Does Merino Wool Shrink?
Yes, merino wool may shrink in case it is subjected to inappropriate washing or drying conditions. Similar to the majority of natural fibers, merino is very sensitive to temperature, movement, and inappropriate treatment. Scales of the wool fibers interlock together when hot water is applied to them or in tumble dryers, resulting in the cloth shrinking permanently. Conversely, minimal washing and correct drying will ensure that it retains its shape.
In comparison with regular wool, merino is finer, soft, and delicate; therefore, it is a bit less prone to shrinking, provided that it is taken care of. But when you put it in a hot wash or a hot dryer, the chance of shrinking gets extremely high. The positive thing is that when you use proper washing techniques, merino wool clothes can last years without any drastic alterations in size.
What Causes Merino Wool to Shrink?
These are the primary factors that cause merino wool to shrink, when it shrinks:
- Heat: Merino shrinks when exposed to hot water or a hot dryer. Wool scales swell and interlace when the temperatures are high. A care guide in fact comes out to caution that hot water is death sentence to wool. Wet cold water is always to be used to prevent the onset of the felting process.
- Agitation: Merino will be shrunk by vigorous washing or spinning. Rough hand washing or (a cycle in a washing machine) agitation tangles the fibers resulting in felting. Simply put, when water moves, it causes the shrinking of the wool fibers hence gentle handling is important.
- Misuse of Drying: When tumble dried at high temperature or even hung on a heavy, wet garment, it may shrink. Fabric experts do not recommend using hot dryer on merino. Rather, re-shape the wet cloth and pretend it is a flat to dry. Otherwise the water and heat will cause distortion of the fabric due to their weight.
These criminals are heat, moisture and agitation which make the fibers interlock and contract. In managing them you retain your merino garments at their original size.
How Much Does Merino Wool Shrink?
Slight Shrinkage vs. Permanent Shrinkage
When it is washed improperly, merino wool can shrink significantly. It has been reported that improperly washed Merino can lose a size of about 10 to 30%. Nonetheless, light washing tends to only result in marginal shrinkage (as little as a few percent), which in many cases is compensated through the re-shaping of the wet fabric. Heat and agitation usually cause permanent large shrinkage, since the fibers have been felted together. Practically, when the careful washing produces slight, reversible shrink and whereas the hot-agitated washing produces extreme, irreparable shrink.
Compare with Regular Wool and Synthetic Fabrics
Merino behaves like other wool but very differently from synthetic fabrics. Merino is elastic compared to coarse wool, and can be expected to shrink less. There are no scales on synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon) and they do not shrink by felting. In a nutshell, untreated wool (including Merino) tends to shrink more than most of the synthetic fibers.
How to Wash Merino Wool Without Shrinking
Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing (Wool Cycle)
Hand washing is safest. Use cool or lukewarm water and a small amount of wool-safe detergent. Wash the garment gently and leave it in water 10-15 minutes and rinse in cold water. This minimizes agitation. Use a machine and use wool or delicate cycle set on cold. Inside-out, place it in mesh laundry bag. Spin slowly to minimize friction. Generally, light handling inhibits the shrinkage-inducing felting.
Use of Mild/Wool Detergents
Always clean with a weak detergent designed on wool or delicates. These are to prevent the lanolin oils and fibers of the wool. The wool can be brittle and the regular laundry soap can strip these oils. Baby shampoo even will do in a jam. Notably, bleach or fabric softener should not be used at all. Chemicals are harsh and they will destroy the fibers. A little of some soft wool soap suffices to wash the garment without damaging it.
Water Temperature (Cold/Lukewarm)
Cold water is critical. Washing Merino is supposed to be done with cold or lukewarm water only. The fibers will be felt in hot water. As one of the authorities is saying in such a straight forward manner, hot water is wool death sentence. You can avoid nearly any shrinkage by using cold water. Washing in cool water does not shock the fabric either.
Can You Machine Wash Merino Wool?
When Machine Washing is Safe
Yes, but only under the right conditions. Machine-washable is claimed on many Merino garments (particularly blends or superwash treated wool). In case of using machine washing, it is better to use cold water, washing on gentle or wool cycle. Inside-out the item and put it in a mesh bag. Spin slowly to reduce disturbance. All these measures ensure that machine washing does not harm technical base layers or machine-woven Merino mix socks, which are expected to be long-lasting.
When to Avoid Machine Washing
Machine washing of pure untreated Merino should not take place except when the label clearly states this. Hand wash only or dry clean is usually seen on the label of bulky Merino sweaters and fine knits. Even a mild cycle will result in the shrinkage of these objects. In case of a doubt, always play on the side of hand washing or dry cleaning so as to save the garment.
Does Merino Wool Shrink in the Dryer?
High Heat Risk
It is not good practice to tumble dry Merino. The fibers will most definitely be shrunk and damaged by high heat and tumbling action. Merino must not be subjected to a hot dryer. The garment may be slowly distorted even by a low-heat cycle. When necessary, the minimum heat level and the shortest duration of the dryer should be used, although to be on the safe side, it should be avoided at all.
Safer Drying Alternatives (Flat Drying, Air Drying)
Instead, dry Merino naturally. Washing: Wipe off excess water (such as rolling the sweater in a towel). Re-shape the garment then leave it to dry in the air. It can be spread in its natural form on a clean towel or a rack to dry without heat. Store it in the shade or in air-vents. Drying the flat and natural helps prevent the shrinkage and dangling of garments in a dryer or a hanger.
Can You Stretch Merino Wool Back After Shrinking?
Conditioner or Baby-Shampoo Soak Method
- Put a basin of lukewarm water (not hot) in and add a little conditioner or baby shampoo.
- Such products make wool fibers softer so that they can be stretched easily.
- Wet the garment to the maximum and allow it to soak in between 20- 30 minutes.
- Do not rub or wring, this may only tighten the fibers.
Reshape, Stretch, and Flat Dry
When damp, squeeze the water (do not wring) away, and place the cloth on a towel. Ease each bit of the wool in its turn then gradually and smoothly pull it back to its usual length. An example is to draw each sleeve and each body part out bit by bit. Gradually work so as not to over-strain any place. When the piece is stretched out, air dry it flat in that form. Often, this soak-and-stretch process recovers much of the lost length.
Does Merino Wool Shrink More Than Other Wool Types?
Cashmere vs. Merino Wool
Cashmere (goat wool) is very soft and sensitive and it can easily shrink compared to Merino. There are so many cashmere sweaters that need extremely mild treatment. Merino wool, though very delicate, is normally stronger and more elastic. Consequently, the Merino apparel tends to maintain its shape more than untreated cashmere in the same circumstances.
Alpaca vs. Merino Wool
Alpaca wool is warm as well. Pure alpaca can withstand cool hand wash and usually does not shrink much particularly when handled kindly. Merino and alpaca require similar care: both thrive on cold-water baths and soft treatment. The two fibers will not be much better than each other when treated by washing correctly.
Lambswool vs. Merino Wool
Fine Merino is normally finer than Lambswool (first-shear wool). Since the lambswool is cozier, uncured lambswool clothes can shrink more than fine Merino in bad hands. In practice, 100% fine Merino wool shrinks less than coarse lambswool under the same conditions. But untreated wool of any kind will shrink when immersed in hot water, and both need cool, gentle washing.
Does 100% Merino Wool Shrink More Than Blends?
Merino Wool + Polyester Blends
The addition of Merino to synthetics (such as polyester or nylon) tends to decrease shrinkage. Synthetics are not felt so they assist in keeping the garment in shape. An example is that most performance layers are 80/20 or 75/25 Merino/poly blends to enhance durability and reduce shrinkage. Concisely, a 100 percent Merino fabric will tend to shrink as compared to a comparable fabric of a Merino/synthetic mixture under the same washing conditions.
Shrink Resistance in Treated or Felted Fabrics
Superwash- Merino wool has been treated so as to either remove or flatten the scales. This renders it wash resistant. These superwash-treated can be generally washed in a machine without felting. Conversely, a completely felted wool fabric (such as a heavy felted coat) is already intentionally shrunk, and will not shrink in regular laundering.
Tips to Maintain Merino Wool Longevity:
- Wash Sparingly: The natural antibacterial nature of Merino is such that you can frequently wear it, on average, before washing. Wash clothes only when they are visibly dirty or they have some odors. Fibers are conserved by washing less frequently.
- Wash in Gentle Care Products: Merino is always to be washed in cold water using a wool-safe detergent. This guards the natural oils and softness of the wool. No bleach, extreme laundry detergents or fabric softeners, which can weaken the fibers should be used.
- Fold, Not Hang: Hanging Merino sweaters lead to their being stretched out of shape. Fold wool clothing and keep flattened. This maintains their size and shoulders.
- Protect from Moths: Store Merino in a cool, dry place. Apply cedar blocks or lavender, or other natural repellents to keep moths away. Pests are less likely to like clean clothes, thus keep merino clean in the dry.
Conclusion-
So, does merino wool shrink? Yes, when ill handled. The principal culprits are heat, agitation, and dryers. Cold water, mild detergents and flat drying will help you maintain your clothes in their original shape over time. Although an error occurs, there are soft methods of stretching that can rescue your wool.
Merino wool has a reputation of being soft, breathable and durable. It can compete well with other fabrics, in both comfort and durability, with proper care. No matter what you have (socks, sweaters, base layers), here are the rules to help you keep your merino wool collection long.
Read More>> In detail about Merino wool.
FAQs
Not if you wash it correctly. The shrinkage of merino will occur only under heat or rough agitation. When cold water is used, gentle detergent and air-dried, merino wool usually stays in its size. Shrinkage is not automatic.
Generally yes. When cotton is washed and dried hot, it tends to shrink by a few percent, but Merino tends to be washed cold and will recover. Wool is washable longer than cotton, that is, there are fewer occasions where the wool can become shrunk.
It can be frequently recovered by means of dipping and straining. Wet the cloth in the lukewarm water with a splash of the hair conditioner or the baby shampoo and carefully stretch the garment back to the size before air drying it. This loosens the fibers and regains a large part of the lost length.
There are also some Merino clothes that are pre-shrunk or pre-treated superwash, meaning that they do not shrink. A lot of contemporary merino products employ this procedure. Not, however, all merino is pre-shrunk. Even untreated wool could shrink when washed using hot water or dried in an inappropriate manner.
Yes. Dry clean does not use water or heat hence will not felt the wool or shrink. A professional dry clean will retain the garment in its original size not to shrink in any way using water.
No. Washing of Merino in cold water will not shrink. The fiber scales remain flat therefore the garment does not shrink. Only heat will shrink merino.
[…] can you put merino wool in the dryer, the answer is no. Dryers can cause merino wool clothing to shrink by 10% to 30% if you wash or dry them the wrong way. You want your merino wool clothing to stay soft, warm, and […]