Wool felt is a great material to work with. It is soft, warm, natural and durable. But how do you make sure your wool felt stays beautiful? In this blog post, we share handy tips and tricks to easily explain the care of wool felt.
What is Wool Felt?
Wool felt is a fabric made from 100% new wool and meets the Woolmark definitions of pure new wool, as established by the International Wool Secretariat. It is created by compressing wool fibres together with heat, moisture and friction, creating a sturdy and compact material that does not fray or stretch.
Wool felt offers many advantages. Thanks to the natural wool fat, it is naturally moisture- and dirt-repellent and falls into the highest class of fire retardancy. Wool felt from Meaningful Crafts is dyed according to the Ökotex-100 standard, which makes it especially suitable for use in children's toys.
How to Clean Wool Felt? An essential step in caring for wool felt,
Wool felt is easy to maintain. It does not need to be washed often, as it stays fresh for a long time due to the self-cleaning properties of wool felt. If you do want to clean your wool felt, there are several options:
Steaming: Loose pieces of wool felt can be chemically cleaned by steaming. This is the recommended method as it causes the least shrinkage.
Hand wash: For hand washing, use a soft brush and a mild shampoo or a fine wool detergent. Rinse well with clean water and let dry flat on a towel. If necessary, iron with an iron with a little steam. Use only fat-inducing soaps and shampoos, because fat-dissolving detergents reduce the amount of natural wool grease in the felt, thereby affecting its dirt- and water-repellency. Take shrinkage into account; depending on the thickness and the number of washes, shrinkage can be 0-10%.
Machine wash: Machine washing is possible, but requires caution. Choose a wool wash programme with as little agitation as possible and use a liquid, non-greasy solvent wool detergent. After washing, dry flat on a towel. If necessary, iron with an iron with a little steam. Bear in mind that machine washing continues the felting process, making sharp edges and corners rounder.
How to care for wool felt?
Besides cleaning, there are other things you can do to keep your wool felt beautiful:
Sucking: Wool felt has a smooth and closed surface, allowing dirt to remain on the surface and be easily removed. Wool felt used as floor or wall covering can be cleaned with a hoover. If necessary, use a nozzle with a soft brush.
Dabbing: To remove small stains, use a soft, slightly damp cloth with a fine wool detergent. Be aware that harsh and prolonged rubbing and too much moisture affect the surface of the felt and can cause the material to shrink and deform locally.
Brushing: If your wool felt becomes fluffy due to use or wear, you can gently brush it with a soft brush or a lint comb. This will remove loose fibres and smooth the surface again.
Storage: When not in use, it is best to store wool felt in a breathable bag or box. Avoid direct sunlight as this can cause the colour to fade. Do not place heavy objects on your wool felt, as this can cause permanent creases.
With these tips and tricks, you can enjoy your wool felt for a long time. Would you like to know more about wool felt or are you looking for beautiful wool felt products? Then take a look at our website.
