How to wash an alpaca wool sweater?
Many people are hesitant to buy natural alpaca yarns for fear of felting, stretching, or the overall difficulty of maintaining them. In practice, however, it's not that difficult and can be very rewarding. We'll explain step-by-step how to care for your alpaca projects and garments. If you want your garments to look like new, follow our instructions.
Airing – a good way for natural fibers
Let's start by saying that alpaca wool clothes, if they're not excessively dirty, simply air them thoroughly. This is because natural wool fibers have a scaly structure, making them much more difficult to stain. Furthermore, wool doesn't absorb odors. Therefore, airing alpaca clothes refreshes them and reduces the need for frequent washing. We recommend doing this on humid days. The wool will absorb moisture and then release it, keeping them fresh.
- Lay your clothes out on a drying rack horizontally, outdoors, preferably on a humid day or night.
- After a few hours or the next day, move the dryer indoors.
- Once the clothes are dry, place them on the shelf.
How to wash alpaca wool clothes?
Over time, every project requires washing. Sweaters and other alpaca wool garments should be hand washed exclusively. When washing natural wool, the water temperature and choice of detergent are crucial. The drying method is also important. Remember, alpaca sweaters don't like being hung!
- Prepare two bowls of water, each at least 10 liters, at a temperature of 25-30 degrees Celsius. Add a little wool detergent to one bowl (wool doesn't like detergents). Never use fabric softener.
- Place the garment in a bowl of wool detergent and gently massage the garment for about 2 minutes, treating it lovingly. Do not stretch or rub the garments together.
- Gently transfer the garment to a second bowl of water only and repeat the process.
- Pull it gently to the place with the water drain, gently squeeze out the first water from it.
Drying alpaca wool clothes
After hand washing, the drying method is important. Place the washed alpaca sweater on a soft, absorbent towel, wrap it around the garment, pat it down, and leave for fifteen minutes. Remember that leaving natural fiber garments wet for too long can cause them to stretch or deform. Therefore, we recommend hand washing on a warm day. Then:
- Place a dry towel or a small clothes drying net horizontally on the drying rack,
if you have one so that the clothes can dry on both sides at the same time. - Lay the pre-dried garment out on a towel or mesh bag and shape it as desired. If using a towel, turn the alpaca sweater over after a few hours to dry evenly on both sides. Remember not to dry clothes directly on radiators.
- Once dried, fold the garment neatly and place it on a shelf. Remember not to hang it on hangers.
The benefits of GABO alpaca wool
Alpaca wool is incredibly soft and comfortable to wear. It's a wonderful product that, with proper care, will last for many years. It's worth remembering that the durability of your projects also depends on the quality of the yarn used. BABY ALPACA by GABO wool is composed of 100% alpaca wool from the high Andes Mountains. Selected from the most valuable parts of the fleece, it provides excellent insulation. It's so soft to the touch that you won't want to let it go. Thanks to its properties, alpaca yarn is used for sweaters, hats, scarves, and gloves. Its delicacy also makes it ideal for blankets and baby clothing.
