# Machine washable wool

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 5, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948 "2007-02-05T17:01:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948/1 "2007-02-05T17:01:14Z")

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I am knitting a shawl out of some machine washable wool and I was wondering how they process the wool so that it doesn’t felt when you throw it in the wash. I tried googling it but couldn’t find anything except products made out of it.

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**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948/2 "2007-02-05T20:09:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Arien]  
I am knitting a shawl out of some machine washable wool and I was wondering how they process the wool so that it doesn’t felt when you throw it in the wash. I tried googling it but couldn’t find anything except products made out of it.  
[/QUOTE]

[Here](http://www.kswpa.com/woolprocess.htm), under Chemical Finishes. [Here’s](http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/superwash-wool.shtm) another article on Superwash wool. And [here’s](http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/75/2/169) an abstract from the Textile Research Journal. It looks like they chemically coat the wool, or remove the scales, or both. Based on the fact that a former wool processing site is now a [Superfund](http://yosemite.epa.gov/r1/npl_pad.nsf/8b160ae5c647980585256bba0066f907/1ea2ccf93144880a85256b42006049fb!OpenDocument) site, I would say that the process is, or can be, highly toxic.

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948/3 "2007-02-05T21:29:04Z")

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Smartwool ™ is machine washable, but I couldn’t find exactly what they do (other than select ceratin sheep)

> **[Smartwool® - Merino Wool Outdoor Clothing, Socks & Accessories](https://www.smartwool.com/)**
>
> Find the best Merino wool outdoor clothing & socks at Smartwool. Shop durable outdoor wool socks, Merino wool apparel, breathable wool base layers & more today.

Brian  
(awesome socks BTW)

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**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-washable-wool/390948/4 "2007-02-05T23:29:41Z")

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[QUOTE=Jahdra]  
[Here](http://www.kswpa.com/woolprocess.htm), under Chemical Finishes. [Here’s](http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/superwash-wool.shtm) another article on Superwash wool. And [here’s](http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/75/2/169) an abstract from the Textile Research Journal. It looks like they chemically coat the wool, or remove the scales, or both. Based on the fact that a former wool processing site is now a [Superfund](http://yosemite.epa.gov/r1/npl_pad.nsf/8b160ae5c647980585256bba0066f907/1ea2ccf93144880a85256b42006049fb!OpenDocument) site, I would say that the process is, or can be, highly toxic.  
[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I figured it was sprayed or treated with some sort of chemical but I didn’t know that about the scales. Too bad the wool feels different after the treatment, it’s not as soft.