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Old 08-18-2012, 08:55 AM
  #18  
Tothill
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
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My grandmother was a spinner, weaver, knitter, crocheter etc. Her house was full of woollen items.

I wash large woollen items in the bath tub as others have mentioned. I usually use a mild shampoo (wool is hair). I use warm water and add the shampoo to it before the woollen item. To help get the water through, I use a clean toilet plunger gently.

I drain and rinse several times (until the water is clear), leaving the item in the tub the whole time.

I do not line the tub with a sheet as it just traps the dirt and I want it to drain away. After the final rinse I let it drain for quite a while, pressing it until no more water came out. Now I roll it out of the tub onto a sheet and carry it outside. I have several old sliding door screens that I put on saw horses for drying.

I do not worry about drying in sunlight. The sheep lived outside before they were shorn.

I have washed rugs, curtains (yes my grandmother made them out of wool), very old crochet afghans and more this way.
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