# If I washed a sheep in hot water...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018 "2010-06-13T14:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![taffygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@taffygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taffygirl)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/1 "2010-06-13T14:58:38Z")
If I were to wash one of my wool sweaters in hot water, it would shrink pretty dramatically. What would happen if I washed a sheep in hot water? (I hasten to add I don’t have a sheep and have no intention of hijacking one and taking it through the car wash.) Does wool shrink in hot water because of inherent properties, or is there something in the process of turning wool into cloth that gives it this tendency? I live in the American west, where, as they say, men are men and sheep are nervous. When I finally summoned the courage to ask a couple of old duffers who raise sheep, they laughed but never answered the question. So I turn to you, Teeming Millions… ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/2 "2010-06-13T16:07:34Z")
No, the [fibers in the fleece on the sheep are aligned differently](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_wool_shrink) from the fibers in wool yarn, so they wouldn’t contract in hot water: > [@](#): > > Wool does not shrink, it felts. This is caused by the raised scales of the cuticle layer of the wool fiber catching on one another. The fibers in a fleece on a sheep are all growing out of the follicles in the same direction and they generally grow at a similar rate. This means that the cuticle scales (which are a bit like the teeth on a saw blade) are all pointed in the same direction. They don’t catch on one another. […] > > As the fleece is cleaned and scoured, the “staple” structure is destroyed and the fibers no longer line up “tip to base” as they would in the fleece. […] The scales now can be at 180 degrees to one another, which can cause them to catch on each other. > > When the fibers are spun, they come in close contact with each other, and the interlocking nature of the scales is what helps keep the yarn together. Felting usually occurs in the presence of heat, water and agitation, and this acts as a ratchet, tightening the contact between the fibers in the yarn, and then the yarns in the fabric. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/3 "2010-06-13T19:31:47Z")
So you’d not only have to wash them in hot water, you’d also have to get them agitated. No wonder they’re nervous. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/4 "2010-06-13T19:39:29Z")
Ya know, it’s a shame you didn’t pose this question to Cecil, I’d have loved to see the illustration of a sheep after the wash. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/5 "2010-06-14T22:04:12Z")
Given the temperature in washing machines for hot water, and the length of the washing cycle, the sheep could easily be scalded or burned over most of its body. Very painful, and quite possible that the sheep would die from this. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/6 "2010-06-14T22:38:15Z")
Just be certain to use the air or fluff cycle on the dryer. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/7 "2010-06-14T23:16:11Z")
Or just hang them out to dry. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/8 "2010-06-14T23:16:29Z")
Time to add personal experience to the thread, for I have washed a sheep in hot water. It was a cool day, and the water was more “really warm” than scalding hot. My daughter was getting her lamb ready for a show, and I helped her to wash it. The wool–and the sheep–showed no sign of shrinking. Woolite, incidentally, works well for whitening the wool while it’s still on the sheep. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/9 "2010-06-14T23:24:23Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:8, topic:543018”] Woolite, incidentally, works well for whitening the wool while it’s still on the sheep. [/QUOTE] Yet one more reason to subscribe and read the dope. Where else can you get such useful information? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/10 "2010-06-14T23:36:23Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Yet one more reason to subscribe and read the dope. Where else can you get such useful information? Not only information about washing your sheep, but about [sheep on pool covers](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7579239&postcount=90), too. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/11 "2010-06-15T00:12:59Z")
There is also the fact that wool on the sheep is still coated in [lanolin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin), which provides some water proofing unless you are using special detergents. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/12 "2010-06-15T00:22:00Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > No, the [fibers in the fleece on the sheep are aligned differently](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_wool_shrink) from the fibers in wool yarn, so they wouldn’t contract in hot water: This is not correct. There are two inter-related processes going on. Wool will felt due to interlocking of the fibre scales when fibres are rubbed past each other. This can occur in hot water, cold water or without water. Yarn will felt more because the fibres in a yarn are both freeer to move and more linearly aligned due to the carding process. On the sheep one end of the fibre is fixed in the skin, there are also cross fibres within the wool staple (angled, not interwoven). Wool on the sheep will felt if the animal rubs themselves for a period against a tree or post because they have external parasites. In a fleece this is termed “cotting” but it is the same felting process. When the fibres are under stress the alpha helixes in the microfibrells within the fibre stretch. It’s the interchange between alpha helixes and beta pleated sheet arrangement. When dry or in cold water when the tension is released the helixes return largely to their original state. In hot water or steam when under tension the fibres retain their stretch. In effect the “S-S” cysteine bonds re-align themselves in a process called stress release. Shrinking of wool garments occurs because the fibres are stretched in the knitting/weaving process. When washed in hot/warm water the stress release process occurs and the fibres contract to closer to their original . Wool on the sheep will not shrink were the animal to be placed in a warm bath because the fibres in the fleece are not under tension. But, as stated above, any aggitation e.g. washing will move fibres past each other and cause felting to some degree and more so in warm water than cold. ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/13 "2010-06-15T00:27:27Z")
From experience, cat fur gets quite matted in a washing machine. No shrinkage, though, and they often live to tell the tale. (Tumble driers have a lower survival rate, IME.) I can’t comment on sheep, they are much less likely to take naps in washing machines. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/14 "2010-06-15T00:35:32Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:10, topic:543018”] Not only information about washing your sheep, but about [sheep on pool covers](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7579239&postcount=90), too. [/quote] That was hysterical! ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/15 "2010-06-15T05:31:44Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:8, topic:543018”] Time to add personal experience to the thread, for I have washed a sheep in hot water. It was a cool day, and the water was more “really warm” than scalding hot. My daughter was getting her lamb ready for a show, and I helped her to wash it. The wool–and the sheep–showed no sign of shrinking. Woolite, incidentally, works well for whitening the wool while it’s still on the sheep. [/quote] Awww! I love sheep when they’re all fluffy and white. One of my favorite parts of the fair to visit [my maternal grandfather was a sheep judge, so I got to hang out with him while he judged.]. I’d love to have a couple but alas, daHubby has put the kibosh on that. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-washed-a-sheep-in-hot-water/543018/16 "2010-06-15T05:40:51Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:8, topic:543018”] Time to add personal experience to the thread, for I have washed a sheep in hot water. […] . Woolite, incidentally, works well for whitening the wool while it’s still on the sheep. [/QUOTE] I love these kind of anecdotes and trivia 😃