How to Wash and Care for Merino Wool Knitwear

Merino wool is easier to care for than many people think. Most Viamaro merino pieces can go in the washing machine, as long as you avoid two things: heat and heavy friction. Check the care label first, though. Open-knit pieces and anything with silk or lurex are better washed by hand.

Washing merino in the machine

Turn the piece inside out and put it in a mesh laundry bag, so the surface rubs less against the drum.
Choose the wool cycle at 30 °C at most, with a low spin speed.
Use a mild wool detergent, ideally one with the Woolmark logo on the back of the pack, as The Woolmark Company has tested these for wool. An ordinary wool detergent from the supermarket works too.
Leave out fabric softener and bleach. Softener coats the fibres, and bleach makes wool brittle.

Don't wash merino together with jeans or towels. Rough fabrics chafe the fine wool.

We have seen how much the settings matter: one sweater came out of a single wash on the wrong programme shrunk to a fifth of its size. So check the programme and the temperature twice before you press start.

Washing by hand

Fill a basin with lukewarm water and a little wool detergent. Move the piece gently through the water without rubbing or wringing it. Rinse in water of the same temperature, because a sudden switch from warm to cold water causes wool to felt. Then press the water out gently.

Drying it right

Wet knitwear is heavy. On a hanger it stretches and gets bumps at the shoulders, so always dry merino flat.

Lay the piece on a dry towel, roll both up together and press lightly. The towel soaks up a lot of the water.
Pull it back into shape while it's damp and smooth out the collar and hem.
Let it dry flat on a drying rack or a towel, away from radiators and direct sun.
Skip the tumble dryer. Heat shrinks merino, and that is hard to undo.

Does merino itch?

Merino fibres are much finer than those of ordinary sheep's wool. Fine fibres bend against the skin instead of prickling, which is why most people find merino soft. If your skin is very sensitive, a new piece may tingle a little at first. That usually fades after the first few washes with wool detergent.

The surest way to find out is to try it on. In the Viamaro showrooms in Bern and Kyiv, you can feel every piece on your skin before you decide.

Removing pilling

The small bobbles form where loose fibre ends catch on each other through friction, for example under the arms and where a bag rests. That's normal for wool and not a quality flaw. Most of them show up in the first few weeks, and after that there are far fewer.

Remove them with a fabric shaver or a cashmere comb. Lay the piece flat and use light pressure. Don't pull them off with your fingers, as that loosens more fibres.

Airing instead of washing

Merino picks up odours slowly. Airing a piece overnight is often enough, and washing less often is the kindest thing for the fibres. For creases, use steam: hold a steamer or a steam iron just above the knit without touching it.

Storage and moths

Fold merino instead of hanging it, because knitwear stretches at the shoulders on a hanger over time. Only put clean pieces away, since moths go mostly for worn wool. Cedar wood or a lavender sachet in the wardrobe keeps them away; replace the sachet each season. Between seasons, cotton bags work better than plastic, because moisture can collect in airtight plastic.

Questions about care?

For more merino knitwear, see our wool sweaters and cardigans or our knitted dresses. If you have a question about caring for a piece, write to us and we'll help.