How to wash wool coats at home without damaging them

Wool coats are delicate garments and often of great value. Here are all the tips to wash your wool coat at home and at no cost.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

We are used to taking our coats and jackets to the laundry but often these garments can be easily washed at home. A few tricks and a good wool detergent are enough to ensure safe washing and a dyeing result!

The savings are not indifferent: washing them in the dry cleaners could cost from 10 to 30 euros. For this reason, if we want to save a trip and some pennies, we can try our hand at home washing without risk and without surprises.

Index

When to wash your coat and how to prevent dirt

It is advisable to wash the coat at the end of the season, when necessary, to prevent it from becoming soaked in odors or the stabilization of stains on the neck and armpits. In addition, it is recommended to wear a scarf to avoid stains due to oily skin or make-up.

There are anti-stain sprays for wool that can be used to remove occasional stains, avoiding washing the whole coat each time.

In addition, you can use a vacuum cleaner, with the appropriate upholstery nozzle and then sanitize with a steamer or vertical steam ironer.

How to know if a wool coat can be washed by hand

The first thing to know is whether our wool coat can be hand washed or dry clean only. To be sure it is important to read the washing label. If the label says “dry clean only” it's best not to take the risk. In fact, not only the wool, but also other ornaments such as shoulder pads, furs or padding, could suffer serious damage. So, unless it's a very old coat and you want to experiment, it's best to take it to the laundry.

If, on the other hand, the washing label says: "dry clean recommended" or just "dry cleaning", then we can wash the coat by hand.

How to remove lint from a wool coat

Lint often forms in some woolen garments, making them look a little old and unkempt. To remove them, simply pass a clothes brush or a lint roller. Alternatively you can use a razor or even an electric razor. This action must be completed before washing and possibly afterwards.

How to remove stains from a wool coat

If the coat has spots, it is recommended to take action as soon as possible. In fact, the older the stains, the more difficult it will be to remove them. For this, as written above, it is recommended to use a dry stain remover spray.

However, there are stains caused by use: such as stains on the collar or wrists, or under the armpits.

The procedure for removing stains from the wool coat is as follows: mix a teaspoon of detergent for wool garments with a little water in a glass. Spread this emulsion on the spots by massaging lightly. Leave for 10 minutes to allow the detergent to dissolve the stain. After that, wash by hand.

How to wash wool coats at home without damaging them: hand wash

To wash the wool coat by hand at home you have to resort to the old grandmother's methods. So then we need a very large tub or a bathtub. Then we fill the tub or tub with cold or lukewarm water. For the bathtub you will need about 1/4 of the bottle of wool detergent. Pour the detergent under the tap to make sure it dissolves well and creates a little foam.

At this point we can immerse the coat in the water, moving it gently to ensure that the fabric gets wet evenly. We leave it on for about 30 minutes, shaking the coat from time to time to facilitate washing. The coat is not meant to soak for more than an hour. You could risk making it felted or shrunk!

After the washing time, we arrive at the rinsing phase. First of all let's empty all the water. We could use part of it for toilet flushing! Then we fill the tub or tub again and gently shake the coat. We repeat the action until the foam no longer comes out and we feel that the consistency of the water is no longer soapy.

wring out the coat start at the top, squeezing and pressing without twisting the fabric. Gradually go down.

How to dry your wool coat

Be careful never to hang woolen garments vertically, neither on the drying rack nor on the hanger. Wool garments should be hung horizontally and possibly not in direct sunlight. Then cover the surface of a table or bench with clean towels. Spread out your coat and be sure to turn it over and change towels often if they get soaked.

The final touch for a wool coat like new!

If washing has caused new lint to form, use the brush, roller or razor again.

When the wool coat has dried, it may need a good ironing. You can use a steam iron or a vertical steam iron. In both cases it is necessary to respect the programs.

How to wash your wool coat in the washing machine

The more daring can try washing the wool coat in the washing machine. For a sure result it is good to have a mesh bag where you can insert the coat to avoid deterioration of the fabric. Then turn the coat inside out and place it in the bag. Alternatively you can use a pillowcase that can be closed or buttoned. At this point, select the program for washing the wool, cold or at 30º max. Choose the lowest possible spin power. Use your usual detergent for woollens. Activate and go! Apart from wringing, drying and ironing will be the same as the previous process.