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- Skirt your fiber by pulling out and disposing any wool that is caked solid with manure or mud.
 Pay
particular attention to fiber that comes from the underbelly,
anal/genital region and legs. Wool that is simply dirty, but not matted
into clumps, may be washed and processed. Pull out and dispose any
burrs, chaff or other organic debris. Remove as much of this trash as
possible--the more time you spend at this the better the quality of the
end product.
- Fill
your washing machine with HOT water (top loaders only). OR, you can
just use a wash tub or even your bathtub. Add 20-32 oz of
laundry detergent you would normally use for washing clothes. Also add 16-24 oz
of Pine Cleaner or Ammonia. Put 5 to
7.5 pounds of wool into the machine. GENTLY push the wool down into the
water spreading it out evenly. Do not stir it.
- DO NOT allow the machine to go into agitate cycle--doing so will cause the fiber to turn to felt--leave the lid UP!
- Allow
the wool to soak for 30 minutes or so. You might want to gently move
the wool around a bit from time to time, but avoid any vigorous
actions, which will cause felting.
- You may use the spin cycle to remove the dirty water. Spinning will not cause felting--agitating will.
- Rinse the wool twice, by repeating steps 2-5, without the soap.
- Allow the wool to air dry, spreading it out and turning it occasionally to prevent mold.
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