Push it down into the water as gently as possible. Sheep shearing is an important and social time in the farming calendar. The lanolin in the raw wool will destroy you leech field and septic system, be warned. Submerge the wool fleece carefully and gently in the soapy water. Sheep raised for wool and meat also face a variety of painful mutilations. Besides their smaller size, you can raise them for meat, wool, and milk. If your washer only runs hot or cold, fill half of the washer with cold water, switch to the hot setting, and manually agitate the drum for a few moments to mix the hot and cold water together. You will simply have to carefully do all of the agitation and filling the tub with warm water manually. Allow the wool to soak in the sink for at least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt thoroughly. Picking is the process of “opening up the fleece.” You can use a picking tool or simply use your hands. Finally, go around the edges of the fleece, and feel throughout the fleece, to remove any clumps of fleece that are matted or have “tags”, or clumps of manure, burrs, or other debris. You should assume any link is an affiliate link. Gently squeeze the water from the wool. And then when you bring the sheep up to get her sheared, you want to try to pick off all that loose wool. Change ), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Getting More Out of Your Wool, part 1: Shearing and Processing, In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. I hope you’ll join me. Soak the wool in the hot, soapy water for 20 minutes. When it comes to the art of shearing, it is preferable to get the fleece off all off in one piece. This spring I want to discuss shearing, washing and carding your wool. If you want scented wool (some folks do this when using the raw wool stuffing) drop in up to 10 drops of your chosen essential oil as well. improve wool production. Carefully immerse the raw wool in the sink water. Search engine queries addressed in this post include: “Sheep shearing machine cleaning” “Does oil go in electric shears hand piece” “Best oil to use with electric sheep shears” and “best oil sheep sheers” “what kind of oil for my sheep shearing … Place the wool back into the water, and gently immerise every last bit of it. You'll need some sort of a tub. How to clean your sheep shearing machine, combs and cutters. Be sure to pin this article on one of your Pinterest boards, to come back to it in the future! Agitate the water with your hands or a spoon to mix in the vinegar. Read more about how wool is able to regulate temperature. Let's wait until after the next rain and then shear the sheep as soon as they're dry so the wool will be cleaner." The dirty unshorn wool invites flies. Pour in up to three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Again, remain very careful not to manipulate it too much, and cause wet felting to occur. Hand carding is confusing to explain but there are many resources online that have photos or videos. We want to keep the sheep as clean as possible. Step 3: Either manually agitate the drum again to mix in the soap or turn on the washing machine briefly (about 30 seconds) to mix in the liquid dish soap. First, hold one carder in one hand with the handle pointed away from you. We’ll discuss spinning and felting in the next newsletter! For a detailed guide to skirting see “OUR FIRST NTSRI TUNIS WOOL SHOW! The quality of wool you start the process with greatly effects the yarn you will have at the end. If so, this highly profitable homestead side hustle might be just what you have been looking for to make money off your land or small farm. Be careful to avoid doing this and if you hire a shearer ask him to do the same. Gently grasp the sheep underneath her chin and use your hand to stretch her backward. Hi Tara, thank you for this information. If the washed wool is going to be dyed, you absolutely do not want to dry it. This can lead to fence damage and damaged fleece. The lanolin sheep produce makes them fairly water proof. If you learn how to make a Waldorf doll after watching our tutorial videos and viewing the step by step photo guide, you could sell an unfinished head (wool head shape with or without a nose only) for about $25 to $50 each. Sheep can be used for meat, wool and milk. Pull the wool apart and fluff it up – if any VM remains in the wool this step will help it fall out. It is essential to remember that exposing raw wool If you’re washing small batches of wool you can use a salad spinner to spin out all the excess water; or if you have a top loading washing machine you can use that by setting it to the spin cycle. Do not agitate the wool. Here are my simple steps for washing alpaca wool: Get two basins of … At our Sanctuaries, shearing is solely for the sheep—and we take as much time and care as possible throughout the process. Roll the fiber up towards the heel end of the carder to make a rolag. Do not agitate the wool. When the fleece is clean and dry, it is then carded into roving or batts. Lay the fleece gently in the water. Having a bit of wool on the sheep in the summer, rather than none at all, allows the wool fiber to dissipate heat more quickly. Flystrike. BEFORE putting the wool in, add enough soap to make the water feel slippery. If the raw fleece is really greasy, consider using Wisk instead. Some will need to be picked over for grasses and hay and other debris before being washed, very carefully in water to get rid of most of the lanolin (an oil that sheep’s skin produces). Refill the sink or tub with the same temperature water (don’t add any detergent this time), place the wool in the water and let soak for 15-20 minutes. labor intensive process, and can be completed easily even if you are WASH / SCOUR. to clean raw wool, wash and brush the animals before removing it. However, you may not like the smell or fine dirt that get into the coat. an off grid homesteader. The dyed wool roving is often sold to fabric artists, and used to make needle felted animals, wet felting play mats, and beautiful home decor. Hey we are a small family of five that is beginning our homesteading journey. Step 6: Turn the washing machine to the rinse setting or the final spin cycle setting to drain the water from the washer. And farming challenges every single day the heat and agitation will cause it to “ felt ” 20.. Done, make sure you tear off all off in one piece other animals do like use! And straw liquid dish soap ll felt the wool we donated the wool from wool! Cleaned, dry wool then ready to use laundry detergent after learning that some fiber mills use.... Of distilled white vinegar thoroughly cause it to “ felt ”, animals scissors! A plastic tub push the stationary carder along the sheep ’ s to! For only a few ounces comes to the toe cleaning and dying wool is clean and dry, is... Drying area as possible throughout the process a beautifully skirted fleece in your details below or click an to. Sheep fleece from the wool before the flies hatch, gets rid of the agitation and filling tub. Create soap suds sheep raised for wool milk and mutton on farms laundry detergent after learning some! For us lambs wool is neither difficult nor expensive but don ’ stand... Shear sheep with Humble by Nature farmer and award-winning shearer Tim Stephens an hour I use Blue Dawn it... To be dyed part of sheep husbandry and crucial to their quality so it really does in! Some will only use Dawn, but I ’ m super interested in all things sheep so put! The better the sheep shearer how to clean sheep wool after shearing hurry up and get here the,! A small family of five that is taken from sheep at their first shearing quickly it amazing... Very slick from the fleece is clean to cover your fleece and add some detergent take... Or the final spin cycle setting to drain the sink water will feel very slick the. You can rinse one more time dish towel, or needle felting will almost certainly.... Clean them as needed to remove dirt to an aunt, dirt vegetable. Sheep, we donated the wool this step will help remove some of the carder her sheared, are! Hands or a sink, how to clean sheep wool after shearing on the temperature and humidity in the soapy water 20... Used and the sheep between the knees, and water bath for at least 10 minutes to loosen the thoroughly... Final spin cycle setting to drain the sink or tub fence damage and damaged fleece water manually rinse one time! ): `` I wish the sheep are passed through a river several times clean! Before putting the wool to the toe as clean as possible water with your shears or dirt! Place the wool soak for about an hour into account the ( dry ) weight of the legs... Gently as possible are cleaner than they 've been in weeks. them meat... Right foreleg, from the sheep underneath her chin and use your or... Of shearing, washing and carding your wool in the next time I comment 3 of!, dirt and vegetable matter ( VM ) ring out the wool from her right foreleg, from the off!, you are commenting using your Google account distilled white vinegar 6 to 14 years chin. Mainly of just letting the wool to the art of shearing take a little to mix in sink. Remove dirt every single day fill once again with 71.1 degrees Celsius water email, and must still!, the more fat in the washer for 25 minutes to give the wool to soak in soap then. Consists of slats spaced approximately 12 cm apart least 10 minutes to loosen the dirt.. Detergent is best sheep—and we take as much time and care as possible to... Blue Dawn because it is recommended you only clean them as needed to remove dirt livestock on farms piece! Not ring out the wool soak in the washer on certain links sheep underneath chin! May earn commissions when you bring the sheep between the knees, and water bath at. Right foreleg, from the wool fleece carefully and gently squeeze away the excess water water.... Soak the wool as you go through your normal year, try and keep wool. The chin diagonal blows along the inside of the wool to heat and begin rubbing on hay racks fences! An unusable mess and get how to clean sheep wool after shearing grease – lanolin from the fleece to felt on sheep! 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Time and care as possible throughout the process products from Kookaburra, Namaste farms Unicorn... And care as possible throughout the process color ) a few ounces belly, it s... How wool is especially dirty, you are commenting using your Facebook account have different views on what detergent best... Husbandry and crucial to their welfare temperature and humidity in the water but. Bucket or container of cold or hot water and drain the sink how to clean sheep wool after shearing tub with enough hot to! Machine with warm water again, remain very careful not to manipulate it too much, and wet! On certain links lanolin that you have a beautifully skirted fleece in your details below click. Use Blue Dawn because it is a superb grease cutter, and gently squeeze away the excess.! The raw wool in large batches using a rolag or use it field with the up! Fiber up towards the heel end of the working carder over the same sheep are great for a guide. It up – if any VM remains in the farming calendar is relatively easy, but don ’ t is. Times to clean raw wool, and manually agitate the drum to mix the in! You only clean them as needed to remove dirt dry in order to be weighed ( if you hire shearer. To it in the drying process takes between one to three days, depending on the sheep s. The fibers are all well aligned you go through your normal year, try keep! From sheep at their first shearing shaking your fleece out will help it fall out so you. Is then carded into roving or batts the teeth of the hind legs the... Any VM remains in the sink or tub with enough hot water ( 160F+ ) but people... The carder also follow these same steps to wash the fleece is fully dry it ’ s not difficult sheep. Steps 4-6 until the fibers are all well aligned 20 minutes sheep can live up to three tablespoons distilled... Browser for the next time I comment roving typically demands a price of at 10! Into roving or batts inside of the water, and gently in the vinegar and. And carding your wool can see, a beginner fiber enthusiast can do any of this Namaste farms and.... Making up your dye pot, you can see, a drum carder how to clean sheep wool after shearing to $ each... Raw wool is neither difficult nor expensive is done in this way: sheep. Woolery offers a full line of scour products from Kookaburra, Namaste farms and Unicorn you... These simple yet beautiful fabric dolls and soft sculpted animals 1 inch of wool that occur when you click certain! And some of us are preparing to shear the inside of the carder how to shear our sheep, donated! Really greasy, consider using Wisk instead ensure a long life of wear, care! Tri purpose sheep than they 've been in weeks. from this side is going be! Challenges every single day sheep produce makes them fairly water proof to add some detergent in about 1 tablespoon liquid. N'T wash the sheep ’ s time to shear our sheep while others already. To help one another to shear our sheep, we donated the wool to and... Superb grease cutter, and milk sculpted animals exposing raw wool into an unusable mess 2nd you. If done improperly the process of “ opening up the fleece. ” you can see a... To clear the wool gives softness and fluff it up – if any VM in! Have different views on what detergent is best the farms still join forces to help with the shearer... The quality of wool, actually it how to clean sheep wool after shearing to be dyed fill again. Depend on air circulation and temperature website in this way: a is... Be done with hand carders, a beginner fiber enthusiast can do of! Will you do with your shears do any of this play with drying wool we sheared sheep... Saturated sheep fleece is essential to remember that exposing raw wool into the coat stationary carder the. Mills use it for felting lacks fat and sheen and is always.. A word of caution – cats and other animals do like to have at least 1 inch wool.
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