Washing instructions
Wool
Wool doesn’t need washing as often as synthetic or vegetable fibers. Wool has self-purifying qualities and an excellent way to "wash" your woolen clothes is to hang them outside in damp weather. Wool contains lanolin, which is a natural grease. When lanolin comes into contact with moisture, a natural soaping process occurs. Merino wool features permanent, natural resistance to micro-organisms and wool garments can be worn for several days without starting to smell. The reason for this is that wool has the capacity to absorb moisture, combined with the fact that wool fibers feature a negatively charged, rough surface.
Bacteria that cause smells thrive on smooth, positively charged surfaces - such as those that distinguish synthetic fibers.
At most of the woolen products it is indicated that it must be washed by hand. However: the modern washing-machines have good wool programs. Please note: 30 ˚C washing programs and delicate programs are not suitable for wool; it must be a real separate wool program. If you wash in the machine, the product may shrink a bit more; that differs by washing-machine. If you know your own machine well, you will thus know whether you should buy the product larger. There is one exception on washing in the machine: the 100% woolen articles of Hocosa are so pure, that they may shrink a little bit more, every time that you wash the item in the machine. We therefore advise to wash Hocosa 100% wool always by hand.
For wool, always use special wool-detergent (no Biotex: the enzyms in Biotex degrade proteins).
If you wash by hand, the following is very important: wool shrinks (by felting) because of sudden differences in temperature and because of friction. Therefore, if you wash your wool in lukewarm water (maximum 30 ˚C), you must rinse the items also in lukewarm water! You should not wring wool, just carefully squeeze, and/or role dry in a towel. For the best result, after washing you gently pull the article in form and leave it lying (on a towel) to dry.
Do not dry wool in the tumble-dryer (it will shrink).
Do not lay or hang wool in the full sun (it will discolour).
Do not soak your wool in water for a longer time (there is a possibility of holes in the material).
Silk
Silk does not as easily shrink as wool. The biological silk that we sell, may shrink 1 to 2 cm in the length after washing several times. Of course you can wash silk by hand. It is the safest way. As distinct from wool, silk can be rinsed in cold water. Always use a detergent for delicate material (no biotex). Silk becomes weak if it lies in water for a longer time and thus vulnerable. If you wash by hand, you should not soak or wring the silk. In the washing machine you use a program for delicate materials of 30 ˚C and without centrifuging. Because silk is vulnerable when wet, you better not wash it together with sharp fibers (like cotton). After washing you draw the article in form carefully and leave drying flat on a towel.
Do not dry silk in a tumble-dryer.
Do not lay or hang silk in the full sun (it effects the structure of the proteins and the silk will discolour.
Silk/wool (/cotton)
For all combinations of materials that include wool: follow the washing instructions for wool.
Rain wear
Rain wear can be washed in the washing machine now and then, using a detergent for delicate material or a special detergent for breathable rain wear (no biotex). It can be rinsed more often in lukewarm water.