Washing wool baselayers?

[lph]

My experience is that a brand new wool garment will stay odour-free very long, but will need washing more often as it gets more use. I think this comes from gradually washing out the lanolin in the wool, which is what actively reduces odour. I usually use jerseys at least three times before washing, for vigorous exercise. Hang them up to dry in between. Just wearing around the house I can get away with a fortnight

But having worn the same base layer for 8 days in the Alps I can attest that yes, wool does get stinky in the end

[Owlie]

I don't wash mine very often. It doesn't get stinky, really, but I do the "wait, how many times have I worn this? When did I last wash it?" thing. In between wearings, I put it flat on a drying rack. When it is time to wash them, I either wash it by hand (cool to lukewarm water, whatever I wash my hand-knit wool in) with a dab of my shampoo (-cone free), or it goes in the washing machine on cold, gentle. It gets laid flat to dry. (I hand-wash most of the time because the apartment washers are all top-load, which are rougher on clothes. If I'm visiting my parents, I use their front-loader. )

[ny biker]

This is interesting. Until very recently, the only wool base layers I had were three Sugoi Wallaroo tops. And I always wash them after wearing them once. Sometimes I wear them for bike rides, but sometimes I wear them under sweaters for everyday.

However after reading this thread, I think I will start to air them out and wear them more before washing them.

I have a top-load washer. I usually put the wool stuff and other more delicate things at the top, because I think I read somewhere that there is less agitation at the top.

BTW, I have a friend who highly recommends Wabi Woolen jerseys. Their fabric care instructions are here.

http://www.wabiwoolens.com/jersey-care

It begins thusly:

"Washing is hard on wool. There is no way around that. So the best way to care for your Wabi Woolens jersey is simply not to wash it. But let’s face it, that only works for so long before your riding partners and significant other start to make funny faces when you put it on. Eventually, you have to clean it and here’s the best way to do it, step-by-step:

*REMEMBER*

Agitation is what shrinks wool. The more gentle you are with your jersey when it is wet, the less it will shrink.

Washing

1. Wash before wearing and always follow these instructions. When you think it may be time for another wash, wear it a few more times, just so you’re sure."

[carlotta]

I have mid-weight Smartwool that I wear for commutes from now until mid-March or so. I might wash it every two weeks (usually 6-8 commute days in the winter, 22mi RT) but never because it smells, just because I feel like I should.

I wash it on gentle cycle/gentle spin in my front loader with other bike gear and lay flat (or occasionally hang on the bike) to dry. I also have Smartwool socks that I wear year round and the oldest pairs are now three years old and they're not really showing much wear (I do wash those after every day or two).

[GLC1968]

I do pretty much what Triskeliongirl and Oakleaf do...

With one exception - I do often rinse out the wool base layers I wear running when I sweat heavily. This is mostly just to get the salt out of the garment...not the stink. I just rinse in cool water, gently squeeze and then let it air dry.

My husband, on the other hand, washes and dries all his wool (top load washer and regular dryer) pretty close to every time he wears it. He is not a stinky guy in general, but I will say that the stuff has held up really well and he doesn't smell at all. It makes me wonder if I'm being overly cautious!

[Crankin]

I wash my Smart Wool base layers every time I wear them. While they don't *stink*, they do have an odor. I have a front loader, put them in a mesh bag, in the regular cycle and hang to dry. My Smart Wool merino light 1/4 zips get worn many times, though between washings.
I sweat a lot, and while I don't necessarily have an odor problem, the thought of wearing a base layer without washing, well, doesn't set well with me. Now, if I was camping or something, I would have no issue wearing them for a couple of days.

[Ered_Lithui]

My Smartwool midweight shirt is my most frequently worn item of clothing November to May. I wash it after any exercise -- it probably gets washed every week to two weeks (regular cycle, temperature on cold; hang to dry). It still looks and feels virtually new after five years and has even tolerated a few accidental hot washings and runs through the dryer. Smartwool is pretty awesome.

[SheFly]

My husband, on the other hand, washes and dries all his wool (top load washer and regular dryer) pretty close to every time he wears it. He is not a stinky guy in general, but I will say that the stuff has held up really well and he doesn't smell at all. It makes me wonder if I'm being overly cautious!

I do this. Wash after every wear, into the top loader and then into the dryer. I'm on year 5 of one of my base layers, and longer on another. But then, I also wash and dry all my bike clothes the same way .

SheFly