Washing wool instead of Dry cleaning??

[pjlla]

I know in the past I have had good luck washing wool and other dry clean items in cold water, gentle cycle, line dry. I've even done it with DH's suit pants in the past. But now I've got a wool blend coat that is needing to be cleaned and I'm not sure if I should risk it. It wasn't an expensive coat.... just an Old Navy pea coat type.... but I really like it.

It isn't 100% wool. I was, as I mentioned, thinking of washing it alone on the gentle cycle with cold water and laying it out to dry. Anyone had any luck trying this with something big like a coat?? I just don't want to pay the dry cleaner prices and I hate the dry cleaning chemicals.................P

 

[Sagginit]

i would dry clean. most knit items/gentle cycle items say wash cold, dry on a flat surface, reshape. a sweater can be pushed or tugged a bit to reshape. the coat has seams and structure to it. if you wash and it shrinks at all it will pucker up and roll up in places like the collar instead of laying flat and crisp in certain areas.

also as it is old navy the wool is lesser quality and i i think more likely to fade/shrink. i would find a good organic dry cleaner. unless the cost to dry clean is more than the cost of the coat that to me is the better option.

 

[crl]

If you decide to wash it at home, don't put it in the washer. Gently rinse it out with cold water by hand then lay flat to dry. Basically all you do it gently swish it around in a tub with a tiny amount of wool cleaner then run it under cold water.

 

[3boymthr]

If it is lined or has any kind of none wool pieces (such as pckets) don't wash it. The wool will shrink (even if only infinitesimally) and the lining, etc. won't and you'll end up with a ruined coat. Trust me I learned this the hard way when I accidentally washed some lined wool pants.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I've had good luck hand washing wool items in cold water. I usually end up putting them through the spin cycle on delicate (1 at a time) to get the extra water out. I have many heavy wool sweaters that they would take forever to dry if I didn't. I usually use a gently shampoo instead of woolite, then soak in cold water with conditioner, quick trip through delicate spin cycle, reshape and lay flat to dry.

The conditioner softens the wool and makes it easier to reshape or stretch if there is a small amount of shrinking.

 

[disneychrista]

Don't they have "at home" dry cleaning kits at Walmart? It is still chemical based but cheaper than the Dry Cleaner.

 

[Alesia]

The coat will never be the same if you wash it. Not only will it warp, but the fibers will bloom. You can try to stretch it back into shape, but it's always going to look shabby.

Dry cleaning is only going to cost about $12.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I have had bad luck washing wool. I wouldn't recommend it.

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[Evi]

I think it depends on the item. I wash all my cashmere by hand after noticing that when I sent one of my sweaters to the dry cleaners it came back discolored. I use woolite and cold water only. I also don't wring items out I place them in a towel and roll the water out then lay them over another dry towel to dry. I have woolens dry cleaned though.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I don't trust dry cleaners; they've ruined too many one of a kind vintage piece of clothing for me over the years.

So, instead, look and see if there are there any stains or dirty places that need to be cleaned. If so, make a solution of laundry detergent to water - a tablespoon to a cup of water works nicely for me, although I've seen it expressed as 1/20 and dampen the spot and clean it. Or use my current method, get Clorox non-bleaching cleaning wipes and wipe off the stain. These work wonderfully on EVERYTHING.

Once there aren't any stains, dampen a cotton dishtowel or small tea towel with a little fabric softener and water (basically, make your own Febreeze). Toss it in the dryer, then toss your item to dry clean in the dryer. If the item is fragile, put it in a cotton pillow case that has been do-it-yourself Febreezed and maybe dampened and toss it in the dryer.

Give it a few minutes, take the item out!

 

[pjlla]

Got lots of differing opinions here, so I'm torn.

The coat does not have a liner, so that wouldn't be a problem. It isn't 100% wool... just a blend. And it definitely needs some cleaning....looks like it got splashed from a puddle or something. But it doesn't smell.... in fact, it probably has only been worn less than a dozen times.

Perhaps my best bet at this point would be to spot wash it and see how it comes out. I'll use just a bit of Woolite on a cool damp rag. The coat only cost about $20 on clearance so I hate to spend nearly that much to clean it. Maybe I'll shop around my local cleaners and see if I can score a coupon or anything. And there is an "organic" dry cleaners in Manchester.... I've never tried them though because it has been YEARS since I've had anything dry-cleaned.

Thanks for all of the helpful ideas and suggestions. I really do appreciate it........P

 

[3boymthr]

Just a quick thought, I was reminded as I was changing the wash around that some machines have special settings for wool. Mine does. It basically just steams the fabric. If your washer doesn't have it, if you're good enough friends maybe one of your friends might have that setting on their washer.