What's the best laundry detergent for wool that I can buy in Canada?

November 6, 2023 7:54 PM

Most of the recommended wool detergents I've found recommended seem to be only available in the USA. So, as the title states: what's the best laundry detergent for wool clothes that I can buy in Canada. I want something I can physically purchase in-store, not online (so nothing on Amazon.ca!).

The basic Western Canadian stores that are close by include: WalMart, Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Save-On, Superstore/No Frills/Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, etc.

posted by VirginiaPlain to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

I use Woolite for my socks, and I'd say a lot of large grocery stores carry it.
posted by sindark at 8:24 PM on November 6, 2023

A lot of knitters swear by Soak Wash, which is from Canada. Here's their list of stores.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:31 PM on November 6, 2023 [9 favorites]

i am some sort of monster, as I wash my many wool items with tide free & clear on delicate cycle. (also in canada). curious to know if this question is for all woollen items, knitted items, or something in particular? maybe i need to change my woollen ways…
posted by tamarack at 8:55 PM on November 6, 2023

Blue (original flavor) Dawn dish soap is the go-to for washing wool to prepare it for dyeing. Not in a washing machine though.
posted by janell at 9:58 PM on November 6, 2023

If you're washing these by hand: shampoo, because wool is just a form of hair. (Not baby shampoo, though, it's gentle on the eyes but harsh on the hair.)
posted by demi-octopus at 11:35 PM on November 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

My understanding is that when washing wool (and silk) the big factor is avoiding detergents with enzymes that break down proteins (proteases), which can break down the wool fibers. Enzymes can be great for stain removal, though, so they're in a lot of good detergents. (Here's a study about some research trying formulate treatments to prevent this from happening: Transglutaminase treatment of wool fabrics leads to resistance to detergent damage, but they talk about this issue.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:54 AM on November 7, 2023 [5 favorites]

A hearty second recommendation for Soak, here, which I use in the washing machine (a little dab’ll do ya) and have had terrific results on my woolens, lingerie, fussy blouses, etc.
posted by BostonTerrier at 6:20 AM on November 7, 2023 [1 favorite]

Thirding Soak! It’s the only thing I use to wash my nice knitting projects.
posted by donut_princess at 6:46 AM on November 7, 2023 [2 favorites]

As another monster, I use baby shampoo on the gentle cycle in the washing machine.
posted by champers at 7:44 AM on November 7, 2023

Soak is the answer
posted by alicat at 7:52 AM on November 7, 2023

I use Eucalan on my merino and cashmere sweaters which I wash once or twice a season and just air between wears. So far so good.
posted by congen at 1:44 PM on November 7, 2023 [1 favorite]

Has anyone mentioned Soak yet, because Soak 😂

Way nicer than Woolite - requires no rinse and is
available in a blessedly unscented version.
posted by zippy at 1:08 AM on November 8, 2023

tamarack -- if you're washing with tide in a washing machine with good results, your wool items have likely been treated for washability ("superwash") and/or you're using cold water and getting lucky.

Soak would be my rec for protein fibers in Canada. Detergents like Soak and Eucalan can be used on a delicate or hand wash cycle in a front loader with no agitator, or even on the rinse and spin cycle in that kind of machine. They don't really need to be rinsed out of the fiber, but they do need time to do the work where the fiber sits in some water and detergent for a few minutes. (Results are also fine if they are rinsed out a bit, though.)
posted by verbminx at 2:09 AM on November 8, 2023