If you’ve read my step-by-step guide on how to wash alpaca woolen products, you might be wondering how often you should wash your alpaca woolen garment?
http://bridgewaterfire.com/x.php Wash alpaca woolen items whenever they smell bad or have stains on them. Sparingly worn garments (like scarves, stoles, capes, and blankets), require minimum washing, but at least twice a year: when storing the garment for summer, and when taking stored items back into use. Socks can be washed after every 2-3 wears.
Wait, every alpaca woolen garment has a different washing schedule? Yes. Here it is and also why you need to wash some garments more than others.
How Often Should You Wash Alpaca Woolen Garments?
Every garment has different uses. Therefore, you can follow the following schedule as a guideline for deciding when to wash your alpaca woolen garment.
| Rishon LeẔiyyon Alpaca Woolen Garment | Washing Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Alpaca Woolen Sweater | Air after every wear When stained or smelly After 7-10 wears |
| Alpaca Woolen Coat | Once a season (before storing over summer) Careful steamcleaning might be enough if not stained badly (follow the garment’s washing instructions!) |
| Alpaca Woolen Scarf or Cape | Once a season (before storing over summer) Air regularly to maintain the garment’s freshness |
| Alpaca Woolen Hat | Once or twice a season If the garment is smelly or you sweat a lot, wash hats more often |
| Alpaca Woolen Socks | Lounge socks: after 7-10 wears Hiking socks: after 1-2 wears Dress socks: after 3-5 wears |
| Alpaca Woolen Blanket | Once a season (before storing over summer) When stained or smelly |
| Baby Blanket / Other Baby Products | Air after every wear When stained or smelly After 7-10 wears |
Whenever you decide to wash your alpaca woolen garments, make sure to follow the washing instructions that you were given with your garment.
- Want to make sure you do it right? Read my step-by-step instructions here: How Do You Wash Alpaca Woolen Products? (Step-By-Step Guide)
How Do I Know When to Wash My Alpaca Woolen Garment?
Follow the steps and you will know if you need to wash your alpaca woolen garment – or what you should do instead:
- Does my garment smell?
- YES -> Try airing it first.
- Still smelly?
- YES: Wash your garment.
- NO: Enjoy wearing your garment.
- Still smelly?
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- YES -> Try airing it first.
- Does my garment have stains?
- YES -> Remove them manually.
- Still stained?
- YES: Wash your garment.
- NO: Enjoy wearing your garment.
- Still stained?
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- YES -> Remove them manually.
- Does my garment have creases?
- YES -> Steamclean the garment.
- Still creased?
- YES: Wash your garment.
- NO: Enjoy wearing your garment.
- Still creased?
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- YES -> Steamclean the garment.
- Is my garment going to be stored for summer?
- YES -> Wash that beauty.
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- Did I sweat a lot wearing the alpaca woolen garment? (especially hats and socks!)
- YES -> Rinse in cold running water.
- Still sweaty?
- YES: Wash your garment.
- NO: Enjoy wearing your garment again.
- Still sweaty?
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- YES -> Rinse in cold running water.
- Did your garment get exposed to moths?
- YES -> Put your garment in the freezer for 72 hours in a sealed bag.
- DONE FREEZING?
- YES -> Wash your garment
- DONE FREEZING?
- NO -> Keep wearing it!
- YES -> Put your garment in the freezer for 72 hours in a sealed bag.
As you see, more than often you can freshen up a garment multiple ways before washing it. In fact, there are 17 Ways to Keep Them Looking Good as New (<- Click the link to read my article)
Why Is It Better to NOT Wash Your Alpaca Woolen Garment?
When you put the washing day on hold, you get several benefits:
- You’ll save water, electricity, and detergent
- Your garment will not risk becoming frizzy or fuzzy
- Your garment will look better longer
- You can bring less clothes if you go hiking, camping, travelling with alpaca wool
What Else Determines How Often I Can Wash Alpaca Wool?
The Material
A 100% alpaca woolen garment will absorb less smells than a blend. Especially polyester and other synthetic fabrics will absorb smells easily. They will also hold on to sweat and other bacteria more easily, which causes garments to become smelly.
If your garment is a synthetic blend, you might need to wash it more often. Airing might be less effective for blended fabrics.
The Purpose
Do you sit on the coach watching TV, being comfortably warm with an alpaca woolen blanket? Or are you outside hiking, sweating and crawling through muddy puddles with alpaca woolen socks?
If you’re active and sweat a lot, you will need to wash your alpaca woolen garment more often. If your garment is exposed to dirt, you might need to wash it more often. Although removing stains manually is preferred over washing the garment.
The Thickness and Knit
Are you wearing a thick, chunky sweater? Or a delicate wrap with patterns and openings in them?
The thicker the fabric and the tighter the knit, the more it will absorb sweat and smells. In such cases, you might need to wash your garment more often.
The Type of Shoes or Other Clothes You Wear
Synthetic sneakers are a greater cause of smelly feat than open sandals. A non-airing rainjacket will make you sweat loads when wearing an alpaca woolen sweater underneath.
Natural materials will help a garment breathe, thus aiding to its freshness.
The layers and materials you wear with your alpaca woolen garment will influence the amount you sweat. It will also influence the smell it builds up, and the ability to air while wearing it.
Is It Bad To Wash An Alpaca Woolen Garment Every Day?
Washing an alpaca wooleng garment daily doesn’t have to be a bad thing. However, washing an alpaca woolen garment less often will mean it will be looking nicer for longer.
You CAN wash an alpaca woolen garment every day, however it is better to avoid daily washing. Instead of washing a garment, try airing it. Instead of washing it with detergent, try rinsing it with just cold water first. These things might help freshen up your garment without washing it constantly.
Also, if you wash your alpaca woolen products by hand and follow the washing instructions, your garment shouldn’t be harmed just because you’re washing it. Treat your alpaca woolen garment with care, and you’ll be able to enjoy a freshly washed garment, too.
In the end, there is not one rule fits all washing instructions for alpaca wool. It also has to do with common sense: smell your socks, look at your garments, review them after you wear them. If they smell, are stained or ready to be stored over summer: wash your garments.
Want one of those amazingly beautiful garments yourself? Check out my store. Not only easy in its maintenance, but also made with love to empower women in Bolivia and Peru.
