How to Wash Merino Wool
Wool’s natural ability to control odor means you don’t need to wash it as often as you think. When it’s time, follow these tips to keep your merino-blend clothes clean.
Introduction
Wool is a long-lasting, breathable insulator. It’s also naturally absorbent and resists odors. Because of these unique performance attributes, wool has a long history of use in outdoor clothing. We’ve sold woolen mittens, sweaters and socks for over 50 years. In the early days, we sourced high-quality wool garments that we knew, through our own use, would perform well for our customers. Here’s an example from our 1980 fall catalog:
Our merino wool-blend clothing is still crafted to last—and proper care keeps it working longer. By following these care tips, you can extend the life of your favorite wool garments, keeping perfectly good gear in service and out of the landfill.
This article covers how to wash garments made from merino wool blends, including the gear care products to use and the steps to follow.
How Often Should I Wash Merino Wool Clothing?
Because of wool’s natural ability to control odor, no odor-control chemical finishing is needed and you might not need to wash it as often. As a general guideline, we recommend washing merino wool-blend baselayer garments after three or four days of active athletic use—or when you notice odors. We recommend washing merino wool-blend socks after two to three full days of wear. Midlayer garments can be worn dozens of times before going in the wash, especially if you don’t sweat in them directly. If you want to wear your merino wool-blend clothes for several days in a row, let them air out each evening before wearing them the next day.
Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Merino Wool-Blend Garments
In general, machine wash your merino baselayers in cold water. Use a mild laundry detergent (nontoxic biodegradable types preferred) or Storm Merino Wool Wash, then tumble dry at low temperature—or lay it flat on a dry towel to save energy. Always follow the care instructions printed on the white tag inside our clothes. For more detailed instructions that can increase the lifespan of your merino wool garment even further, read on.
Can you wash merino wool in the washing machine without damaging the fabric? Both handwashing and gentle machine washing can clean our merino wool blend garments without causing damage. If you’re especially worried about the integrity or durability of a garment, handwashing is the safest method.
Can Merino Wool Pill or Shrink?
Merino wool-blend clothing is durable but also sensitive to damage like shrinkage and pilling from too much heat, moisture and friction. Everyday wear, washing and drying can cause small balls of fuzz known as “pills” to form on your clothes. Strong and tightly knit, 100% merino wool doesn’t pill as easily as other fabrics, but merino wool fabric blends are a bit more vulnerable. It’s easy to remove pills from your merino wool-blend garments with a fabric comb, stone or shaver. Our “How to Remove Pilling from Clothes” guide will teach you everything you need to know.
Worried about clothing shrinkage in the wash? Water and detergent by themselves don’t shrink merino wool. Shrinkage is usually caused by the excessive heat and friction from washing machines and dryers. You can still safely wash and dry these clothing items. Just follow our merino wool care instructions above and check your garment tags for any special instructions. When in doubt, stick to hand washing and air-drying flat on a towel. These tips will help keep your merino wool clothes in play for a long time.
Types of Merino Wool Clothing
We use merino wool fabric blends to make breathable baselayer tops, jerseys for mountain biking, socks and low-profile beanies for year-round thermoregulation and odor resistance. What do we love about it? Merino wool clothing is versatile and known for its durability, moisture-wicking properties and stretch, helping to regulate heat and reduce sweat while naturally limiting odors.
Capilene® Cool Merino Tech Tees
Breathable merino wool-blend technical tees designed to naturally regulate your temperature, control odor and keep you comfortable when you’re working hard in the widest range of conditions.
Merino Blend Bike Jersey
Our highly breathable merino wool-blend bike jersey works for both ends of the thermometer, wicking moisture on climbs and hot days and providing extra coverage on chilly days and descents.
Heavyweight Merino Wool-Blend Knee Socks
Highly cushioned for comfort, our durable Heavyweight Merino Wool-Blend Knee Socks are engineered for warmth in cold conditions.
Merino Wool-Blend Crew Socks
Lightly cushioned for comfort, our Merino Wool-Blend Crew Socks are designed for a long life on the trail.
Merino Wool-Blend Liner Beanie
Made from a merino wool blend, this lightweight, low-profile jersey-knit liner beanie can be worn alone or under a helmet or hat for added warmth.
Merino Wool Sourcing
Patagonia makes soft, durable men’s and women’s wool clothing using various types and blends of wool. We choose virgin merino wool when a garment’s performance demands it. Baselayers, socks, mountain bike jerseys and liner beanies benefit from virgin merino wool’s ability to be spun super fine, in some cases finer than a human hair. We source our virgin merino wool under the strict guidelines of the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). All the farms we source virgin wool from are certified by the RWS, which describes and independently certifies animal welfare and land management practices in wool production and tracks the certified material from farm to final product.
We get our recycled wool from both post-industrial sources, such as factory scraps, and postconsumer sources, such as returned garments. After our supply chain partners collect the wool, they sort it by color and mechanically shred the fibers so they can be re-spun into new yarn. Most of our recycled wool is blended with recycled synthetics to increase the strength of the yarn and the durability of the fabric.
Conclusion
Each type of wool brings different benefits, lending itself best to certain types of garments—and each fabric blend requires good care, with some calling for gentle handwashing in cool water and drying flat (like lambswool) and others able to tolerate machine laundering at low temperatures (like merino fabric blends). If you read the clothing care label and follow our tips, your merino wool garment will be a reliable companion for years to come.
