How to Wash a Wool Sweater at Home

Most wool sweaters — including cashmere, merino, and yak — should be hand washed in cold water at home. Here’s the procedure, how often to wash, and when a label really does mean dry clean only.

Cashmere, fine merino, yak, and most fine wools all take the same care: cold hand wash, lay flat to dry.

A quick reference:

• •  Cashmere. Goat undercoat, 14 to 19 microns in diameter. Hand wash cold.

• •  Fine merino. Sheep, 15 to 24 microns. Hand wash cold.

• •  Yak. About 20 microns, from Himalayan yak. Hand wash cold.

• •  Coarse wool. 25 to 35 microns. Hand wash cold, though some coarse wools handle a delicate cycle if the label permits.

• •  Superwash wool. Wool treated to prevent shrinking in the wash. Follow the label — most are machine-safe.

For fine wool, the procedure is the same across the board. For specialty finishes and blends, defer to the product page.

The Quince-approved method is a ten-minute cold hand wash with a wool-safe detergent, finished by rolling in a towel and laying flat to dry.

• 1.  Fill a basin with cool water and add wool-safe detergent at the amount recommended on its label.

• 2.  Turn the sweater inside out. Submerge it and let it soak for about ten minutes.

• 3.  Press gently against the side of the basin to move the water through. Don’t wring, twist, or rub.

• 4.  Drain, refill with clean cool water, and press through again to rinse.

• 5.  Press the water out against the basin, then roll the sweater in a clean towel to absorb more.

• 6.  Lay it flat on a fresh towel or mesh rack.

• 7.  Reshape while damp — square the shoulders, straighten the cuffs and hem.

• 8.  Iron on low if needed. Skip bleach and skip fabric softener.

For blends, seasonal weights, or superwash wool, follow the care instructions on the product page.

Lay it flat and reshape while damp. Don’t hang a wet sweater, and only tumble dry if its care label allows it.

Wet wool is heavy, and hanging a sweater can stretch the shoulders and distort its shape.

The steps:

• •  Press the water out against the basin. Don’t wring.

• •  Lay flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel with the sweater inside to absorb more water.

• •  Move to a fresh dry towel or a flat mesh rack.

• •  Reshape while damp — square the shoulders, straighten the cuffs and hem.

• •  Dry flat for 12 to 24 hours, away from direct heat and sunlight.

For storage, fold wool rather than hanging it. A cool, dry place with cedar or lavender helps keep moths out.

Usually not, if the care label allows washing. Follow any ‘dry clean only’ instruction.

A few exceptions where dry cleaning is the right call:

• •  Structured wool jackets or blazers with linings.

• •  Wool blends whose care label requires dry cleaning.

• •  Any sweater whose care label specifies “dry clean only.”

For hand-washable wool sweaters, use the cold-water method above.

Machine wash only when the garment’s care label allows it. This can include fine merino as well as other treated wools.

For Quince cashmere, merino, and yak sweaters, hand washing is the recommended method. Machine washing carries a real risk of shape loss and shrinking.

If you do machine wash a wool piece: cold water, wool or delicate cycle, a mesh laundry bag, wool-safe detergent, and the lowest spin. Never tumble dry.