How to Wash Raw Wool
- 1). Spread the raw wool out over a flat surface.
- 2). Remove any wool that is covered with manure or wool that is particularly dry or coarse. This includes wool that is sun damaged or permanently stained. Also remove any bits of straw or leaves that might be clinging to the wool. This process is called skirting.
- 3). Place the wool in a mesh bag. One that was used to hold fruit or onions is ideal for this process. If you have a lot of wool, divide it up into lots of roughly 1 to 2 pounds and place each lot in its own bag.
- 4). Fill a bucket with hot water.
- 5). Measure the temperature of the water with a food thermometer. You need water that is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit for coarse wool and at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit for finer wool. These are the temperatures that are needed to remove the grease from wool. If the temperature is too low, supplement it by pouring in boiling water.
- 6). Add 1 cup of dish detergent for every 4 pounds of wool that you are washing in that batch.
- 7). Lay the wool in the mesh bag on top of the hot water and push it down slowly with a wooden spoon. Push it down until it stays completely submerged on its own.
- 8). Let the wool soak for between 15 minutes and 30 minutes.
- 9). Put on a pair of rubber gloves.
- 10
Lift the wool out of the hot water and place it in a clean sink for 10 minutes to drain. - 11
Fill another bucket with water that is between 100 and 120 degrees. - 12
Dunk the wool into the clean water several times to rinse it, and then allow the wool to sit on the surface of the water for another 15 minutes. - 13
Repeat steps 10 through 12 two more times with progressively cooler water, and on the final rinse, use cool tap water. - 14
Remove the wool from the mesh bag. - 15
Dry the wool by laying it on a clean surface in the sun. When it is fully dried, it is ready to be spun.
Source...