Merino wool needs washing only very seldom, because wool fibre repels dirt by its nature. Therefore, the most important care measure of a merino wool cloth is to give the cloth airing.

Care and washing of merino clothes

• the most important care measure of merino wool cloth is airing
• see the washing instructions in the care label attached to the product
• machine wash using a wool-wash setting or hand wash
• use a wash bag to save clothes
• low wash temperature, 30 degrees, the product’s inside turned out
• use a detergent suitable for washing wool, pH < 7
• do not use a rinse agent
• pull the cloth into shape whilst it’s damp
• don’t use a tumble dryer
• you may iron the product using the mildest temperature setting
• less frequently you wash the item, the better

Merino wool’s ability to cleanse itself in fresh air reduces significantly the need for traditional wash. Airing will remove all odours – including that ofsmoke and sweat. In addition to airing, the knit will benefit also from brushing lint off.

You’ll always find exact washing instructions in the wash label attached to North Outdoor garments. All merino wool products are not to be washed in the same manner. Our product range includes both base layer sets made of thin knit as well as softer and thicker knitwear. You should also take care of your merino socks and garments from time to time.

Merino wool is a natural material and it lives. This is the reason for pilling. The surface of knit remains good if you use a pilling comb, stone or machine. You’ll find them in well-equipped department stores, drapers’ and thread stores. Don’t be scared of pilling. It is a part of the nature of wool, and will become less frequent, as most of the loose fibres have come off.

Care for your knitwear to stand time and look good for years to come. Wool clothes should be stored as clean in a dry place, protected from moths. Take heed of the following tips, and find that merino wool knit is carefree and easy to care.

Care of merino base layer sets

The most important care measure of merino wool base layer sets is to give them airing. You can keep a base layer set fresh for a couple of weeks’ journey without any trouble, when you hang the clothes outside for a few hours after use. Merino wool base layers cleanse themselves in fresh air. This applies also to SENSITIVE and INTENSE collections made of merino-bamboo knit.

You don’t have to wash the entire merino wool base layer set if it catches some visible dirt. It is easy to remove the stains quickly when you wash the cloth by hand. Use a wool detergent with pH 7 or below that for washing.

North Outdoor base layer sets are machine washable. Always use a wash bag, wool detergent and wool wash programme for the clothes. The use of a wash bag will reduce the pilling of wool knit. A wool detergent is a detergent optimal for wool, as usual alkaline i.e. basic washing agent liquids may fade and bleed the colours of merino wool knit. Garments also get worn and may get holes, because alkaline solutions stick to wool fibres and make them weaker. Wool wash cycle will lengthen the life of merino knit, as the spinning of delicate wash is gentler for the garment.

Do not use a rinse agent. Merino wool is by nature soft and antistatic, and for this reason, a rinse agent won’t be needed for the handling of the knit.

Pull the cloth into shape when it is damp and let it dry to its size as straightened. Merino knit often shrinks 3–5% when it is washed. Light stretching keeps the original shape of the cloth. It is never recommended to use a tumble dryer for garments which require delicate wash. Use flat drying on a rack or dry the clothes on a line, instead.

Care of merino wool sweaters

Merino wool sweaters stay in good shape for a long time, when you give them airing as frequently as possible. You should wash small stains and dark spots at sleeve ends as soon as you notice them. If a garment looks completely dirty, you may wash the whole piece of knitwear and a sweater by hand using a detergent for wool.

After a hand wash, squeeze most water gently out of a damp cloth. You may also roll a thicker knitwear item inside a terry towel. Pull the cloth into shape after rolling, and always prefer flat drying on a rack. Be careful not to over stretch a merino garment. You may iron wool clothes on the reverse side by steaming gently through a moist garment.

North Outdoor knitwear may get slightly pilled. Pick the small balls off the garment by fingers or use for example a pill remover. Pilling will reduce along with time.

Care of merino socks

As odd as it may sound, airing is the most important care measure of merino wool socks, too. Wool has an amazing ability to cleanse itself, even though there were socks in question. You may wear the socks very well for a longer journey. Merino wool socks are a good alternative also for those who suffer from the sweating of feet, because the sock breathes and do not collect odour to itself.

Merino wool socks can be washed in a washing machine. Neither a rinse agent nor tumble drier is recommended for socks. We recommend using a wash bag also for merino socks, as it will reduce pilling.

Before wearing socks, you should check what the merino wool percentage of the sock is. More polyester and polyamide there is in a sock, the more frequently you should wash the socks. The suitable washing frequency varies between individuals as socks get dirty at varying pace. You may wash thin every day / under socks after every use if you wish so. It won’t cause any harm to the socks.

North Outdoor’s AITTA socks are made of 100% merino wool. Their care is similar to that of merino wool sweaters.

Care of merino accessories

Give merino accessories airing as to other merino garments. Especially after a sweaty exercise, beanies, tube scarves and balaclavas need fresh air. Most of the North Outdoor accessories are machine washable. This becomes evident also from the wash label attached to the garment. In that case, prefer using a wash bag, wool detergent and a wool cycle. Do not use a rinse agent or a tumble drier. You may also stretch the accessories after the wash if it seems that they have slightly crumpled.

An exception among merino accessories is made by scarves and shawls in the MADEINFINLAND collection, which are to be washed by hand when necessary. Take care of the accessories in the collection as of merino wool sweaters.

Read carefully the care instructions for textiles, saving nature, time and money clevercare.info