How to lose sheen on wool jacket
August 24, 2010 11:30 AM Subscribe
I have a navy wool blazer (tropical wool, I think it's called) that I wear to work sometimes. The underside of the sleeves has become all shiny from being rubbed against my desk as I type at my computer. Is there anything I can do to lose the sheen? I just had it dry-cleaned and it's still just as bad as before. The dry-cleaner said there's nothing that can be done about it.
Is it shiny like what happens when something is over-ironed?
Or have the individual threads in the wool sort of congealed into, as muddgirl says, felt?
posted by gjc at 11:36 AM on August 24, 2010
Or have the individual threads in the wool sort of congealed into, as muddgirl says, felt?
posted by gjc at 11:36 AM on August 24, 2010
Response by poster: It's shiny like it's been over-ironed.
posted by Dragonness at 11:40 AM on August 24, 2010
posted by Dragonness at 11:40 AM on August 24, 2010
Best answer: I guess if I considered the If it were me, I'd get that bit of wool a little damp and try to brush some hairs up off the felt. On a google search, a few people have had the same suggestion:
1. 1 part vinegar/3 parts water - spray in a fine mist on shiny areas. This will cover the shine for a while, but will need to be reapplied occasionally. The obvious problem with this method is having to air out the pants after spraying otherwise you're walking around smelling a bit like vinegar. Probably best to spray after a day's wear and then hang in the bathroom for a day or two before returning said trousers to the closet.posted by muddgirl at 11:42 AM on August 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
2. Heavily steam shiny areas and then vigorously brush with a clothing brush to try and lift some of the wool fibers. Again, a temporary fix, but will probably give you a bit more life out of your shiny wool.
I like this product, the Sweater Stone, for removing pilling on sweaters - I wonder if it would help?
http://www.sweaterstone.com/thestone.htm
posted by analog at 11:46 AM on August 24, 2010
http://www.sweaterstone.com/thestone.htm
posted by analog at 11:46 AM on August 24, 2010
Best answer: I don't think I would use the sweater stone - it is going to be too abrasive.
If you really want to save it, then get a brass tailor's brush. It is like a brass suede brush, but much, much softer. If it is a dense hunting or military wool, you can use a firmer one like this.
Use the vinegar method above - white clean vinegar only - and then as you steam it (do not actually touch the iron to the fabric) you use a lifting-brushing motion. You do not scrub it or grind into it. Let it cool and set before you mess with it. You will have to do this frequently, but if you are careful you won't ruin the fabric for a while. If you are too aggressive you will break and pull the fibers.
posted by Tchad at 11:55 AM on August 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you really want to save it, then get a brass tailor's brush. It is like a brass suede brush, but much, much softer. If it is a dense hunting or military wool, you can use a firmer one like this.
Use the vinegar method above - white clean vinegar only - and then as you steam it (do not actually touch the iron to the fabric) you use a lifting-brushing motion. You do not scrub it or grind into it. Let it cool and set before you mess with it. You will have to do this frequently, but if you are careful you won't ruin the fabric for a while. If you are too aggressive you will break and pull the fibers.
posted by Tchad at 11:55 AM on August 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
You can try to gently rub the shiny areas with a brush with metal bristles, like this one. Tailors use these brushes in order to restore the nap of fabric that has gotten a shine from ironing.
Hardware stores sometimes sell similar brushes, or you could use a clean suede brush. Just make sure there aren't any errant bristles that will catch on the fabric.
I would also look for a new dry cleaner--this is the sort of thing they should know how to fix.
posted by Lycaste at 12:08 PM on August 24, 2010
Hardware stores sometimes sell similar brushes, or you could use a clean suede brush. Just make sure there aren't any errant bristles that will catch on the fabric.
I would also look for a new dry cleaner--this is the sort of thing they should know how to fix.
posted by Lycaste at 12:08 PM on August 24, 2010
Just be careful, regardless of the brush you use. I don't use a rubbing motion when I am trying to get the shine out as much as I use a push-down-wiggle-a-bit-then-lift-with-a-bit-of-a-twist motion.
posted by Tchad at 12:36 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by Tchad at 12:36 PM on August 24, 2010
Is your jacket actually a wool blend? Many wool coats are actually wool woven in with polyester fibres. Basically the polyester makes a strong, inexpensive weave to hold the wool fibres, much like a nylon backing to a wool carpet.
The problem is, wool will wear away and polyester will not. So you get a shine. My guess is that you have a poly blend and you've worn away the wool on the bottom of the sleeves. It's inevitable at some point for blended suits and jackets.
Unfortunately, there is no fix for it.
posted by qwip at 1:00 PM on August 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
The problem is, wool will wear away and polyester will not. So you get a shine. My guess is that you have a poly blend and you've worn away the wool on the bottom of the sleeves. It's inevitable at some point for blended suits and jackets.
Unfortunately, there is no fix for it.
posted by qwip at 1:00 PM on August 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Is your jacket actually a wool blend?
It's 96% wool and 4% lycra.
posted by Dragonness at 1:16 PM on August 24, 2010
It's 96% wool and 4% lycra.
posted by Dragonness at 1:16 PM on August 24, 2010
qwip is probably right then. A brass brush is going to be really hard on lycra fibers and will most likely distort the fabric.
posted by Tchad at 1:26 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by Tchad at 1:26 PM on August 24, 2010
Response by poster: This doesn't look threadbare as you would expect if it had been worn down to the 4% lycra. It just looks the way wool does when you iron the fabric directly, smooth and shiny.
posted by Dragonness at 1:39 PM on August 24, 2010
posted by Dragonness at 1:39 PM on August 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by muddgirl at 11:32 AM on August 24, 2010