Care Instructions - Washing Merino Underwear

 

How to wash Merino underwear correctly?

Washing merino clothing correctly is not difficult if you follow a few simple rules:

• 30° on the wool program (spin speed under 1000 rpm) + high-quality wool detergent ➽ higher washing temperatures cause the fabric to shrink and are not necessary from a hygienic perspective either, as wool naturally has an antibacterial fiber structure.
• Especially with old washing machines without a gentle drum, it is recommended to use an old pillowcase (ideally cotton with a zipper) to protect against washing damage ➽ please do not use mesh laundry bags, as these are often very rough and angular and can also cause damage to the wool.
• After washing, gently dry on a clothes horse (Important: Do not use clothes pegs).
• Merino wool dries quickly, so a tumble dryer is not necessary and not recommended to protect the wool.
• If possible, do not dry the laundry in direct sunlight to prevent colors from fading.
• Hand washing is strongly discouraged, as the fine merino wool fibers can tear when wrung out. If hand washing is necessary on multi-day tours, please gently squeeze between your hands instead of wringing, and do not rub the fabric together firmly.

Less is more: Often, it is sufficient to hang a merino shirt out in the fresh air overnight, as wool naturally has a self-cleaning function and odors quickly dissipate, as they can hardly settle 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:

• Take off carefully after sweating (do not pull the fabric too hard).
• We recommend not choosing underwear made from 100% merino wool too tight, as a very snug fit can overstress the fabric. Alternatively, there are special merino blends where a snug fit up to compression is possible.
• A "classic" is 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 carrying a backpack, a material thickness of at least 150g/m² or choosing a more robust merino blend is recommended.
• Beware 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 100% protect your merino gear by storing it in the wardrobe in a thick-walled plastic box with a lockable lid (Caution: Plastic bags or similar are not sufficient, as moths can easily chew through them).