Wool Care

What is Wool?

Made from the fleece of sheep, wool yarns produce "woolens" or "worsted" fabrics. Woolen fabrics are made from twisting short wool fibers together, resulting in a soft, fuzzy feel without a distinct weave pattern. Some woolen examples include flannel, soft-finished tweeds and melton. Worsted fabrics have a distinct weave pattern and are hard finished like gabardine, serge and cavalry twill.

Nice Look, Nice Feel

There are many reasons why wool is a favorite year-round fabric, although it’s especially popular in the cold winter months. First of all, wool is very warm yet comfortable because it absorbs moisture without leaving a damp feeling. Wool is also resilient and resists wrinkling. Plus, it's easy to tailor since it holds its shape so well.

Check out the Label

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), wool garments must be classified and labeled according to the amount and type of wool, for example:

Wool Blend Mark Label

This trademark identifies products that contain at least 60 percent pure new wool, blended with just one other fiber.

Woolmark Label

This label is only allowed on garments whose manufacturers meet the high standards of the Wool Bureau Inc. It shows that a product is 100 percent pure wool.

Take Care of Your Wool

Trust the professionals at Classic Cleaners to make sure your wool garments last for years and always look sharp. Plus, here are a few tips that you can follow, too:

Read Your Care Labels

Classic Cleaners first rule of cleaning is to follow the care instruction label. This is especially important for wool products. Most need to be dry cleaned, but some of the new styles of merino wool, for instance, can be hand-washed. So follow the care label. You’ll be glad you did.

Get Rid of the Fuzzies

Piling is caused by the balling up of loosened fiber ends. It’s most common in woolens and wool blend fabrics due to the short staple fibers in the yarn. Piling occurs in areas of high wear, such as elbows, sleeves, seat, etc. Brushing can sometimes alleviate it.

Keep Insects Away

It's a fact of life: moths lay eggs on garments. Then, when the eggs hatch, larvae attack the garment fibers. However, frequent dry cleaning can control this potential problem since moths and their larvae are more attracted to garments with food and beverage stains. Be sure to bring all your garments, especially wool ones, to Classic Cleaners for a final cleaning before storing.

Remember, regular cleaning by the experts at Classic Cleaners will actually increase the life of your wool garments.