Got a raw fleece from a farmer, fiber festival, or from the Rebel Stitchers Store? Wondering what to do next? In this blog post, I’ll show you how to scour wool using my tried-and-true outdoor setup. Over the years, I’ve scoured nearly 100 fleeces from various breeds, including Alpaca, Angora Goat (Mohair), Babydoll Southdown, Valais Blacknose, and Gulf Coast Native sheep. While every fleece has unique characteristics, the scouring process is similar for all types. I'll show you how to scour raw wool and my outdoor setup for clean fleeces.
What Is Scouring Wool?
Before diving into the process, let’s define scouring. Scouring wool involves washing the fleece in hot water with a wool-friendly detergent or soap to remove lanolin (the natural grease) and other unwanted elements like dirt, dust, vegetable matter (VM), and even poop. While some spinners enjoy "spinning in the grease" with lanolin left in, I personally prefer to remove it or at least remove a lot of it. Not only does it make the fiber cleaner, but it also prevents buildup in my spinning equipment and ensures that dye adheres properly to the wool.
Why Scour Wool?
Properly scouring wool not only makes the spinning process cleaner and easier but also prepares the fiber for dyeing. Unscoured wool won't take dye evenly, as the lanolin creates a barrier that prevents the dye from adhering.
Why Scour Your Fleece Outdoors?
Scouring raw wool indoors is a recipe for plumbing disaster. When the hot, lanolin-filled water cools down, the lanolin solidifies, much like bacon grease. Pouring this mixture down your drain can lead to clogs over time. So, always scour your wool outdoors or in a way that allows you to safely dispose of the wastewater somewhere other than down your drain.
My Outdoor Wool Scouring Setup
Here’s my go-to outdoor setup for scouring raw wool. I use six large tubs, which allows me to wash up to three fleeces at once. The water temperature is key—hot enough that I can’t put my hand in it. I fill each tub about halfway with water from the hose and then add boiling water to bring it up to temperature.
For detergent, I highly recommend Unicorn Power Scour, but dishwashing liquid without enzymes can also work if you're just starting. I used dishwashing liquid for over a year with good results, but once I tried Unicorn Power Scour, I never looked back. It’s specifically formulated for wool and does an excellent job removing lanolin.
How to Scour Wool
1. Prepare the Fleece: Before scouring, make sure your fleece is skirted and picked. I like to split my fleece into smaller, manageable sections. You can use mesh laundry bags to hold the fleece while it soaks, which is especially helpful for breeds like alpaca and mohair.
2. First Soak: . I like to fill the tubs 1/3 - 1/2 full with water from the hose pipe and fill the remainder up with boiling water to bring it to a temp that is too hot or almost too hot to put my hand in.
Place the fleece in the hot, soapy water and gently press it down with tongs Let the fleece soak for 30-45 minutes. Be sure the water stays hot—cooling down too much will allow the lanolin to redeposit onto the wool.
3. Check for Cleanliness: After the first soak, you’ll need to decide whether another wash is necessary. Some fleeces may need two washes, especially if they are particularly greasy or dirty. If another wash is needed, move the fleece to a tub of clean water that’s about the same temperature as the wash water you are removing the wool from. Squeeze out as much dirty water as possible without wringing or agitating the fiber, which could lead to felting. Alternatively you can use a dedicated salad spinner or spin dryer.
4. Rinse: Once you're ready to rinse, move the fleece to a tub of clean water that’s about the same temperature as the wash water that you are removing the wool from Squeeze out as much dirty water as possible without wringing or agitating the fiber, which could lead to felting.
5. Repeat: Continue rinsing in clean, hot water until the fleece is free of soap and dirt. You may need to repeat the rinse several times to get the fleece fully clean.
6. Dry the Fleece: Once your fleece is clean, it’s time to dry it. In Video 3 of this series, I show how I remove excess water, and in Video 4, I demonstrate how I lay the fleece out to dry.
I hope this step-by-step guide helps you understand how to scour wool at home! Subscribe to my blog and YouTube channel to stay updated with more tutorials in the “Raw Wool to Roving” series.
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