Wool suiting

[AndreaSews]

Sancin touched on the most important point, I think: Wool fibers won't shrink/shorten due to exposure to the water or heat--They felt. Agitation/rubbing.pressing/smooshing causes the fibers to become more tightly entangled with one another. The result is a tighter, firmer mass of fibers, and unfortunately, although the fibers are still the same length, the garment may be shorter and tighter. This isn't a one-time thing like some kinds of fabrics. It will felt and tighten every time that it gets agitated. Sheep roam around all day long in all kinds of weather wearing wool without getting that uncomfortable tightness. But if people went up to them rolling their fleece between their fingers, they'd end up being little rasta-sheep with matted, felted rolls of fleece hanging from them. This is the reason for gentle swishes in the sink and laying flat to dry. Don't wring it out. You can roll the sopping garment in a towel to take out the excess moisture so that it doesn't drip all over when you lay it out, or put the drying rack int he bathtub. If you get a real stain and you can't get it out without scrubbing, then visit the dry cleaner and ask for help.

[Magot]

a great image, the rasta sheep.

[DorothyL]

I, too, love the rasta sheep, Mon.

[Magot]

Tony has dropped chocolate pudding on his wool trousers - how do I get that out? It says they are dry clean only.

[bridesmom]

I'd try dabbing it with cold water to see if you can get it out. And if not, then throw them into the sink with some cold water wash soap (like woolite) unless you want to take them to the drycleaners. I also wash all my woolen stuff, in cold water, in the sink and hand wring and lay flat to dry. I can't bear the thought of paying someone else $10 to wash a pair of pants! (and they don't even wash it, it's just chemicals - how does that make it clean anyhow???_

[Sancin]

With spots that trouble me I always try club soda first. Stretch or place soiled spot over a glass, bowl, whatever and pour the club soda through the fabric until spot gone, then wash / clean as usual. Bubbles the spots out. Works amazingly well and quickly, especially if used right away! If fabric won't water spot, run clear water over to get any club soda residue out, but not always necessary if no sugar products in soda.

Those little travel cleaning pads work quite well as well, but are a bit expensive for everyday use.

I used to work with a woman that always had a can of club soda in her office. She dressed very high ended and always looked fantastic, even at the end of the day, when I would have limp hair and wrinkles and chalk dust everywhere.

[Magot]

thanks gals - he has tried dabbing it with the cold water and his sister has now cheerfully told him that he has set the stain. um.... what is club soda?

[Sancin]

I never thought that club soda wasn't the same everywhere - it is a bicarbonate liquid/beverage used in mixing alcoholic drinks eg. scotch (whiskey) and soda. From my perspective has a bit of a bitter flavour - no sweet or sour additives. But I don't like any 'fizzies'. I am cheap date when it comes to champagne!!

Anyone else more knowledgeable about beverages?

I doubt cold water set the stain - rarely does unless really rubbed in for awhile. However, one always needs to think about the constituents of a product that makes a stain - dye/plant, sugar/spice, grease, protein/body fluid - cover most things. So now, what is chocolate pudding made of?

I just have to add this - as I type there is a TV on in the background with the most terrible singer singing. I think it supposed to be an old time singer!!

[LeapFrog Libby]

Club Soda is carbonated water Jan.. I cannot think what they call it in the UK..

[PaulineG]

Maybe just soda water - we have that here in Australia. We also have mineral water and tonic water (but I'm quite sure it isn't that). I always thought that Club Soda had some salt or something added to it - which might make it more similar to mineral water.

Thanks Andrea for that good explanation. In the past when I've ruined wool garments while washing them I didn't really understand what it was I did wrong - now I do.