How to Care for Your Merino & Possum-Merino Knitwear

Australian merino wool and possum-merino blends are among the finest natural fibres you can wear. With a little care, your pieces will reward you with years of warmth, softness, and beauty. This guide covers everything you need to keep them looking their best.

Hand-Washing vs Machine-Washing

Hand-washing is always the safest option and we recommend it for most pieces — particularly delicate or fine-knit garments from our Noble Wilde and Merinomink™ collections.

• Hand-wash: Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water (ideally below 30 °C). Add a small amount of wool wash or gentle, pH-neutral detergent. Submerge the garment and gently squeeze the water through — do not rub, wring, or scrub. Rinse thoroughly in water of the same temperature.
• Machine-wash: Some merino and possum-merino pieces can be machine-washed on a dedicated wool or delicate cycle. Check your garment's care label first. Use a mesh laundry bag, select cold water, and choose the lowest spin speed available. Never use a standard cotton or synthetics cycle.

Why Warm Water Causes Shrinkage

Wool fibres are covered in tiny scales. When exposed to heat, agitation, or sudden temperature changes, those scales interlock — causing the fabric to felt and shrink irreversibly. Always use cool or lukewarm water, avoid hot rinses, and never move a wet wool garment from cold to hot water suddenly. The same principle applies to your KORU Knitwear and Native World pieces.

Drying Your Knitwear

How you dry your garment is just as important as how you wash it.

• After washing, gently press (do not wring) the garment against the side of the basin to remove excess water.
• Roll it loosely in a clean, dry towel and press again to absorb more moisture.
• Lay the garment flat on a fresh dry towel or mesh drying rack, reshaping it gently to its original dimensions.
• Dry in a shaded, well-ventilated spot away from direct sunlight or heat sources such as radiators and clothes dryers — heat will cause shrinkage and can weaken the fibres.
• Never hang a wet wool garment, as the weight of the water will cause it to stretch out of shape.

Freshening Between Washes

One of the natural advantages of merino and possum-merino is that they resist odour far better than synthetic fibres, so they rarely need frequent washing.

• After wearing, turn the garment inside out and hang it in a well-ventilated area for a few hours to air.
• If a garment picks up a light smell, hanging it outdoors in fresh air — out of direct sunlight — is usually enough to freshen it completely.
• Spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth and a tiny amount of wool wash rather than washing the whole garment unnecessarily.
• Store clean, dry knitwear folded (never on a hanger) in a drawer or on a shelf. A natural cedar block or lavender sachet nearby will deter moths without the harshness of chemical mothballs.

Outdoor Use & Active Wear

Merino's natural temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties make it an excellent companion for outdoor activities — from bushwalking to travel. Our MerinoSnug and Aklanda ranges are particularly well-suited to layering in variable conditions.

• After active outdoor use, allow the garment to air thoroughly before storing.
• If the garment is visibly soiled after outdoor wear, a gentle hand-wash as described above is the best approach.
• Avoid contact with rough abrasive surfaces (such as backpack straps worn directly over fine knit) for extended periods, as this can cause pilling over time.
• Pilling is a natural characteristic of wool and can be gently removed with a fabric comb or pilling stone — it does not indicate poor quality.

A Few Extra Tips

• Always check the individual care label — blends and weights vary across our collections and specific guidance may differ.
• If in doubt, hand-wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. These two steps will protect almost any wool or wool-blend garment.
• Iron on the lowest setting with a pressing cloth or use a clothes steamer if you need to remove stubborn creases.

Treated with care, your merino and possum-merino knitwear will soften and improve with every wear. Browse our full range of natural fibre knitwear — including Noble Wilde, Merinomink™, KORU Knitwear, Native World, and Aklanda — and invest in pieces that will last.