I used to use a generic liquid dishwashing detergent, to save money. I
finally tried Dawn because I heard it recommended so many times. I
found it really is better at cutting grease, which is the primary
purpose in washing wool after all. So now I use it, but I suspect any
of the brand-name dishwashing liquids would do just fine. And you can
use the cheaper brands, but you'll probably need more of it.
Yes, they foam a lot, which can be a pain. If the person washign the
wool has access to buying Eco-Scour or the like, that sudsing will be
greatly reduced. I don't find it to be a major problem. One slow soak
with no agitation but lots of detergent and very hot water. Two
warm-to-cold rinses, again no agitation. During the first rinse the
wool just floats on top of the water because of the suds, so I push it
down gently and slowly with a stick a couple times then leave it to soak
for 15 minutes or so. Second rinse gets out all the suds no problem.
In soft water, use less detergent, until you find a) you're still
getting the grease out and b) the suds rinse out with 2 rinses.
One of the problems of commercially-processed wool vs doing it yourself
at home for your own consumption is that wool moves through the mill too
fast (once processing begins) for the mill operator to know what the
long-term effects of the processing is on that wool. I've often gotten
wool back that was not thoroughly washed, which really makes unpleasant
roving, but the mill operator wouldn't have a clue. It will be, or
become over time, sticky, and then won't draft well. Neps often turn up
in finewool roving that wasn't washed quite thoroughly.
On the flip side, wool that's scoured too harshly may also not be
obvious to the mill operator. I've noticed that just-processed roving
always feels softer than it does later on, and that it's much softer
feeling as roving than as yarn. If a washing agent or process does
damage to the wool, it won't necessarily be obvious in the mill.
Whereas I, processing most of my wool at home from raw fleece to
finished handspun, handknit or handwoven item, can really feel the
difference, especially the one time I used laundry detergent (and that
on a medium wool).
Texas A&M's recommendations are just what I would avoid like the plague
:) Before I became a handspinner, I thought I was allergic to wool
because no matter what I tried on--even a coat with a lining over street
clothes--it itched. Now I know it's the scouring and other processing
wool goes through in commercial mills. Handspun yarn is softer in part
because it's not treated as harshly when washed.
None of this is aimed at a particular processor--I've had sticky and/or
neppy roving from several--and is certainly not aimed at Gail--I've
never had her process any wool for me, or worked with wool she's
processed, so have no idea what it would be like :) Just an observation
of wool processing in general.
Holly
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