How to Clean Raw Wool
- 1). Remove any damaged, dirty or coarse sections of the wool. Spread the fleece flat and cut out any sections that are ruined.
- 2). Put the fleece into several mesh bags, like those that are used to bag onions or potatoes. Divide the fleece into several pieces and place them in separate bags, so the water will penetrate all the way to center of each piece.
- 3). Fill your washing machine or washing tub with water that is at least 140 to 160 degrees F. Mix in liquid dish washing detergent. Use 250 ml of detergent for every 2 pounds of wool to be washed.
- 4). Put on your rubber gloves, and place the bags into the washing water. Use a pole to push them down until they're submerged. Soak the wool for about 15 minutes.
- 5). Set your washing machine on spin to drain the wool. If you're hand washing the wool, take it out of the tub and place it in a bucket or on a draining rack to drain the dirty water out. Drain the wool for about 10 minutes.
- 6). Rinse the wool in a tub of warm water, about 100 to 120 degrees F. Dunk the wool several times to rinse, then drain the wool again.
- 7). Rinse the wool in a tub of cold tap water. Dunk the wool several times, then drain again.
- 8). Set the wool outside to dry, stretched out on the bags you used for the washing. Put a sheet over the wool to protect it from the elements and birds as it dries.
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