LEARN TO CARE Be gentle as a lamb

There's a lot to like about wool. It can help keep you warm and dry -- and it travels well. But while it resists dirt and rarely wrinkles, a wool garment does require some care. The Woolmark Company offers tips on wearing, washing and storing wool items:
Empty pockets after each wear to prevent them from bulging or sagging.
Brush the garment to remove surface soil.
Rinse stains with cold water and blotted dry with a clean cloth.
Lay garment flat on a bed for an hour before putting it away to dissipate any odors it may have absorbed.
Hang woven-wool garments with enough space so wrinkles can relax. Knit-wool garments should not be hung, however, because they will stretch.
If you wash it with soap and water, never dry it with heat because it can shrink. Dry flat.
Dry-clean sparingly. Woolmark suggests a single dry-cleaning at the end of the season to remove body oils that can attract moths.
For long-term storage, fold garments and add fresh cedar blocks or mothballs.
When traveling, loosely roll or fold garments with tissue paper. Major wrinkling is unlikely, but a few minutes in a steamy bathroom should take care of unwanted folds.
Associated Press