How to wash wool by Head of the research and development department at Janus, Marianne Michaelsen.

- Wash wool right in the machine on wool washing program. Use liquid wool detergent and air dry. Wool detergent takes care of the fibers and retains the unique properties of the wool. The enzymes in regular detergents can destroy the fine structure of the wool fibers.

- Since the wool fiber has a self-cleaning effect and naturally inhibits bad odors woolen clothes can also be washed less often than other clothes. This feature also makes wool suitable for walking, training and everyday life.

Michaelsen points out that synthetic materials cannot match wool fiber properties. While wool absorbs moisture and sweat without smelling, synthetic clothing should be washed after each use so as not to smell. Wool insulates even in wet conditions.

Tips on stain removal

If you get stains on your woolen clothes, use a little wool detergent directly on the stain. Let it work for 30 minutes before washing the garment as usual. Grease stains go away, if you let a little Zalo work on the stain for 15 minutes. Remember to rinse the garment well so you remove the Zalo before putting it in the washing machine.

Handwash

Wool garments can also be hand washed at low temperatures, but it is not necessarily more gentle than the washing machine's wool program.

How we wash varies from person to person. If you are too rough, you can damage your clothes. Therefore, be gentle and remember to spin your clothes in the end and air dry. High temperature itself does not destroy woolen garments, but if you use high temperature and agitate the clothes too, they will shrink. Soaking in low temperatures is fine.

Remember to spin

Wool can withstand spinning. Spinning helps garments dry faster and retain their shape better. It also removes rinse water and soap. Drip drying of saturated wet woolen clothing can ruin the shape.

So, air dry after spinning. It will assure the longest life of the garment.

Wool and environment

The use of woolen clothing reduces the risk of more plastic in the sea.

Emissions to water: Wool clothing reduces plastic emissions to the sea. This is stated in the State Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO) in its report.

Energy consumption: Woolen clothes are washed at low temperatures, which requires less energy than washing at higher temperatures. Woolen clothes often need only airing and therefore do not need to be washed as often as other clothes. This also saves energy.

Waste management: Wool is easy to recycle and quickly decomposes. Synthetic garments have a long degradation time. At the Janus factory, they utilize between 80 and 90 percent of the fabrics they produce for clothing. What remains is recycled into hand knitting yarn.

Climate emissions: The Janus factory has a large factory in Norway. The electricity used at the factory comes from hydro-power and the factory has no emissions to air or water.

Consumers can help the environment by buying clothes from Janus and other environmentally friendly manufacturers as well as repairing clothing, or giving away and recycling as much as possible when you no longer need your clothes.

Animal Welfare:

The Janus factory and their suppliers fully support and work on the principles outlined by the IWTO (International Wool Textile Organization) sheep welfare guidelines, which are as follows:

1. Freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition - through smooth access to fresh water and feed sufficient to maintain full health and strength.

2. Freedom from discomfort - by providing a suitably protected and comfortable environment

3. Freedom from pain, injury and illness - by prevention, or rapid diagnosis and treatment, non mulesing.

4. Freedom to express normal behavior - by providing adequate space, suitable facilities and company of the animal's own kind.

5. Freedom from fear and distress - safe conditions and treatments imposed, avoiding mental suffering.