How do you wash Merino underwear properly?

Washing Merino clothing properly is not difficult if you just follow a few simple rules:

• 30° in the wool program (spin speed below 1000 rpm) + high-quality wool detergent ➽ higher washing temperatures lead to shrinkage of the fabric and are not necessary from a hygienic point of view, as wool has a naturally antibacterial fiber structure
• Especially with old washing machines without a gentle drum, we recommend using an old pillowcase (ideally made of cotton with a zipper) to protect against washing damage ➽ please do not use laundry bags made of mesh material, as these are often very rough and angular and can also cause damage to the wool
• After washing, dry gently on the clothes rack (Important: Do not use clothespins)
• Merino wool dries quickly, so a tumble dryer is not necessary and is not recommended to protect the wool
• If possible, do not dry the laundry in direct sunlight to prevent colors from fading
• We strongly advise against hand washing as the fine merino wool fibres can tear when wringing. If hand washing is necessary on tours lasting several days, please squeeze the fabric carefully between your hands instead of wringing it out and do not rub the fabric together too hard.

Less is more: It is often enough to hang a merino shirt out in the fresh air overnight, because wool has a naturally self-cleaning function and odors disappear quickly because they have a hard time settling in due to the special fiber structure of the wool.

 

How to avoid holes in Merino underwear?

One of the few disadvantages of fine merino wool fibers is that they are not as tear-resistant as synthetic fibers. In addition to avoiding washing damage (as described above), holes in merino underwear can be avoided by following a few simple rules:

• After sweating, remove carefully (do not pull the fabric too hard)
• We recommend that you choose underwear made of 100% merino wool that is not too tight, as a very tight fit can overstrain the fabric. Alternatively, there are special merino blends that can also be tightened to the point of compression.
• A “classic” are holes in the area of ​​belt buckles and sharp-edged trouser buttons ➽ in this case, make sure to tuck the merino shirt into your trousers
• For backpacking, we recommend a material thickness of at least 150g/m² or choosing a more robust Merino blend
• Be careful of contact with pointed, sharp-edged or rough objects (e.g. Velcro fasteners, torn fingernails, thorns...)
• Moths can also be the cause of holes in Merino clothing. If you have a known moth problem, you can protect your Merino equipment 100% by storing it in a thick-walled plastic box with a lockable lid in the closet (note: plastic bags or similar are not sufficient for this, as the moths can easily eat through them).