The Complete Guide To Care For A Wool Coat

Wool is one of the best materials used for fashion, furniture, upholstery, bags, or anything you could think of. However, since it can be expensive, ensure that you are at least aware of how to care for a wool coat properly.

What is wool?

Wool is considered to be one of many natural fibers. It is made of natural material and can be produced year-round by shearing off the furs and hairs of diverse breeds of animals, including goats, sheep, alpacas, camels, and even llamas.

It is in demand even today, even though many alternatives are provided due to technological developments. It is an animal fiber that the human race has used for centuries due to its durability, luster, comfort, warmth, elasticity, absorbing properties, and warmth.

Moreover, wool fabric is considered eco-friendly and renewable because it is a natural material. The animals, especially the sheep, can produce new coats or fleece annually that can be sheared. Thus, those excessive wool fibers that are not used and just put to waste can decompose in a span of one year. Moreover, it can also serve as a natural fertilizer as it dispenses nitrogen nutrients back into the soil.

Wool is often used in fashion items such as coats, socks, sweaters, bags, and hats. It is a multifunctional fabric because it can also be used for furniture upholstery, for construction as wool insulation, carpets, bedding, and even for cosmetics since it also omits wool grease. Thus, it turns into lanolin when the wool grease is refined.

5 Tips on how to properly care for your wool coat

A wool coat is a classic fashion statement in your wardrobe, and sometimes, it also serves as a sign of your social status because even up to this day, it is still considered a luxury item. But since wool is a natural fiber, taking care of your wool clothes can sometimes be a nuisance.

Tip #1: Double check the wool clothing care label

One of the best things that you can do in caring for and maintaining the quality of your wool coat is to check its care label. With this, you will find the care guide instructions on how to prevent it from being damaged.

Tip #2: Habitually brush your wool coat

Since it is a natural fiber, it is prone to have some pills or lint balls, dirt, and dust. Therefore, ensure that you have a fabric shaver, lint roller, or soft brush to remove all these nuisances.

Tip #3: Spot clean is necessary

In case you find yourself in a situation where you got some stains on your wool clothes, it is necessary that you take some action immediately.

Double-check your wool clothing and look for the stain spots, and use some mild detergent, rubbing alcohol, wet wipes, or anything that you have that will help you remove the stain. When you do the spot cleaning process, ensure that you gently rub the area in circular motions or dampen it a little to avoid damage to the quality of your wool coat.

Tip #4: Handwash or use the laundry machine to wash your wool coat

It is always stated on the care label whether it is advisable to handwash only your wool coat or if it is applicable to be cleansed using the laundry machine. However, these two washing methods for your wool coat have different step-by-step processes.

Take a look at the table below to learn the step-by-step process of each method:

Handwash 

• 1. Fill a tub or a big bucket with lukewarm water. It is essential to check the water temperature because hotness can cause your wool coat to shrink.
• 2. Use a liquid detergent for clothes, preferably wool shampoo or baby shampoo, and fill the tub or big bucket.
• 3. Put the coat into the bucket and leave it soaked for about 30 minutes.
• 4. Once the coat is fully soaked, squeeze the water thoroughly to ensure that every single wool fiber is cleaned.
• 5. Leave the wool coat for about 1 to 2 hours before gently rubbing the stain and specks of dirt away using your fingers..
• 6. Thoroughly rinse your wool coat using lukewarm water until no more soap residue is visible.

Laundry or Washing Machine

• 1. This method is only feasible if the fabric care label tells you so.
• 2. Soak your wool coat in a tub filled with lukewarm water and liquid fabric detergent for about 30 minutes to loosen any dust and specks of dirt.
• 3. Just like the handwash method, ensure the water is not too hot, which may cause shrinkage.
• 4. Flip the coat inside-out and use a fabric laundry wash bag to ensure the wool coat does not rub against the washer. But if there is no wash bag or mesh available, you can use a bedsheet or pillowcase as an alternative. Just make sure that the top is tied in a loose knot.
• 5. Put the wash bag inside the laundry machine and set it to a lukewarm water temperature, and double-check if it is set on a delicate setting for about one hour.

If it is easier for you to learn the process on how to wash your wool coat using the laundry machine method, make sure to watch this youtube tutorial.

Tip #5: Properly dry your wool coat

Once you have washed your wool coat, ensure that you dry your wool garment properly regardless of the washing method.

To do this, gently squeeze the water off your clothing, from top to bottom. It is not advisable to wring the wool clothing because it can cause some damage.

Grab a clean towel and roll the coat together as you slowly and gently squeeze the excess water off. Once there is no more excess water, you can unroll the towel and coat. Use a dry towel and lay flat the wool coat on top of it. It is highly discouraged that you hang your coat to dry because it can cause sagging, and a tumble dryer is also not advisable because the heat can shrink the wool fabric.

The drying process of your wool coat requires time as it may take up to 3 days, so it is essential that you check and flip it from time to time to ensure that both sides of the clothing are thoroughly dried.

Step by Step Process on how to remove marks off your wool coat according to their stains

Two types of stains could destroy the beauty and quality of your wool coat: oil- and water-based stains. Therefore, you must know the step-by-step process of removing the marks with water- and oil-based stains.

Take a look at the table below to learn the step-by-step process of each kind of stain:

Oil-based Stain

• 1. Make use of a stain-removing solvent and put some on a clean rag.
• 2. Dampen the clothing with the rag to blot out the stain.
• 3. Put some liquid soap onto the rag and make a lather.
• 4. Blot the stained spot again with the lather to remove the solvent.
• 5. Ensure that the rag is thoroughly rinsed with running water, and then blot the spot again to remove any soap residue.

Water-based stain

• 1. Make use of a clean rag and dampen it to absorb as much liquid as possible.
• 2. Thoroughly rinse the rag and then put in some liquid soap. Any of your preferred soaps will do.
• 3. Make a lather with the clean wet rag and the liquid soap.
• 4. Dampen the soapy rag onto the stain little by little to blot it off.
• 5. Once the stain is gone, rinse the rag until there is no more soap residue.
• 6. Blot the stained portion with the rinsed rag to remove the soap residue.

You can also watch this youtube tutorial on how to remove stains on your wool clothes.

4 Things to use to care for your wool clothing

We have already established that the wool fabric often symbolizes your social status. It tends to be a fashion item, especially wool coats. Thus, quite expensive when you purchase it, especially for the branded ones. Hence, it is necessary that you know how to properly care for your wool garments, such as your coat.

We have listed below the following things that are often used to care for your wool coats and other wool-made items in your wardrobe and home.

Soft Brush or Fabric Comb

A soft brush is advisable for woven wool garments to avoid any dust, dirt, and surface soils that may be sitting on your garment, which can lead to its dullness. On the other hand, make use of a fabric comb to remove any lint balls, which are also known as pills.

Watch this youtube tutorial on how to remove pills from your wool garment.

Hanger

Whenever you have padded jackets or coats made of wool, it is highly recommended that you use a padded hanger to keep them in shape.

Soft Cloth

Getting stains on your wool coat is unavoidable, but do not worry because you can use a soft cloth to clean the stain and marks immediately. It is much better to use cold water to wet the soft cloth.

Laundry Detergent or Solvent Stain Remover

Use a laundry detergent for water-based stains and a solvent stain remover for oil-based stains to clean your wool coat. But you can also opt to use either vinegar or alcohol as an alternative.

8 Important tips when storing your wool garments

Caring for your wool coat does not only include how to wash and clean it properly. You must also know how and where to store your wool garments, such as your coat. You never want to ruin it, right? After all, it is an expensive fashion statement piece.

Spring and Summer are usually warm seasons. Hence, you will have to store your winter and fall clothes, such as your wool coat. Do not just store it at the back of your closet while you change your wardrobe for the upcoming season.

We have listed below the important tips on how to store your wool garments properly:

Tip #1: Must be fully dry

Make sure your wool coat and other garments are fully dry before you store them. Ensure that it is not kept where it is directly hit by sunlight.

Tip #2: Make sure that you have washed and cleaned your coat properly

It is never a good idea to just store your used and dirty garments. Make sure that you have thoroughly washed and cleaned it by following the instructions on the care label.

Tip #3: Ensure that you have emptied your pockets

Do not forget to empty the pockets of your wool coat whenever you plan to store them because regardless of whether it is a small item, it will still bulge and can probably change the size or shape of your garment. Emptying your pockets prevents them from sagging and stretching in due time.

Tip #4: Shave off some pilling and lints

Both abrasion and friction can cause some wear and tear and some fibers in your coat to tangle. So you can remove these lints by using a lint removerroller, while the tangles that eventually formed into fluffy balls can be removed using a fabric shaver.

Tip #5: Fold tidily

Properly folding your wool coat and other garments prevents them from having wrinkles, which helps keep the shape intact.

Tip #6: Make use of the padded hangers

Whenever you have a wool coat and other clothing, it is essential that you have some padded hangers to use simply because they help in preventing the shoulder and neck part of the coat from stretching and sagging.

Tip #7: Keep them away from moths

There are various ways to keep the moths from destroying your wool clothes. You can either use some airtight storage or some cedar chips or powder.

Tip #8: Use a garment bag for storing

If you want to ensure that the moths will never get into your wool coat and other wool garments, use a garment bag for additional protection whenever you store your wool clothes. Moreover, add either some moth balls or cedar chips or powder to keep these pesky moths away.

Summary

One of the highly sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics is wool. It is often chosen by any fashion designer, interior designer, and even bag designer to be used as the fabric material for their creations. With this, wool is also considered a luxurious fabric material, thus, often associated with filthy rich social status. Hence, if you have at least one or two coats made of wool in your closet, you must know how to care for a wool coat.