tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post4053709244714706516..comments2023-09-26T00:57:07.322-07:00Comments on Homespun Dreamings: Washing dayCherizachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04671839425316085387noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-84741528521706452052008-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:002008-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:00How much Orvus do you use in a washing machine?How much Orvus do you use in a washing machine?Cherizachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671839425316085387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-23736219839106694832008-02-10T12:00:00.000-08:002008-02-10T12:00:00.000-08:00Try flicking the ends. Just get a slicker grooming...Try flicking the ends. Just get a slicker grooming brush, and run the ends of the locks over the tines of the brush. That should open up the locks. Then when you wash them (again), the ends should open up and get clean. Using the brush will also take off any ends that are brittle. I use Orvus for all my fleece scouring. Works a treat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-62447536191806231492008-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:002008-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:00I'd give the fleece an overnight soak in salted, t...I'd give the fleece an overnight soak in salted, tepid water (before washing it, but it's not too late to try that now). That will help hydrate and open any muddy tips before you wash it in hot-hot water (again). <BR/><BR/>I've had to put CVM through a wash-dry-pick-repeat cycle before due to muddy tips -- any high crimp, high lanolin fleece that gets carried through mud tends to get caked tips.<BR/><BR/>The yellow may be canary stain, in which case it isn't going to go away. You can still card/spin the wool, but it will end up a creamy color rather than a straight white. You could dye it, if you don't want the off-white color.<BR/><BR/>For really stubborn tips, I will get the fleece in super-hot water (165 F or hotter) and put on my "submarine gloves" (superlong, superthick) and rub the tips while the fleece is in the bath. This gets them to open and release their gunk. Slow going, but it works and doesn't felt the fiber.<BR/><BR/>The shot of the fleece is lovely, by the way.<BR/><BR/>Is the VM consistent throughout, and the muddy tips? Could be it might benefit from some judicious skirting, removing the worst parts, or at least separating them. I've separated out Shetland neck wool before (lovely soft stuff, but so VMy!) so it didn't contaminate the rest of the fleece, and picked through it by hand to remove all the hay bits and grass pieces before carding. I probably wouldn't have done it, except that it was such a lovely white lamb fleece, and I wanted it for a special project.Amelia of Ask The Bellwetherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00837966439073456616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-81525279399608748682008-02-10T05:58:00.000-08:002008-02-10T05:58:00.000-08:00Have you tried oxy clean? Open the tips and then ...Have you tried oxy clean? Open the tips and then soak in oxy clean. I use a turkey roaster to wash wool, with a thermostat set at 180 for high grease fleece.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-41994686519538652712008-02-09T21:48:00.000-08:002008-02-09T21:48:00.000-08:00Cheryl,see that band across the clean white staple...Cheryl,see that band across the clean white staple? about halfway to the tip, where it's more yellow and the crimp hasn't fluffed out.<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking that looks like some pretty serious stress was on the sheep for quite awhile. <BR/><BR/>No, it's not normal, but it might still be salvageable. I agree with the scull, if it's spinnable consider dyeing it. <BR/><BR/>You get to decide if it's worth the effort. Are the tips felted, or just brittle? Definitely cut off any part that's not easily spinnable, play with the rest.Ruth S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16970904490007262195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26535367.post-54054929642586397042008-02-09T16:05:00.000-08:002008-02-09T16:05:00.000-08:00The grey-brown is about the color I would expect i...The grey-brown is about the color I would expect in a CVM. If the yellow is sticky/tacky/greasy/hard, it will probably come out if you open up the locks by hand and wash it again. If it looks like a stain, and not actually a substance stuck to the wool, I'd consider dyeing it before I mulched it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com