I love felted wool items!! I agree with the hot water, lots of agitation (I put on gloves and check my items frequently). I usually squirt a bit of shampoo in the wash water. When my items are fulled to my satisfaction, I've always rinsed them in cool water, kind of pressed excess water out with towels and air dryed. I haven't used the dryer!! I'm going to try that. I want to make another set of felted wool slippers this year!