With the right care, your merino garment can be a lifelong companion. On this page, you'll find our best tips for washing, airing, brushing, depilling, and storing your merino clothing. Discover how to properly care for your merino pieces and enjoy their comfort and quality for years to come.
Airing your merino garment
Merino wool rarely needs washing, thanks to its natural ability to resist odors and repel dirt. That’s why airing is the most important way to care for your merino garments. Fresh air allows the wool fibers to self-clean, significantly reducing the need for traditional washing. A simple airing will effectively remove all odors – including smoke and sweat. This applies not only to clothing, but also to merino socks and accessories. Wool has an incredible ability to refresh itself, even after heavy use.
Washing your merino wool garment
You don’t always need to wash the entire merino garment if it gets a visible stain. Spot-cleaning the area by hand while the stain is still fresh is often enough. For machine-washable merino, always use a laundry bag, a wool detergent (pH 7 or below), and select a wool or delicate cycle at 30°C with the gentlest spin. We also recommend using wool detergent for hand-washing to preserve the natural properties of the fiber.
Choosing the right washing temperature
For precise, garment-specific washing instructions, always refer to the care label on your North Outdoor clothing. The most commonly recommended washing temperature for North Outdoor merino wool garments is 30°C.
Drying your merino wool garment
Avoid using a tumble dryer for wool garments. If your merino piece appears to have shrunk during washing, gently reshape it while it's still damp. For best results – especially with heavier knits and wool sweaters – lay the garment flat to dry.
Removing stains from merino wool
Spilled your morning coffee on your merino garment? Don’t worry – merino wool naturally repels dirt, making stain removal quick, easy, and hassle-free in most cases.
Removing fresh stains
Quick action makes all the difference – gently hand-washing the stained area right away is often enough. Hold the stained spot directly under running water so it flows through the knit. Even stubborn stains have been known to disappear with this simple method.
Removing stubborn stains
If the stain has been on the garment for a longer time or doesn't come out with just water, you can use stain soap to remove it.
Maintaining merino wool with gentle brushing
A clothing brush is ideal for maintaining all North Outdoor merino wool products. Brushing removes lint and clears loose dirt, dust, and hair from the knit. Regular brushing also lifts loose fibers from the surface, helping to prevent pilling over time. Wool knits in particular benefit greatly from this simple care routine.
Friction can cause wool fibers to loosen and form small fabric pills. We recommend using a fabric shaver regularly on our products to keep them looking their best. You can also gently remove pilling by hand. There’s no need to worry—pilling is a natural characteristic of wool and will decrease over time as most of the loose fibers are shed.
Before fabric saver
After fabric shaver
Steaming your merino wool garment
The easiest way to remove wrinkles and creases from merino wool garments is by steaming. You can also use an iron on the lowest heat setting – just be sure to use steam to protect the knit and restore its shape.
Always store wool garments folded rather than on a hanger. Hangers can stretch the knit, especially at the shoulders. For seasonal storage, the original North Outdoor packaging is an excellent choice.
