cool water with the addition of fabric softeners.

It is worth remembering that the prickliest wool is sheep's wool. As a general rule, hand knitting will always be stiffer than machine knitting. When purchasing an item made of wool, carefully study the composition, the manufacturer and do not forget to touch it (it is better to press it against your face or neck and rub it lightly - if the irritation is noticeable enough, it is better to refuse the purchase).

We remove the prickliness of wool: how and what to wash it with, freeze the product, and dry it properly.

With the arrival of cold weather, woolen items are probably the most beloved in the wardrobe of all our compatriots. Indeed, a good woolen item is thin, light, and at the same time very warm. Only fleece items can compete with them, but due to the specific visual appearance, fleece is used for sewing sports lines, which is not suitable for everyone.

In this article we will tell you how to care for woolen items so that when worn they do not cause discomfort or tingling (a natural characteristic of wool, even merino).