Will snow damage a wool blend jacket?

November 13, 2010 10:04 PM

Will snow/rain damage this jacket? It is 70% wool, 30% polyester. My research tells me no, but since I've never owned anything that's wool or dry clean only, I'd like reassurance.
posted by alligatorman to clothing, beauty, & fashion (7 answers total)

Link didn't work for me, but wool is a perfect fabric for snow and damp. It keeps you warm even when it gets wet (unlike cotton, for example).
posted by bluedaisy at 10:21 PM on November 13, 2010

I have a similar Spiewak coat. It's lasted about three years in the rain and the snow without suffering much damage.
posted by Nomyte at 10:26 PM on November 13, 2010

It will be fine. People have worn wool coats in the rain for thousands of years — sheep, even longer. You need hot water and/or prolonged soaking to shrink or change the texture of wool.
posted by enn at 10:31 PM on November 13, 2010 [2 favorites]

The "dry clean only" tag is to prevent you from shrinking and felting the thing. Brushing dirt off and sponging muck out should be fine; the worst snow and rain might do is soak through and make you smell like wet wool.
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 11:56 PM on November 13, 2010

nth the "safe in the rain" previous answers. Wool thrives in the wet, but you might not like the particular smell of wet wool. It could be hand washed (without any sort of agitation that could felt your coat even with cold water), but you would have to shape it without stretching it. Dry cleaning is easier.
posted by francesca too at 2:57 AM on November 14, 2010

Snow and rain will not damage a wool or wool blend jacket, but it could increase the risk of wool pilling.
posted by iviken at 4:23 AM on November 14, 2010

Thank you all.
posted by alligatorman at 7:00 AM on November 14, 2010