Disinfecting wool covers?

[lilysmama1124]

I have some used woolies and I am a little bit weird about using used cloth. I don't usually use a lot of bleach but when I buy used cloth I usually do a bleach load when I get them. Obviously I can't bleach the wool. Will a vinegar soak ruin them? Will the sun shrink them?

[ShwarmaQueen]

: Good question. Subbing for responses.

I'm personally not too worried, plus, isn't wool supposed to be naturally antibacterial in nature?

[lilysmama1124]

I know it is anti-bac naturally but because I am a little overly cautious/anxious I keep freaking out thinking that doesn't mean viruses, fungi, or tough bacteria couldn't survive on it. I know I'm a little weird about this stuff. I was thinking I could possibly put them in a bag in a freezer, that should kill any ickies I would think. With reg cloth and covers I feel ok because I use a little bleach and hot dryer cycle.

[poppan]

I have soaked woolies in a vinegar solution to fix dye, and they weren't ruined, so I think vinegar is OK to use.

I have sunned (dry) woolies and they didn't shrink, so I think it's OK to sun also. I don't know if sunning dry vs wet makes a difference. I don't think it should, because felting generally requires both hot water and agitation. The process of felting (which is what causes shrinking) was described to me as the wool fibers reaching out and grabbing onto each other -- kind of like barbed wire getting all gnarled up together. So I think sunning wet should be OK as you are not disturbing the fibers with agitation.

The only other thing I have to add is that interlock wool can take more without danger of felting. With used interlock I have soaked in very hot tap water with oxyclean and then I just let it sit (i.e. I did not agitate) and it was fine. With hand knits I don't think you can subject it to such treatment without felting.

[lilysmama1124]

Thanks for the info!! They are handmade so I will be more careful.