How to care for merino wool – OWCA's complete guide
Merino wool is something special. Natural, breathable, self-cleaning and wonderfully soft to the touch. But how do you care for it so it lasts for years without pilling or losing its shape?
This guide covers the questions people search for most, with straight answers and a few facts that might surprise even dedicated natural-fibre fans. If you own merino — or are thinking about it — this is worth reading.
How do you wash merino wool?
The question that comes up constantly:
can you machine wash merino wool?
Yes — but carefully.
✅ Use a wool or delicates programme
✅ Max temperature 30°C, cold water is even better
✅ Max spin speed 400–600 rpm
✅ Always use a wool-specific detergent (no enzymes, no bleach)
Good to know:
Merino doesn't like sudden temperature changes — it's the shock between hot and cold that causes felting and shrinkage. Don't rinse in cold water after a warm wash.
Can you use regular detergent on wool?
No. Standard detergents (including those for cotton) often contain proteolytic enzymes that break down proteins. And wool is a protein fibre (keratin) — exactly like your hair.
Always use a gentle, natural detergent made specifically for wool or silk.
How often should you wash merino?
Far less often than you'd think. One of merino's greatest strengths is its odour resistance and natural self-cleaning properties.
👃 It doesn't hold sweat smells
🌬 Airing it out is usually enough
♻️ It has natural antibacterial properties
In practice: if your merino sweatshirt isn't visibly dirty, don't wash it — hang it outside for a few hours and it's good to go.
Can you tumble dry merino?
No. Never.
A tumble dryer will destroy the fibre structure. The wool will shrink, felt and lose its shape permanently.
How to dry merino:
Lay flat on a towel
Don't hang it — it can stretch out of shape
Keep away from direct sun and radiators
Does merino need ironing?
Rarely. Merino wool naturally relaxes back into shape. After washing and flat drying it almost never needs ironing.
If you really need to:
use steam (but don't press the iron down)
always iron inside out or through a cloth
How should you store wool?
🧴 Use linen or cotton storage bags — never plastic
🪻 Add a dried lavender sachet — it repels moths and smells lovely
📦 Store somewhere dry, away from direct light
A surprising fact: merino wool cleans the air
Sounds unlikely? And yet. Merino fibres bind volatile organic compounds from the surrounding air, acting as a natural air filter. A merino blanket in the bedroom isn't just warm — it's quietly working on the air quality too.
Merino care checklist
☑️ Wash infrequently, at low temperature
☑️ Always use a wool-specific detergent
☑️ Dry flat
☑️ Store in natural fabric bags
☑️ Air out instead of washing
☑️ Never tumble dry
