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How to Remove Lanolin From Wool

Those fluffy, white sheep you see grazing on rolling, green grass are the sources of lanolin. Sheep need lanolin to keep warm, dry and protected from the elements. Lanolin also adheres to their wool when the sheep are shorn. While lanolin is great for the sheep, its waxy composition is not so great hand-spinners. The process of removing the lanolin to prepare a wool fleece for spinning is called "scouring," which also cleans the wool.

Things You'll Need

Mesh bags for washing delicates
Basin or sink large enough to hold the fleece
Instant-read thermometer
Dishwashing detergent
Rubber gloves
Wooden spoon or spatula
Washing machine
Clean sheets

Instructions

- 1
  Put the wool inside the mesh bags. Don't stuff the bags too full; try only one layer. Use as many bags as you need, or divide the wool into manageable sections.
- 2
  Fill the sink or basin with hot water -- at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If your tap water isn't that hot, heat water on the stove. Use an instant-read thermometer to measure the water temperature.
- 3
  Add a large squirt of detergent. If the fleece is very greasy, use more. Swish gently to distribute.
- 4
  Put on rubber gloves, and add the wool to the water. Firmly submerge it in the water, but do not move it around or agitate it. If the water is too hot for you to touch, use a wooden spoon or spatula to push the wool under the water completely.
- 5
  Soak the wool for 30 minutes.
- 6
  Remove the wool from the basin. Empty the basin and refill with hot water.
- 7
  Submerge the wool in the clean water and let it soak for a few minutes to rinse. Repeat this as necessary to remove the detergent.
- 8
  Remove the wool from the rinse water and transfer it to a washing machine. Set the machine for a spin only cycle, and spin the wool to remove excess water.
- 9
  Remove the wool from the washing machine and from the mesh bags. Cover a table with a clean sheet and spread the wool on a table to dry. Drying outside is also good, but cover the wool with another sheet to protect it from poachers like birds and squirrels.

Animals & Science