How to wash wool with minimal tools - clean wool easy technique

Washing the wool fleece from the previous skirting video

Ombre Grey sheep's fleece from shearing school

Washing in a simple way only using 5 gallon buckets and a strainer. This was a really greasy fleece so I used a degreaser and 9 elements washing liquid. Use what you like, I did find the 9 elemental leaving the wool soft and fluffy with no stickiness that dawn sometimes can leave. Some of the smell from the degreaser stays with the wool so use a scent that you like.
I do 1 wash with the degreaser and soap
1 wash with the soap only then 1 or 2 rinse depending on how dirty the fleece is.

Do not agitate the fiber or it will felt, the finer the fiber the easier the fiber will felt. The higher micro the fiber is the more abuse it can take before felting.

#mattimake #cleanthatfleece #sheep #fleece #woolprep #washfleece #wool #clean #drywool

Tips for skirting a whole fleece. What to take off, and why.

How to skirt a fleece from start to wash @Matti Makes

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[Ronnie-ll]

I know that this video is two years old, but still wanted to pop in and let you know it would have more than likely either just scalded, brushed then spun and woven/knitted into clothing and washed as clothing OR, they would have used ash. Ash was used a lot from the old videos I watched from women cleaning wool in the Italian countryside. Ash being a key component for soap making (since it was used to make lye, which is used with a fat to make soap) it would have been a sufficient cleaner and was also used to "wash" ones hands before eating if things got a little to greasy. I found a video that kind of explains the history of it for you if you're interested! The video is on Modern History TV and is called "Soap and washing: Did they have soap in medieval times?". :)

[anvitasinha]

Its lovely to see the actual pretty fibre emerge after the washing process! Thanks for sharing

[dagmarfrerking]

Suffolk? Yes, that method should work well. However, for finer fleeces, Merino and derivatives, I would expect at least partial felting with this method. Those are better off in smaller batches in laundry bags in rectangular plastic wash basins, where you can use a spatula to get underneath the bag to lift out the wool without agitating it.
When I wash fleeces, I separate getting out the sand and soil from getting out the lanolin. I first soak the wool in lukewarm water, depending on how dirty it is, two or three times. Then it goes into very hot water (I mix boiling water in with the hottest tap water, it should be at least 160°F) with some blue Dawn. You will see that water instantly get cloudy with the lanolin coming out. One wash with the soap has always been enough for me, and I don't let it sit long. After rinsing in equally hot water, I put the bag flat between towels and gently press on it. Then it goes onto a nylon pop-up sweater dryer, still in the bag, for a few hours. Then I take the wool out of the bag to let it dry fully.

[anvitasinha]

Congratulations! Your 100 subscribers giveaway is on currently, and you are already at 200!!!!

[foreverchipper]

Well, i just happened by and your my new fav. Following from NS. Thank you so much!

[arvellataratuta]

What does it mean when you say it may felt? I am getting some to add bits to my seed starting mix. Would it have to be washed for that purpose or is it too gross to deal with?

[LindaYazzie-bj]

Where do you buy the degreaser and 9 elements soap and the names of both I like how it cleaned the wool i have three bags to clean these summer please help

[clairechamberlin]

Could you put it in a mesh bag and tumble dry or would that make it felt?

[MsGg]

Can you tell me what degreaser you used?

[ronakay]

I use the kids' trampoline to dry it. 😅😅