How to wash a wool coat in a washing machine?

How to wash a wool coat in a washing machine Outerwear made of wool looks elegant and rich, but requires proper care. And if regular dry cleaning can refresh the material, then to remove stubborn stains from blood, grease or paint, a deeper cleansing is necessary. The ideal solution would be to go to a dry cleaner, but if this is not possible, you will have to wash the wool coat in an automatic washing machine. We will explain in detail below how to do this without damaging the item or the washing machine itself.

Collecting information about washing

We have to disappoint you - there is no universal “recipe” for flawlessly washing all woolen coats. It all depends on the specific item, the quality of its execution and the parameters set by its manufacturer. You need to focus on the latter - they are necessarily indicated on the label attached to the lining of the product. If the label does not have a schematic image of a basin with a hand lowered inside, then machine washing is not prohibited. We are also looking for information about the permissible temperature. All this will minimize risks and protect clothes from damage.

But it happens that the treasured label is not there. Then you need to carefully examine the item and determine what material it is made of. Next, choose the appropriate tactics for washing. Find out what material your coat is made of

Artificial wool. Washing wool coats does take place, but subject to certain rules. First, you need to select special cleaning products. Secondly, turn on only manual/delicate mode with spin cancellation. Thirdly, do not allow the water to heat above 40 degrees.We pay special attention to all-woolen items, as they are recommended to be washed in cold water with a maximum of 30 degrees.

It is forbidden to wash natural wool: this material cannot be wet.

Polyester. The safest option, as it is unpretentious and resistant to drum washing. You just need to select the delicate mode and set the water heating to 40 degrees.
Cashmere. Automatic washing of cashmere items is strictly prohibited. Even delicate washing in cold water and minimal spin will lead to deformation and damage. It is better to act locally and try to clean the stained areas, and as a last resort and only in case of serious contamination, wash by hand. A special gel for wool is selected from the detergents, the water temperature should not exceed 30 degrees, and after cleansing, rinse thoroughly.
Drap. This material cannot be machine washed, and placing a drape coat in the machine drum is strictly prohibited. Even with delicate treatment, beautiful material will be irrevocably deteriorated, so we remove stains only by hand. Ideally, carry out local cleaning. To do this, fill a basin with cold water up to 30 degrees, carefully treat problem areas with a special gel and rinse well. It is impossible to squeeze or twist the product too much, and it is better to avoid the glued areas and not get them wet.

It’s easy to wash a coat without ruining it – you just need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. It is equally important to focus on the material from which the outerwear is made.We also remember that even the safest washing with repeated repetitions will negatively affect the appearance of the item, so we try to avoid contamination and, if possible, use a safer cleaning method - dry cleaning.

Basic washing recommendations

If the desire to deal with stains on a woolen product is great, then it is better to act without deviating from the tactics specified by the manufacturer. But in addition to the designations on the coat label, it is necessary to take into account several universal rules, the observance of which will allow outerwear to become clean without shrinkage, deformation and damage.

Evaluate the naturalness of the item. Everyone knows that the more natural fibers a coat contains, the higher the likelihood that machine washing will negatively affect the material. The same applies to natural fur - if the clothing has a fur collar or inserts, it is better to unfasten them, wrap them with film or clean the dirt manually.
Don't skimp on detergent. Using the first powder you come across, you can put an end to your favorite coat. It is necessary to select special gels designed for delicate cleaning of woolen items. We also look separately at the colors – colored, white or dark. The more nuances you take into account, the lower the risk and the more effective the result.
Prepare the item for loading into the drum. Be sure to check all pockets and lining so that forgotten pieces of paper, keys or coins do not fall into the tank, cause a blockage and damage the coat itself. We also make sure to turn clothes inside out, fasten buttons, zippers and rivets. It is better to place the coat in a special protective bag.

You can select the “Delicate” or “Wool” program.

Take care of taped areas.If water, especially hot water, gets on the glue, it will definitely cause delamination and softening, which will lead to a loss of viscosity. The result is simple, but unpleasant - the coat will fall apart into several parts.
Focus on the quality of the item. Remember that woolen materials are often dyed with low-quality dyes to reduce the cost of production, which are easily washed out during prolonged contact with water. Machine washing will easily cause color loss, and the coat will look much worse.

If you forget the basic recommendations, you can end up with a colorless and shapeless thing instead of a stylish coat. So we advise you to weigh the pros and cons several times and only then place the wool in the drum. Most often, it is better to go to a dry cleaner or hand wash instead of a machine. This will require more time and effort, but the risks will be reduced to a minimum.

How to dry?

Even an ideal wash of a wool coat at home can be in vain if the product is not dried correctly. Delicate material must not be twisted, wrung out or hung vertically on conventional clothespins. In order not to spoil the result, you must follow the following principles:

Drying woolen items in a dryer is prohibited!

do not use an artificial heat source; the ideal place to dry your coat is a ventilated room or open air (just not in direct sunlight);
lay out on a horizontal surface, for example, lay out a floor dryer and carefully throw a coat over it; due to free air circulation, the item will dry faster;
control the process, it is recommended to regularly “check” the woolen product, give it the desired shape in advance and straighten the material if necessary.

It will help to properly organize drying and previously observed rules. Thus, a high-quality detergent with the addition of a special conditioner will soften the material, fix its shape and prevent shrinkage or stretching.