Have you ever bought a wool jumper only to find it is itchy against your skin? If so, don’t worry, as we have a simple but unusual solution to make your wool softer and less scratchy. You might already have the secret ingredient sitting in your pantry: vinegar! While using vinegar in laundry is usually to help remove unpleasant smells, it also has the ability to soften the stiff fibres of natural materials such as wool.
If you have a mens fishermans sweater from a stockist such as shoparan.com/mens-aran-sweaters/mens-fisherman-sweaters that you want to make softer, you can follow our top tips below.
Soaking in vinegar
Forget fabric softener, as vinegar is your new best friend for softening wool. Mix four tablespoons of distilled white vinegar with cold water in a bowl and soak your sweater thoroughly. Make sure the water is cold to prevent shrinking and that the jumper is completely covered. You might need to squash the sweater down with your hands to ensure full coverage.
Gentle rinsing
After 15 to 20 minutes of soaking, transfer your sweater to a clean bath for rinsing. Press out the excess water gently against the bath’s bottom and sides to avoid stretching the fabric, Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Repeat the rinsing process until all traces of vinegar are gone.
Conditioning for extra softness
Once rinsed, lay your sweater flat on the bottom of the bath and apply a generous amount of quality hair conditioner. You need to ensure the conditioner is high quality, as the silicones in cheaper products will leave behind a build-up. Work the conditioner into the wool fibres as if you are washing your hair, ensuring every inch is coated. Leave the jumper for around half an hour and repeat the rinsing process until all traces of any product are removed.
Air dry and freeze
Lay your conditioned sweater flat on a towel to air dry. Wrap your sweater tightly in a plastic ziplock bag and put it into the freezer overnight. Freezing helps set the fibres and lock in the softness.