A wool sweater, woven wool trousers and a lined coat call for separate care decisions. Before getting a garment wet, establish how it may be dried. The wool percentage alone cannot tell you whether the finished piece is suitable for home washing or a tumble dryer.
Identify the construction before washing
Read the instructions for the complete product, not just the fibre name. Check for lining, structural layers, leather trims and decorations. Do not automatically apply sweater advice to a blazer. If the label requires professional cleaning, arrange that care rather than soaking the garment at home.
Support wet knitwear
Woolmark recommends drying wool sweaters flat; the weight of wet knitwear on a hanger can alter its shape. Prepare enough space for the body and sleeves, with nothing hanging over an edge. Follow the actual cut: an asymmetric hem need not become straight, and a loose fit does not need stretching to new dimensions.
Do not speed things up with a radiator
Keep wool away from direct heat and sunlight. Choose a drying area where the garment will not be repeatedly moved or covered by other items. Tumble drying needs explicit permission in the product instructions: a programme name on the machine does not provide that permission.
Inspect before putting it away
Check layered areas too, including cuffs, waistbands, pockets and folds. A dry front surface does not establish that the entire garment is dry. If a seam has twisted, the surface has become matted or the size has noticeably changed, describe the problem before another treatment. Do not assume soaking and stretching again will repair it. Sweater guidance: Woolmark — drying wool.
