Question

State two reasons for avoiding the steeping of woollens.

Answer 1

Steeping of woollens is to be avoided because:

• It is a weak fabric: When wool gets wet, its fibres can stretch, weaken, and lose their natural resilience. This can cause the garment to lose its original shape and fit, especially when prolonged soaking or steeping.

• Wool has high elasticity, which increases when the garment is wet: This natural elasticity allows wool to stretch and return to its original shape. However, when wool is wet, this elasticity decreases, and the fibres are more likely to remain stretched out, leading to the deformation of the garment.

• It loses its shape: In addition to losing shape, wool can also shrink when exposed to hot water or agitation during washing. Steeping for too long, especially in warm water, can exacerbate this issue, leading to permanent changes in the size and structure of the garment.