getting smells out of wool

[dharmama]

i've recently purchased a couple of beautiful wool sweaters from the thrift shop that i want to recycle into hats and mittens for my kids but they have that stinky, stale thrift store smell.

is there something i can use to wash them to help get the smells out?

thanks!

~erin

(sorry if this has been discussed before. i only have small bits of computer time here and there so i haven't had a chance to really search around.)

[DeerMother]

I switched from Eucalan to Knitpicks' wool wash for our soakers. It has tea tree oil in it and they smell a lot better. If you can't get your hands on that, maybe adding some tea tree or lavender eo to your wool wash? However, if you are going to be felting/fulling the sweaters first, I would just throw them in the washer w/ your normal detergent and see what happens.

[friendtoall]

My first thought is too hang them outside on a lovely fall day, and see if they can just air out. If that is not successful, I'd try a vinegar rinse (not too much vinegar though, it can make the yarn stiff and scratchy).

[dharmama]

thank you so much. i had forgotten about wool wash and was just using regular ol' detergent. will pick some up.

i will also try hanging them outside and see what happens.

thank you!!!

[MamaWolfe]

If you have lavender sprigs left, you can put them in a bag with your wool.