Lanolizing - Sink Method

Lanolizing is a necessary step in caring for your wool to ensure that it is well conditioned. Over time, washing (even with lanolin rich wool wash products) can strip away the lanolin and leave your wool dry.

A common and inexpensive way to lanolize is to use plain solid lanolin (such as Lansinoh) in a similar fashion as described in the Baby Wash method.

1. Fill the sink with lukewarm water.


2. Heat a small cup of water.


3. Melt a pea size (or several depending on how much wool you are lanolizing) amounts of lanolin in the water.


4. Add a very small squirt of liquid soap (wool wash or baby wash) and emulsify.


5. Add mixture to the sink.


6. Add inside-out wool and let soak 20-30 minutes (or as short or long as you prefer).


7. Drain with the wool in the sink so that the fibers catch the lanolin in the water.


8. Roll the wool in a towel to remove excess water and lay flat to dry

Some people also like to use lanolin oil - the method is the same, there just isn't any need for melting! Lanolin oil seems to be best for lighter lanolizing jobs - balm and solid lanolin are best when you need to do a thorough lanolizing job.

Balm (softer and creamier than plain lanolin) can also be used in the sink - you would melt/emulsify it the same way you would using the method above with solid lanolin. Although, balm is somewhat of a specialty product and its uniqueness is in how incredibly easy it is to dry lanolize.