How do you care for wool felt? Tips and tricks for a sustainable material
Wool felt is a wonderful material to work with. It is soft, warm, natural and durable. But how do you ensure that your wool felt stays beautiful? In this blog post I give you a number of tips and tricks to treat and maintain your wool felt.
What is wool felt?
Wool felt is a fabric made from 100% virgin wool. It meets the Woolmark definitions of pure new wool from the International Wool Secretariat. Wool felt is made by compressing wool fibers with heat, moisture and friction. This creates a sturdy and compact material that does not fray or stretch.
Wool felt has many advantages. It contains wool fat and is therefore naturally moisture and dirt repellent. The material falls into the highest class of fire retardant. Wool felt from meervilt! is dyed according to the Ökotex-100 standard and is therefore suitable for use in children's toys, among other things.
How do you clean wool felt?
Wool felt is an easy-care material. You don't have to wash it often, because it stays fresh for a long time due to the self-cleaning effect of wool grease. If you still want to clean your wool felt, you have several options:
- Dry cleaning: Loose pieces of wool felt can be cleaned chemically (dry-cleaning) or by washing by hand or in the washing machine. Chemical cleaning is recommended. This is where the least shrinkage occurs.
- Hand wash: When washing by hand, a soft brush and a mild shampoo or a delicate wool detergent can be used. Rinse well with clean water and dry flat on a towel. If necessary, iron with an iron with a little steam. Only use fat-replenishing soaps and shampoos. Fat-dissolving detergents affect the amount of natural wool fat in the felt and thus reduce the dirt and water repellency. When washing by hand, shrinkage must be taken into account, depending on the thickness and the number of washes, the shrinkage can amount to 0-10%.
- Machine wash: Washing in a washing machine is possible, but requires a careful approach. Choose a wool wash program with as little agitation as possible and use a liquid, non-greasy wool detergent. After washing, dry flat on a towel. If necessary, iron with an iron with a little steam. Please note that machine washing actually continues the felting process and will affect the "sharp edges" of wool felt. Beautiful straight cuts become rounder and sharp corners are slightly rounded. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided.
How do you care for wool felt?
In addition to cleaning your wool felt, you can also do other things to keep your wool felt beautiful:
- Sucking: Compared to knotted or woven carpets, wool felt has a very smooth and closed surface and is a very dense material. Dirt therefore remains on the surface, making it easier to remove. Wool felt that has been used as floor covering or wall covering can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. If necessary, use a nozzle with a soft brush.
- Dab: To remove small stains, a soft, slightly damp cloth with a fine wool detergent can be used. Please note that hard 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 fibers and make the surface smooth again.
- Store: If you are not using wool felt, it is best to store it in an air-permeable bag or box. Avoid direct sunlight as this can fade the color. Do not place heavy objects on top of your wool felt as this can cause permanent creases.
With these tips and tricks you can enjoy your wool felt for a long time. Do you want to know more about wool felt or are you looking for beautiful wool felt products? Then take a look at our website
