How to Wash Merino Wool (Especially for Baby Clothes)
Share
I hear it often: “This is beautiful… but how do I wash it without ruining it?”
I get it. Wool has a bit of a reputation in the UK for being difficult to wash. Merino is completely different from the old-school wool most of us grew up with. It’s softer, easier to care for, and actually far more practical, especially for everyday baby wear.
As a Kiwi mum living in the UK with decades of experience of merino wool and a degree in textile science, I'll take you through how I care for merino at home. Nothing complicated, just what works and a little bit about why. It's actually less effort, better for the environment and you will have lower bills!
Do You Need to Wash Merino Wool After Every Wear?
No. This is the bit most people get wrong. And the most glorious part! Less washing!
Merino wool is naturally breathable, antibacterial and odour-resistant. So unlike most other fabrics, it doesn’t need constant washing. The fibre is from a sheep, built naturally for the elements. It can handle it.
Think of it like your jeans, coats or other items that you get a good few wears out of between washes. Add merino wool to that list if it helps you get your head around it.
With babies especially, the antibacterial properties make a big difference.
What I actually do:
- Air items out between wears - depending on what I'm doing while wearing them this can be only a couple of wears (if sweating in them) or it can be a handful
- Spot clean when it's needed - this is more for kids and babies and it's easy
- Only wash when they’re still whiffy after an overnight air - or if it's grubby
Most of the time, they’re absolutely fine to re-wear after an airing. We have a clothes ladder in our bedroom that we drape merino wool layers over constantly throughout the colder months and we use the landing rail for the kids merino overnight, simple as that.
How to Wash Merino Wool (Simple Step-by-Step)
You don’t need to do anything complicated. Wool just doesn't bode well with harsh chemicals, heat and agitation (lots of swooshing around in water or swooshing around the tumble dryer - no swooshing basically).
Really simply, the tiny scales of the fibres that give us the warmth, rub together and shrink the fabric. Follow these guidelines and your merino wool will look new for years:
1. Use a gentle detergent
Go for a wool-specific detergent or something labelled for delicates. Or just use non-bio as much as you can.
Regular detergents can be too harsh and slowly damage the fibres. This won't happen with one wash so don't worry about it too much but if you want to take care of your woolens, it's a simple switch or addition that will make a lasting difference to all your clothes.
2. Wash on a cool, gentle cycle
I just use the standard wool/delicate cycle on our washing machine but you can also just set any machine to 20 to 30°C with a low spin speed. This is just manually creating a wool cycle anyway - low temp, low spin speed. It's usually a shorter cycle too which I personally really appreciate!
You can hand wash if you want to, but a machine on the right setting works perfectly well.
3. Skip the fabric softener
Merino is already soft. It doesn’t need help.
Fabric softener can coat the fibres and reduce breathability, which is one of the main reasons you’re using merino in the first place.
4. Don’t wring or twist
It’s tempting, but it’s better not to. The low spin speed in the machine does what it needs to and it will dry quicker than cotton anyway. But if you hand wash, be careful not to wring or twist the water out.
Just gently press the water out or roll the item in a towel.
5. Air dry
Lay flat to dry if you can and keep it away from direct heat and sunlight. We use clothes racks (some are built in so not too messy indoors) and honestly, I don't lay many things very flat (but that's not recommended!) It can be surprising how quickly merino wool dries, usually overnight or within a few hours on a nice day outside in the shade!
Air drying indoors or the shade helps it keep its shape and last longer. Tumble drying is a risk, it's heat and agitation so good luck with that (but also, if it has a wool setting, could be worth a shot).
Will Merino Wool Shrink?
It can, but only if it’s treated like cotton all the time.
Shrinkage usually happens when it’s washed too hot, spun too aggressively, or put in the tumble dryer.
If you stick to a cool, gentle wash and air dry, it will hold its shape really well. And it's way better for the environment and your utility bills!
Why Merino Is Actually Easier Than You Think
This is the part that tends to surprise people.
Merino often ends up being lower maintenance than cotton because you don’t need to wash it as often, it stays fresher for longer, and it works across different temperatures.
With a baby, that makes life a lot simpler. Babies are messy but most of the time it's usually smaller splops that can be wiped away easily. For the inevitable shituations, I've written a whole blog because they are manageable too - see it here.
Common Myths About Washing Wool
It’s delicate and difficult
Modern merino is naturally designed for real life, including babies.
It needs special treatment every time
It really doesn’t. It needs less attention and washing and just a gentler wash and air dry.
It will get ruined easily
Only if it’s overheated or over-washed again and again. Cool your jets and enjoy the benefits of wearing and caring for more merino wool clothing!
Final Thoughts
Once you get used to caring for merino, it's not a big deal and is often much easier than constantly washing and changing cotton layers. Merino wool saves time and money when you look after it!
For me, it’s not just about the benefits of the fabric itself.
It’s about having less washing, lower bills and knowing I'm doing a little bit more for the environment while doing a little bit less around the house!