1. Introduction
Wool is a favourite natural fiber because of its warmth, hardness and softness. Wool clothing, from cozy sweaters to dressy coats, to scarves and socks, is an everyday wardrobe essential that can be used year after year with proper care. Although washing wool requires good care, drying is just as important to retain the fabric’s integrity and appearance.
When properly dried, wool will remain elastic, not shrinking or warping, and remain soft and pleasant to the touch. There are two standard ways to dry wool: air and machine drying — each having its advantages and disadvantages. Which method you use depends on the fabric of the garment, the care label, and your taste.
This blog post covers the importance of drying wool correctly, the difference between air and dryer drying, and tips for drying wool clothes safely.
2. How Wool Needs Proper Drying Why Wool Needs Proper Drying?
Due to its unique structure, drying wool requires careful attention. Wool clothes are useful, expensive, and nostalgic, so it’s important to take good care of them in order to get them to last longer.
Wool’s Unique Properties
This appreciation of wool’s nature explains why drying matters:
Elasticity
- Because wool fibers have a special, crimped structure, clothing is naturally elastic, meaning that it can be pushed back a bit, and then come back together. But drying the fabric wrong can compress or overstretch these fibers and make the garments appear warped.
Moisture Absorption
Wool is hygroscopic – that is, it can absorb 30% of its body weight in water without becoming wet. This helps regulate body temperature, but it also makes wool dense when wet and thus more susceptible to tearing if not dried properly.
Natural Crimp
Wool crimp adds insulation and durability. Yet heat or drying wool at high temperatures damages this crimp, altering the feel and warmth of the garment.
Also Read : Does Wool Fabric Stretch Over Time?
Potential Risks of Improper Drying
Wool is susceptible to several problems when not properly dried:
Stretching
- Wool fibres can rip at their own weight when hanging in the rain. This is particularly prevalent when wearing heavy clothes such as sweaters or coats.
- Those swollen spots, the shoulders or the hemlines, may not be reformed after you’ve shaved them.
Shrinking
- Wool also shrivels when heated or dried rapidly, such as in an unset dryer.
- Shrinkage happens when the scales on wool fibres become knitted together by heat and friction (felting).
Felting
Felting forces the fibres to cling together and renders the fabric heavier and often smaller. This irreversible treatment destroys the soft and malleable feel of woolen clothing.
Loss of Shape
Mismatched drying methods can warp wool clothing, making lopsided or unsightly forms that are hard to correct.
Why Drying Can Increase the Life of Woolen Clothes?
Drying correctly is the key to prolonging the life of wool clothes:
- Maintaining Original Fit: Mild drying processes maintain the shape and fit of the garment, allowing it to remain beautiful and functional.
- Reducing Damage to Fibers: Drying without overheating and wringing the garment helps to keep the fibers soft and robust.
- Maintaining Texture and Appearance: Good drying restores the softness, durability and natural sheen of wool fibers so they remain crisp, supple and fresh for many years.
If you spend the time and effort to dry your wool clothing, you can keep it from wearing down and prolonging its usefulness.
3. The Air Dry Method
It’s generally accepted that drying woollen clothing by air is the safest and most efficient method. This technique prevents damage, preserves the natural elasticity and structure of the fibers, and ensures the original fit and feel of the garment.
How to Air Dry Wool Clothes?
Drying wool garments by air involves some care and patience. The steps to achieve this are as follows in their entirety:
Rub Off Any Excess Water After Rinsing.
- When you’ve washed your woolen garment, do not wring or twist it out of water. These gestures stretch or stretch the fibers.
- Rather, press the garment between two clean, dry towels to absorb any excess moisture. If it’s smaller, you can roll it in a towel and lightly press it down.
Place the Clothes Flat on a Drying Towel or Mesh Rack.
- Set the wet clothing on a clean flat towel or mesh drying rack. This keeps the garment from being pulled down by gravity and sagging.
- Mesh drying racks are particularly helpful as they circulate air on all sides and expedite the drying process.
Return the Sodden Dress to Its Original Size.
- The softest wool is wet, so it is a good time to turn the garment inside out. Tuck away creases and gently pull on the edges to get the object back to its original size.
- Particularly pay attention to collars, cuffs, and hemlines, as these are prone to being warped when they get washed.
– Install in an Enclosed Space, Away From Direct Sunlight and Heating.
- Wool should be dried in a dry, well-ventilated area so as not to overheat or get stained by the sun.
- You should never hang the dress near a radiator, heater, or sunlight, as these will dry the fibers unevenly or thin them.
- Pros of Air Drying
For most woollers, drying by air has numerous advantages:
Prevents Stretching and Shrinking
By placing the garment flat, you eliminate the chance that the fibres will stretch from their own weight or contract under high heat.
Gentle on Delicate Fibers
- Air drying is a non-surgical technique that preserves the natural structure of wool fibres while maintaining their softness and flexibility.
- Retains the Original Pattern and Feel.
Reworking the clothing while it’s wet keeps it in the original fit, feel and color.
- Cons of Air Drying
Air drying, for all its advantages, comes with drawbacks:
Time-Consuming
Wool clothes will dry completely within hours or days, depending on fabric thickness and conditions.
Requires Space and Proper Setup
You’ll need an open and level space for drying things that are larger than a sweater or coat. This can be a challenge for those with a small space.
4. Drying Woolen Clothes Using a Dryer
The machines now allow some wool clothing to be machine dried, but with certain restrictions. When you use a dryer improperly, it can do irreversible harm, so it’s important to do the right thing.
Does Wool Go in the Dryer?
Whether wool can be machine-dried depends on the garment’s care tag. The majority of untreated wool or fine knitwear should never be put in a dryer. Yet a handful of contemporary wool fabrics come pretreated and labelled as “machine washable” or “dryer safe”.
Reading Care Labels
- Always follow drying directions on the care label. If it reads “tumble dry low” or “wool cycle,” use the dryer responsibly.
- If it’s labeled “dry flat” or “don’t tumble dry,” hang dry to avoid ruining the piece.
Wool-Specific Dryer Settings
These days, a great many dryers have wool-specific settings. Such cycles are very low in heat and moderate in agitation, so as to keep them from shrinking or felting.
Steps for Safe Dryer Use
If the care label allows machine drying, use these instructions to make sure that the clothing is dry correctly:
Use a Wool-Safe Setting Dryer
Choose the lowest setting or a wool cycle to ensure you don’t heat the fibers.
Place the Clothes in a Laundry Bag.
If you want to reduce friction and movement, store the wool item in a mesh laundry bag before drying it.
Remove Promptly When Slightly Damp
No wool should be over-dried in the machine. Take off the piece while it’s still a bit damp and finish drying flat on a towel or mesh rack.
- Pros of Using a Dryer
Dries with a machine are easy and effective under some conditions:
Faster Drying Time
A dryer will quickly shorten the drying process, which is ideal for those who are on the go or in cold and wet areas where air drying takes too long.
Modern Dryers Designed for Wool
Some high-end dryers are made specifically to dry wool items delicately, so they do not harm them.
- Cons of Using a Dryer
Despite its ease, machine drying has its dangers:
Greater Potential to Shrink or Fall Flat.
The wrong setting or over-drying can make wool fibres lose their elasticity and shrink, feel or crimp, shrinking the clothing.
Not Recommended for All Wool Clothes
You should never dry delicate knits, unwashed wool, or heirloom pieces by machine because the damage is too great.
5. Air Dryer vs Dryer: Which Is Better?
There are different options when it comes to drying wool clothes either by air or with a dryer. Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the best option takes a good consideration of garment type, time, and aesthetic. Let’s delve into these factors to determine whether air or machine drying is the right choice.
- Factors to Consider
Garment Type
- Hand-knitted or Hand-made Wool Clothing: Hand-knitted or hand-made wool clothing, including scarves, cardigans, or antique pieces should be air-dried. These objects are typically untreated and are more susceptible to cracking under mechanical drying.
- Pre-Treated or Machine-Washable Wool: Some contemporary wool clothes are treated to be machine washable and dryable. They are suited for a dryer’s soft-wool setting.
Time Availability
- When Time is of the Ear: Drying with a dryer will save a significant amount of time, which is helpful if you are on a tight budget or live in a place where air drying is unattainable.
- If Time Isn’t a Consequence: Air drying, though slower, ensures the item is treated well and stays in excellent condition for years.
Personal Preferences
Some find machine drying low-maintenance convenient, while others appreciate the precision and attention offered by air drying.
When to Choose Air Drying
Air drying is the go-to process for the majority of woollen clothing, particularly in the following conditions:
Delicate or Handmade Wool Items
Soft or hand-woven garments do not have the structure to withstand mechanical drying. These clothes dry with air in order to keep the shape and texture intact.
Untreated Wool or Natural Fibers
Untreated wool, alpaca or other natural fabrics are more prone to shrinking and feeling in the dryer. Air drying is required to maintain their stretch and softness.
Heavy or Thick Wool Garments
Wool sweaters, coats and blankets are particularly likely to become sag when the dryer is loaded down with them. Air drying on a flat surface keeps them straight.
Vintage or Sentimental Pieces
Air drying prevents irreparable damage to antique wool items or other items that are considered sentimental.
In Warm or Dry Climates
For anyone living in a warm and/or dry climate, air drying is fast and energy efficient, and therefore eco-friendly.
Where Dryer Use Can Be Useful
While air drying is typically safer, there are exceptions:
Machine-Washable Wool Labeled Dryer-Safe
Many contemporary wool garments are already treated for strength. If the care label clearly states that it is dryer safe, you can trust your dryer, assuming you use the correct settings.
Limited Time for Drying
For situations where time is tight, like when a last-minute dress needs to be worn, the dryer can free up time.
High-Humidity Environments
Air drying can be slow in wet or humid environments, making the smell musty. A dryer is a reasonable substitute.
For Wool Blends
Wool knits with synthetic yarns are generally less susceptible to shrinkage and felting, which means you can wear them in the dryer.
Air Dry vs. Dryer: A Comparison Table.
- Aspect Air Dry Dryer
- Hours to Days Speed (minutes to an hour)
- Clothes Fit All wool garments, particularly soft Machine-washable wool or wool-wool blends
- Perpetuity of Injuries Low Risk of injury Increased risk when left unchecked.
- Energy Usage None Consumes electricity
- Space Needs flat surface/rack Small, only need dryer.
6. Additional Directions to Dry Wool safely
Whatever drying method you employ, good scrubbing habits can help keep your wool garments as good and long-lasting as possible.
1. Be sure to read the Care Label before drying.
The care label details the washing and drying instructions. By following these rules, you won’t accidentally ruin the garment.
2. Do Not Wet Wool Clothes Upon Washing.
- Twisting or wringing wool to shed water may stretch the fibers too far, making clothes look warped.
- Rather, dry it with a towel and rub out water. For smaller things, roll them in the towel and wring it out until dry.
3. Push Out Excess Moisture with a Towel and Dry.
- Place the damp fabric on a dry towel. Roll the towel around the dress and press down to remove water.
- This minimizes drying time and prevents wool from being overly stretched.
4. Be Sure That Garments Are Stored Correctly Once Drying.
- Wool garments, after drying, should be kept at room temperature away from moisture or insects such as moths.
- When wearing sweaters, hem them instead of letting them hang down. You can drape coats and jackets on padded hangers to keep them in shape.
5. Avoid Overloading the Dryer
if you’re using a dryer, don’t overload it. Crowding hampers ventilation and increases the chance of uneven drying or felting.
6. Air Dry on a Mesh Rack or Flat Surface.
- A mesh drying rack keeps the air moving throughout the fabric, accelerating drying time and decreasing the chance of mildew.
- If you don’t have a mesh rack, a flat surface with a towel on it will do the trick.
7. Be Cautious with Heat Sources
Whether air drying or machine drying, keep your temperature down. Sunlight, a radiator or a heater will warp the wool and turn it brown.
8. Pay Attention to Reshaping
Wool clothes should be folded again when damp. Lay them flat and gently re-fold them into their original size to avoid uneven drying and stretching.
9. Monitor Machine Drying Closely
If you’re using a dryer, check the garment frequently to make sure it’s not drying out too much. Take the piece out a little damp and dry it flat.
10. Take Into Account Professional Cleaning of Specialty Items.
When it comes to wool clothes, especially expensive or sentimental ones, hire a professional cleaner to help you dry them safely.
Dhanya Nair is a fabric Lover and a mom. She offers a unique perspective on the intricacies and history of fabric and specializes in bringing the unique narratives of textiles to life.