Washing

Washing Protocol for Alpaca Knitwear

Alpaca garments are antimicrobial and don’t require frequent washing. When clothing smells bad, it’s due to bacteria from sweat that gets transferred to clothing fibers. The natural antibacterial quality of alpaca makes the clothing effectively self-cleaning. Alpaca is also dirt-resistant, so you’ll find it says looking clean as well as smelling fresh. The clothes will last the longest if you wash them only when needed. Most of the time the clothing needs only to air out to be cleaned. You can also lay clothing in the sun and the UV light will take care of any remaining bacteria. If you do want to give your garment a more thorough wash, follow these steps:

Step 1: Hand wash in room temperature water with mild soap.

Step 2: Squeeze, don’t wring, the water out.

Step 3: Roll in a towel to absorb water.

Step 4: Lay flat to dry.

Step 5: Fold, don’t hang, to store.

Step 6: Protect from moths by wearing often and keeping dust off. You can also store in sealed bags and/or with cedar.

Wearing Alpaca

Alpaca can feel scratchy for the first few wears, even if it’s the finer “baby” grade. This is because we don’t want to treat or wash it with heavy chemicals during manufacturing. Don’t worry, keep wearing it, and it will only get softer over time.

Our clothes are perfect for a range of activities, including travel and camping, as they are wrinkle, dirt, and stink-resistant.