So, we hear you’re tempted to buy a merino wool garment and/or blanket for your little one, or you’ve already bought one, and now you are wondering how to clean it? 

Please know you’re not alone with this pondering - how to wash merino wool - is actually a topic we get emailed a lot about, and it’s here we will share the first piece of good news…

With the right love, your merino wool will last lifetimes. That’s why when a precious bundle has grown out of them, they make such good hand-me-downs; ones passed from mothers to children, sibling to sibling, down through generations. Talk about sustainability! 

With that said, there are some tricks and tricks that come with washing merino wool.

Read on, to learn about how to properly care for merino wool garments. 

Can you machine wash merino wool?

Busy parents everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief here, the answer is yes! 

You just need to take care of what cycle you put the item through. Our products can be machine washed on either the gentle or wool wash cycle.

Just make sure the water is on the coolest setting. 

We also recommend using our Australian made wool wash over powder as if the powder has prolonged contact with those unique merino fibres it can cause tiny holes. 

 Is it better to handwash merino wool?

Look, if you follow the steps above you should be ok. There’s no right or wrong way to wash merino wool if you take the proper care. 

If you have the time and inclination, then choose cold water and mix your wool wash in beforehand Place your item in and gently agitate the water. 

When you’re done, rinse the item in clean cool water and gently press the water out. We know it’s tempting but don’t ring the garment dry. 

How to remove stains from merino wool?

No matter their age, from babies, to toddlers, to school kids, little ones get up to mischief. 

Keeping any clothing perfectly clean, let alone merino wool is a feat; in fact we urge any parent who hasn’t found a stain on a jumper or onesie to message us and share their secrets asap. 

The best way to remove a tough stain is to treat it as soon as possible. 

While we don’t typically recommend soaking - due to the aforementioned hole issue - you can if you use a gentle homemade solution of one part white vinegar, plus two parts cold water. 

Otherwise, look for a wool-friendly liquid stain remover. And don’t leave the item in for too long. Our maximum is 10 - 20 minutes. 

After soaking, wash it according to the instructions above. 

You may need to repeat these steps if the stain hasn’t faded after the first wash. 

Can you put merino wool in the dryer?

So, three factors can cause merino wool to shrink. These are; 

• Heat, 
• Temperature
• Moisture

You may already see where this is going; please don’t tumble dry your woollen goodies. 

Believe us when we say merino wool jumpers don’t look nearly as cute when they are half the size.

Your best option is to dry the garments flat on a sweater dryer. Look for one that doesn’t have too many large gaps between the bars as the weight of the water can cause heavier items to sag.  

Can merino wool be ironed?

This is a hard no. Heat is merino wool’s number one enemy and irons are one of the fastest ways to ruin a jumper or merino onesie. The result is a weird sheen. 

But adding to this, one of the upsides of merino fibres is that it’s resilient and holds its shape very well. If you’re looking after it,  we’d be very surprised if wrinkles appeared in the first place. 

If you’re having this issue please contact us and we can run through together what may be going wrong. 

Does merino wool dry quick?

This brings us to our next point, you will be surprised by how fast merino wool dries when left to do its thing in the sun. 

For lighter items like our onesies, beanies, socks and underlayers you will actually see results in several hours.

Heavier items like jumpers will take a little longer - but you know what they say; good things come to those who wait.  

How often to wash merino wool socks?

Our golden rule is to use the sniff test, but in general, they should be fine for up to three wears. 

When the time does come to wash the item follow the golden rules;  

• Turn your socks inside out;
• Chose a gentle machine wash with a cool water setting;
• Use a wool-friendly washing liquid;
• And if heavier dry them flat. Lighter ones can go on the line.