For a Miele washer wool load, choose the wool or delicates program, wash the garment in a mesh bag with a wool-safe detergent, use a low spin, and dry it flat. Wool shrinks and felts when it is rubbed, shocked by temperature changes or spun hard, so every setting is chosen to be gentle. Read the care label first, because it overrides any general advice, and never put wool into a normal cotton cycle.
Which Miele washer program is right for wool?
Most Miele washers list a dedicated program for woolens and another for delicates, and they are designed to be gentler than any other option on the dial. The wool program uses a very slow drum movement, plenty of water and a low temperature, so the fibers are wetted and rinsed without being rubbed against each other. The delicates program is similar but suits silk, lace, fine synthetics and lingerie. The names differ slightly between models, so look at your program list and your manual.
If your washer has an option for handwash garments or a gentle program with a pause in the drum, those can also work. What matters is that the cycle is cool, slow and short on spin. Do not use a quick or normal program in the hope of saving time, because a hot wash or a hard spin can shrink wool permanently. Our Miele washer tips explain how the other programs differ.
How should you load a wool garment?
Turn the garment inside out so that the outside surface is protected, and place it in a mesh laundry bag. Zip or tie the bag so the garment cannot float out. Wash only a few items at a time, and keep the drum well under capacity so the garments have room to move gently. Do not mix wool with heavy items such as jeans or towels, which rub against it and can cause felting and pilling.
Check for loose buttons, open zippers and snags before you start. Close hooks and fasteners that might catch the knit. If a garment is heavily soiled in one spot, treat that spot with a small amount of the same wool detergent before washing, instead of choosing a harsher program. A single small load every time is a modest price for keeping a good sweater for years.
What detergent suits wool and delicates?
Use a mild liquid detergent made for wool and delicate fabrics. Wool is a protein fiber, and the enzymes in many general-purpose detergents are designed to break down protein stains, so they can weaken wool and silk over time. Bleach and optical brighteners harm the fibers too. Avoid fabric softener on wool unless the label says it is acceptable, since it can coat the fibers and reduce their natural breathability.
Use the amount on the pack, not more, because wool holds on to detergent and a heavy residue makes it stiff and itchy. If your washer has automatic detergent dosing, it may not be suitable for a wool detergent, so check whether the cartridge system can be bypassed for this load. Our guide to how Miele TwinDos works explains the dosing system and when to dose by hand.
How should you spin and dry wool?
Choose the lowest spin speed for the load, or no spin if the program allows. A hard spin stretches wet wool and leaves creases that are hard to remove. When the cycle ends, take the garment out promptly. Do not wring it. Lay it flat on a dry towel, roll the towel gently to squeeze out water and then unroll and reshape the garment on a fresh towel or a drying rack.
Dry away from direct heat and sunlight, and never hang a heavy wet sweater, as it will stretch under its own weight. Do not put wool in the dryer unless the label and your dryer manual both permit a special wool program. Our Miele dryer tips cover the gentle options for other fabrics.
What about silk, lace and other delicates?
Delicates follow the same logic as wool with a few differences. Silk and lace are strong when dry but weaken when wet, so they need a short program, cool water and a very gentle spin. Put them in a fine mesh bag, wash them alone or with similar items, and avoid anything with a rough texture in the same load. Lingerie with underwire or hooks should be fastened and bagged so the metal does not catch the drum or other garments.
Sort by color as well as by fabric, because delicate dyes can bleed more easily in cool water with mild detergent. Take items out at the end of the cycle and hang them to dry out of the sun. If you wash delicates often, a small second mesh bag for tiny items saves a lot of fishing in the drum, and keeps strays out of the lint filter.
What if the washer or the garment misbehaves?
If wool comes out shrunken, felted or stretched, the usual causes are hot water, too much rubbing, a hard spin or a harsh detergent. Next time, lower each of those. If the washer shows an error, will not drain or leaves the garment sitting in water at the end of the cycle, check the lint filter first. Our Miele washer lint filter and drain pump guide shows how.
A washer that does not complete the gentle program, vibrates or makes unusual noises may need service. Delicate programs are slow, with long pauses, so an unusual sound is worth noting. If you have any doubt about your machine, read about Miele washer repair and consider a visit.
