Yes, you can wash a wool coat in the washing machine if the care label says it is machine-washable. Otherwise, doing so risks irreversible shrinkage and felting. If your coat is washable, follow these strict guidelines to avoid damaging the garment.
Select the Woolens, Delicate, or Handwash cycle on your washing machine and make sure the water temperature is cold and the spin is on low. Add Wool & Cashmere Shampoo considering the machine type and load size. Never put wool coats in the dryer!
Washing dry clean only clothing can ruin the garment, so it's best to take it to a professional cleaner. If you don't see washing instructions, look instead at the material the clothing is made from – leather, suede, beaded or sequined items, silk, acetate, velvet, wool and taffeta should be dry cleaned.
Always choose the wool or delicate cycle on your machine and use cold water only. Even a little heat or a rough spin cycle can cause irreversible shrinkage and felting. Once the cycle finishes, never put a wool coat in the dryer. It needs to be carefully reshaped and laid flat to air-dry.
If your wool coat requires a full wash and the care label indicates that hand washing is safe, follow these steps for the best results:
Wool garments should be washed on the wool setting (usually gentle action at 40°C). If your washing machine does not have a wool cycle, use the cold water wash or wash cycle for delicates. Use a neutral, mild detergent that is preferably Woolmark recommended (look for the Woolmark symbol on the packet).
The best thing to do is hand wash you garment (and any other wool garments) in the sink using warm water (not at all hot) and a small amount of gentle dish soap like dawn or shampoo. Gently scrub using your hands and do not wring or pull, as that will stretch your garment.
To keep your favorite wool coats in pristine condition year after year, we recommend cleaning your wool coat twice a year: Once at the beginning of winter and again at the end of the season.
How I clean vintage wool at home:
Wool fiber swells when it becomes wet and then contracts when it dries. This is what causes wool to shrink when you wash it in hot water. So If you don't want it to shrink, just avoid washing it in really hot water. Handwashing in cool or slightly warm water is always recommended for wool garments.
Wool is often dry cleaned to prevent shrinking and felting, but can also be to keep the garment colorfast. Hand washing in cool water is the only other way. Any agitation or warm/hot water may cause the wool felt and shrink.
In Japan, it is common to do laundry every day for couples or families. Single people typically do laundry 1 to 3 times a week. A family with small children will sometimes do it more than 2-3 times a day.
Caring for your wool coat at home saves money and keeps it looking beautiful for years to come. Shake out your coat after wearing, air it out, and use gentle techniques like brushing or spot cleaning. If the care label permits, hand wash carefully with cold water and dry flat to protect its shape.
Yes, absolutely. In fact, for most tailored wool coats, professional dry cleaning is the safest method because it prevents the fabric from shrinking, stretching, or losing its tailored shape.
Because wool is so resilient, it provides support and helps distribute weight away from pressure points, in effect providing you with a major step toward a natural arthritis remedy by allowing your body to rest and heal.
Washing a winter jacket at home requires a few simple steps to protect its insulation and fabric:
Wool can shrink or lose its shape in a regular wash, leather risks drying out or cracking, and puffers can lose that cozy insulation if not handled correctly. Dry cleaning is the best option to handle these items because it doesn't just clean—it preserves.
Fabric Conditioner or Hair Conditioner
For better results, rely on human hair conditioner for softening a wool sweater. Wool is structurally similar to human hair, right down to the tiny cuticles. Hair conditioner smooths those cuticles to make our hair silky and untangled. It can do the same thing for wool fibres.
To clean a wool coat at home, always check the care label first. For routine care, regularly brush the coat to remove dust and hang it in a well-ventilated area. Spot clean minor stains by gently blotting with a damp cloth and a mild detergent.
So if your wool coat is marked “dry clean,” or with symbols for hand-wash, gentle cycle or cold water wash only, then you have options for cleaning the coat at home. One other caveat: The folks at Zoom Express Laundry advise that if your coat has fur, leather, suede or feather details, it must be dry cleaned.
While laundry experts often debate the "ultimate" rule, the most agreed-upon golden rule of laundry is to never overload your washer or dryer. Cramming machines too full prevents clothes from properly agitating, cleaning, and drying, leaving them with leftover residue, lint, and excess wear.
Yes, wool can shrink in cold water, but it's not the cold water itself that causes the damage. Wool shrinks due to the combination of water, heat, and physical agitation (rubbing or wringing).
To clean 100% wool, always hand-wash or use your machine's wool cycle with cold water and a mild, wool-specific detergent (e.g., Woolite). Avoid hot water and vigorous wringing to prevent shrinkage. Gently press out moisture using a towel, and always lay the garment flat to dry.
Wool-safe detergents are gentle, pH-neutral formulas free of enzymes (like protease), bleach, and optical brighteners, which can damage or degrade natural keratin fibers. The best choices are specialized liquid washes designed specifically for delicates.